Real world experiences of log burners.
Discussion
We are on the final stages of our house project, and the 70s gas fire is soon to be gone from the living room.
We've looked at those letterbox flueless gas fires but also a contemporary design log burner. However, until this weekend, neither of us had ever used one. We spent two nights in an AirBnB lodge in the Cairngorms which had a log burner, and we were reluctantly disappointed. It was perfect for the setting we were in for a few days, but are they actually suited to real world living?
As much as I am a man, and I shall burn stuff to provide warmth and all that, it was a nice novelty, but I couldn't help feeling that it was all very messy with splinters and bits of bark under the log rack, and then the ash and dust in the burner, and the glass door was thick with grimy soot.
Our 70s fire gets used for a couple of hours on a cold evening if it is just the two of us home, but otherwise the central heating is our warmth-giver of choice.
We still like the look of log burners, and it was very easy to use, but realistically, what are they like to live with, with cleaning, maintenance, dirt escaping onto the floors etc?
We've looked at those letterbox flueless gas fires but also a contemporary design log burner. However, until this weekend, neither of us had ever used one. We spent two nights in an AirBnB lodge in the Cairngorms which had a log burner, and we were reluctantly disappointed. It was perfect for the setting we were in for a few days, but are they actually suited to real world living?
As much as I am a man, and I shall burn stuff to provide warmth and all that, it was a nice novelty, but I couldn't help feeling that it was all very messy with splinters and bits of bark under the log rack, and then the ash and dust in the burner, and the glass door was thick with grimy soot.
Our 70s fire gets used for a couple of hours on a cold evening if it is just the two of us home, but otherwise the central heating is our warmth-giver of choice.
We still like the look of log burners, and it was very easy to use, but realistically, what are they like to live with, with cleaning, maintenance, dirt escaping onto the floors etc?
sorry, no help but..
I'm in the same place as you and I've decided to go for it and bought mine a couple weeks back. Not fitted yet but I can't wait to have it fitted. My other half's parents have theirs on most of the time and they love it and not too much hassle with cleaning etc. just give around it a hoover when you do the floors as normal.
Dion
I'm in the same place as you and I've decided to go for it and bought mine a couple weeks back. Not fitted yet but I can't wait to have it fitted. My other half's parents have theirs on most of the time and they love it and not too much hassle with cleaning etc. just give around it a hoover when you do the floors as normal.
Dion
We use ours at the main source of heat in the winter, central heating comes on for an hour or two take the chill off, and then the log burner heats the whole downstairs. Yes you get a but of mess but nothing the vacuum cleaner can't handle. Agree that without a source of cheep/free logs it's probably more expensive than central heating, but it's so much nicer.
The splinters and bark thing - we have two kids and a dog who are into everything, so I know that I would be finding bits of wood all over the house. Not insurmountable, but coupled with everything else we have to pick up after them...
It is the soot and ash bit - admittedly, I was surprised at how thorough the logs did burn and given how many we got through, the ash pile was relatively small. Knowing what a mess the chiminea is in the garden when that is cleaned out, I don't relish the thought of cleaning that out indoors, but then I don't know how the ash pans work - do they slide out and tip into a bin bag, or is it more involving than that?
I really do like the look of them, and the "mmmm... burn stuff and make fire", but it seems like a big investment that has significant piss-off potential!
It is the soot and ash bit - admittedly, I was surprised at how thorough the logs did burn and given how many we got through, the ash pile was relatively small. Knowing what a mess the chiminea is in the garden when that is cleaned out, I don't relish the thought of cleaning that out indoors, but then I don't know how the ash pans work - do they slide out and tip into a bin bag, or is it more involving than that?
I really do like the look of them, and the "mmmm... burn stuff and make fire", but it seems like a big investment that has significant piss-off potential!
Edited by S11Steve on Tuesday 31st January 16:12
They're brilliant.
Had one installed last year in my own house after always having one when living at my parents.
If I can, I'll always have one in the lounge.
If you're not getting much heat out of it, somethings up. We've got a 5kw one (cl5 yeoman) that heats up the lounge/dinner and kitchen. Then when it gets too hot we open the lounge door to the rest of the house, mainly just to cool down
edit - to empty the ash you literally just take the tray out and put the ash somewhere (i've got a 'bag for life' on the wall in the cellar). They're so easy.
Had one installed last year in my own house after always having one when living at my parents.
If I can, I'll always have one in the lounge.
If you're not getting much heat out of it, somethings up. We've got a 5kw one (cl5 yeoman) that heats up the lounge/dinner and kitchen. Then when it gets too hot we open the lounge door to the rest of the house, mainly just to cool down
edit - to empty the ash you literally just take the tray out and put the ash somewhere (i've got a 'bag for life' on the wall in the cellar). They're so easy.
A log burner is the home-owners equivalent of owning and running a classic car.
It's messy , not often cheap, more work than something modern,not efficient, not as comfortable or easy to control, and your wife will nag you about it regularly.
On the upside, your friends will be jealous, great for showing off,very romantic, there's a huge satisfaction to getting it right and it'll add value to your life in the long term. I love them but some people don't see the point.
It's messy , not often cheap, more work than something modern,not efficient, not as comfortable or easy to control, and your wife will nag you about it regularly.
On the upside, your friends will be jealous, great for showing off,very romantic, there's a huge satisfaction to getting it right and it'll add value to your life in the long term. I love them but some people don't see the point.
I have a traditional-style multifuel stove that's used on the coldest days as a bit of fun and character. In that role it's great - but in other respects it's a very poor way to heat a house. The lounge gets hot, the rest of the house gets cold, you have to keep an eye on it and put a new log on every 20 mins. However apart from a bit of ash on the lip which is easy to hoover up it's not dirty and you can have about 10 fires before the ash pan needs emptying (in the garden). No maintenance required as it's a metal box. You can clean the glass if it bothers you but a hot fire will burn most of the soot off.
We have a proper log burner and use it almost every night.
Yes you get bits splinters and bits dropping off the wood when you move it, and yes a little ash falls out every now and again, but that’s the point of a hearth, you wouldn’t put one on cream carpet for example.
If you are really that anal, get a mini handheld hoover and leave it nearby.
On the ash front, we have had ours for about 6 months now, its been lit probably about 100 times, and got through about 2-3 tonnes of wood, ive not had to empty it once, its never been emptied of ash since day 0, amazing what it can/will burn!
So in conclusion, yes, get one!
Yes you get bits splinters and bits dropping off the wood when you move it, and yes a little ash falls out every now and again, but that’s the point of a hearth, you wouldn’t put one on cream carpet for example.
If you are really that anal, get a mini handheld hoover and leave it nearby.
On the ash front, we have had ours for about 6 months now, its been lit probably about 100 times, and got through about 2-3 tonnes of wood, ive not had to empty it once, its never been emptied of ash since day 0, amazing what it can/will burn!
So in conclusion, yes, get one!
S11Steve said:
It is the soot and ash bit - admittedly, I was surprised at how thorough the logs did burn, and given how many we got through, the ash pile was relatively small, but knowing what a mess the chiminea is in the garden when that is cleaned out, I don't relish the thought of cleaning that out indoors, but then I don't know how the ash pans work - do they slide out and tip into a bin bag, or is it more involving than that?
No ash pan in ours, I just lift out the front grate and scoop out the ash with a shovel (another good reason for a fire, nice shovel/poker/brush/tongs set on a stand next to it). Ash goes on the compost heap but at a rough guess we probably produce less than litre of ash a week when we're using every evening. You can get nice lidded ash buckets that you leave next to the fire, but I just use a carrier bag.We went from an open fire to a log burner and love it. No open flue letting the cold air down.
The log burners actually work better with a moderate bed of ash in them so you only need to lift out a little bit very 3rd or 4th burn.
The glass is easily cleaned with something like Hob Brite but if you keep the heat up, they run pretty clean.
We have a log basket with a liner so the splinters are contained so the only real clean up is a small vacuum of any ash that floats out when a new log goes in.
By design, they radiate great heat from a relatively small size and the top & bottom vents control the heat & burn rate very well.
We have the flue thermometer on ours and it can go from 0 to 400f in under 10 minutes.
Pay £60 for a jumbo bag of kiln dried logs delivered and that will last us a couple of months as we only light it 3 or 4 times a week.
The log burners actually work better with a moderate bed of ash in them so you only need to lift out a little bit very 3rd or 4th burn.
The glass is easily cleaned with something like Hob Brite but if you keep the heat up, they run pretty clean.
We have a log basket with a liner so the splinters are contained so the only real clean up is a small vacuum of any ash that floats out when a new log goes in.
By design, they radiate great heat from a relatively small size and the top & bottom vents control the heat & burn rate very well.
We have the flue thermometer on ours and it can go from 0 to 400f in under 10 minutes.
Pay £60 for a jumbo bag of kiln dried logs delivered and that will last us a couple of months as we only light it 3 or 4 times a week.
If you see the whole process as an enjoyable pastime, want one for cosmetic reasons, or you're not on mains gas; go for it.
If you're expecting it to be a clean, efficient & cheap means of heating your house, you'll be sorely disappointed.
If you're expecting it to be a clean, efficient & cheap means of heating your house, you'll be sorely disappointed.
Edited by Risotto on Tuesday 31st January 12:46
A couple of hints if you do get one.
If the glass is getting tarry, your wood isn't dry enough. Get a better supply.
You can clean up tarry deposits on the glass with a handful of salt thrown into the fire when it's burning hot.
If you've got a big room or you want to spread the heat further through the house, get a thermal fan for the top of the stove, they're great.
If the glass is getting tarry, your wood isn't dry enough. Get a better supply.
You can clean up tarry deposits on the glass with a handful of salt thrown into the fire when it's burning hot.
If you've got a big room or you want to spread the heat further through the house, get a thermal fan for the top of the stove, they're great.
This is all really useful - thank you.
We both do like the idea, look and "cosyness" of the log burner, but are both a bit concerned about the practicalities of it. It does sound like it is not as much hassle as I had first thought.
We have a fair sized living room - 24ft x 13ft, and that is all that it would be heating. I'll show the thread to the missus and she'll probably have the casting vote on it!
Maybe a good reason to replace the living room floor too...
We both do like the idea, look and "cosyness" of the log burner, but are both a bit concerned about the practicalities of it. It does sound like it is not as much hassle as I had first thought.
We have a fair sized living room - 24ft x 13ft, and that is all that it would be heating. I'll show the thread to the missus and she'll probably have the casting vote on it!
Maybe a good reason to replace the living room floor too...
I thought about a log burner briefly but ended up with one of these.
http://www.flavelfires.co.uk/products/flavel-jazz-...
Remote control, high efficiency and gets the lounge warm enough in the evening on low.
Costs about 10p per hour to run on low and 16p on high.
The lounge is semi open plan so the heat wanders round the house in the evening and the CH hardly come on.
Won't fool anyone that it's real but good enough for me!
Oh, and in case you missed it - Remote Control :-)
http://www.flavelfires.co.uk/products/flavel-jazz-...
Remote control, high efficiency and gets the lounge warm enough in the evening on low.
Costs about 10p per hour to run on low and 16p on high.
The lounge is semi open plan so the heat wanders round the house in the evening and the CH hardly come on.
Won't fool anyone that it's real but good enough for me!
Oh, and in case you missed it - Remote Control :-)
Edited by ctdctd on Tuesday 31st January 12:59
Moved into a knackered house with a s
t heating system 18 months ago...we have two log burners. Only really use one but we absolutely love it. You can buy a couple of tonne's of good quality logs for less than £200 which will last the winter...in a house that's less fked than ours it would easily heat the whole downstairs....gives our proper heat and is so much more than just a source or warmth! We're refurbing the house in a year or so and will add a back boiler to the wood burner so it becomes an integral part of the hot water and heating system.
t heating system 18 months ago...we have two log burners. Only really use one but we absolutely love it. You can buy a couple of tonne's of good quality logs for less than £200 which will last the winter...in a house that's less fked than ours it would easily heat the whole downstairs....gives our proper heat and is so much more than just a source or warmth! We're refurbing the house in a year or so and will add a back boiler to the wood burner so it becomes an integral part of the hot water and heating system. 
Our house renovation - just taken this!
First thing we did was install 2 burners, we love them and have access to loads of "free" wood so they will pay for themselves in a couple of years.
Itis a different heat to central heating and we would never nott have one now, dog loves it too!
The fan is new to us and i have to say we are very impressed, you cant really fell itnpushing the heat atound but you definitely know when you dont use it
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