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?
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
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...
Andehh said:
AND BEST OF ALL....you can have all manner of fun with statements such as ''she loves my wood'' and ''she'll keep taking my wood until morning'' and ''once hot she is insatiable''. Surely that alone and the giggles & guffaws are worth every penny! 
Curiously, that is one selling feature I've not seen on any of the websites, but maybe it should be!I think this will lead to another lengthy discussion with the missus. Clearly a log burner is compromised in some ways, but the feature-factor and the intangible feel-good factor are very strong positives.
After much discussion and weighing up pros & cons, I think we're sticking to gas now.
We decided that we could deal with "the faff" if we found the right looking one for the sitting room and we didn't want the traditional cast iron style. The only one we both agreed looked good, was around £9,000. Plus fitting, Plus the flue...
Maybe in the next house.
We decided that we could deal with "the faff" if we found the right looking one for the sitting room and we didn't want the traditional cast iron style. The only one we both agreed looked good, was around £9,000. Plus fitting, Plus the flue...
Maybe in the next house.
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