Is a log burner a better way to heat one room (and cheaper?)
Discussion
Pretty much what everyone else has said - depends on your circumstances.
We have LPG, which is horrendously expensive, so barely use it for heating (I think I can remember putting it on twice, for about an hour each time, this last winter).
So we more or less live in one room most of the year, lighting the wood burner when it's cold. But we don't have to buy wood as we have our own supply, and the wood burner was already here when we moved in.
We have LPG, which is horrendously expensive, so barely use it for heating (I think I can remember putting it on twice, for about an hour each time, this last winter).
So we more or less live in one room most of the year, lighting the wood burner when it's cold. But we don't have to buy wood as we have our own supply, and the wood burner was already here when we moved in.
I use a multi fuel stove to heat my house (2 up, 2 down semi). Wood (scavenged) in spring/autumn to take the chill off, smokeless fuel in the cold months.
Smokeless is good for a long steady burn - stays in all night and when out at work, keeps the house at a good temperature and saves faffing about lighting it in the morning/when getting home.
Costs about £400 a ton, but that lasted me all winter with some left over.
Wood I find out and about, keep a chainsaw in the boot for when I come across bigger logs.
Smokeless is good for a long steady burn - stays in all night and when out at work, keeps the house at a good temperature and saves faffing about lighting it in the morning/when getting home.
Costs about £400 a ton, but that lasted me all winter with some left over.
Wood I find out and about, keep a chainsaw in the boot for when I come across bigger logs.
We have a couple of log burners that were here when we moved - We use the one in the living room with the doors to the rest of the house left open. We’re toasty in front of the telly and it takes the chill off the remaining rooms so that the (oil fired) central heating doesn’t kick in much.
We pay for most of our wood and it costs about £5 each night we light the fire (not counting any saving we might be making on oil). Smokeless fuel is cheaper I believe, but creates much more ash - With wood we probably only have to clear the grate once or twice a month…
We pay for most of our wood and it costs about £5 each night we light the fire (not counting any saving we might be making on oil). Smokeless fuel is cheaper I believe, but creates much more ash - With wood we probably only have to clear the grate once or twice a month…
We have a log burner in the sitting room. Stairs lead off the sitting room to the first floor. With doors open, the log burner will heat the ground floor and first floor bedrooms. Second floor needs a different source of heat though - the log burner isn’t quite powerful enough for all 3 floors.
When Putin turns the gas off to Europe & sends prices even higher, I reckon more of us will be using log burners / log fires.
When Putin turns the gas off to Europe & sends prices even higher, I reckon more of us will be using log burners / log fires.
d to heat with the central heating, then you end up practically boiling in bed afterwards as all the heat rises, though I also want to put thermostatic valves on all the radiators too this summer which should help...Hello,
My property is a fairly large detached 4 bed.
I have gas central heating throughput, but very rarely use for heating purposes.
My gas combi boiler is predominantly there for hot water only.
My main source of heating is my wood burner in the living room fitted about 12 years ago, i plumbed for a Morso as I was lead to believe they are among the best. It was about £4 K installed (with a decent stainless chimney liner). 12 years ago mind?!
The stove keeps my living room and kitchen toasty, and the heat provides adequately to the upstairs rooms.
They do need maintaining though, fire bricks, (door) glass, other internal castings do wear with age.
I use a mix of fuels. I have a supplier who delivers solid fuel every fortnight ‘Burnwell’ which is in an ovoid form - I think it’s compressed coal dust and cement.This can be used to keep the stove going over night to relight with kindling in the morning. That costs me about £60 / fortnight during really cold months like Jan and Feb. There are also plenty of other fuels which are coming onto the market from a renewable perspective.
I also have a supplier who delivers wood about 3 times a year. A trailer load is about £90 that I use to get the stove going etc. A delivery October, then December and February.
You’ll probably need a good wood store to keep it dry, I built one during lockdown for buttons, but it was a big improvement on the sheet of tarpaulin I used to use.
As others have said, scavenging can reduce your costs, but that’s not for me. I don’t own the type of vehicle you can load up with timber on the off-chance. Also, think about your home insulation for better efficiency, mine could be a whole lot better.
I’d say go for it. You won’t look back.
There is absolutely nothing like being in front of a wood burner on a foul winters night. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I always look forward to the autumn and those nights coming round again.
My property is a fairly large detached 4 bed.
I have gas central heating throughput, but very rarely use for heating purposes.
My gas combi boiler is predominantly there for hot water only.
My main source of heating is my wood burner in the living room fitted about 12 years ago, i plumbed for a Morso as I was lead to believe they are among the best. It was about £4 K installed (with a decent stainless chimney liner). 12 years ago mind?!
The stove keeps my living room and kitchen toasty, and the heat provides adequately to the upstairs rooms.
They do need maintaining though, fire bricks, (door) glass, other internal castings do wear with age.
I use a mix of fuels. I have a supplier who delivers solid fuel every fortnight ‘Burnwell’ which is in an ovoid form - I think it’s compressed coal dust and cement.This can be used to keep the stove going over night to relight with kindling in the morning. That costs me about £60 / fortnight during really cold months like Jan and Feb. There are also plenty of other fuels which are coming onto the market from a renewable perspective.
I also have a supplier who delivers wood about 3 times a year. A trailer load is about £90 that I use to get the stove going etc. A delivery October, then December and February.
You’ll probably need a good wood store to keep it dry, I built one during lockdown for buttons, but it was a big improvement on the sheet of tarpaulin I used to use.
As others have said, scavenging can reduce your costs, but that’s not for me. I don’t own the type of vehicle you can load up with timber on the off-chance. Also, think about your home insulation for better efficiency, mine could be a whole lot better.
I’d say go for it. You won’t look back.
There is absolutely nothing like being in front of a wood burner on a foul winters night. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I always look forward to the autumn and those nights coming round again.
As above, a wood burner is great. You very much get what you pay for in terms of efficiency though. I’ve had a jotul which was ok ish and now have a clear view which is brilliant ( very efficient but expensive to buy).
You need to remember that with any open fire or stove the combustion air is drawn from the room it’s in, so the air you have heated up goes up the chimney. If you can install an external air source for a stove it’s more efficient.
You need to remember that with any open fire or stove the combustion air is drawn from the room it’s in, so the air you have heated up goes up the chimney. If you can install an external air source for a stove it’s more efficient.
Had one in old house and one of the first things we did when we moved to next house last year
Got a fan to sit on top to try and blow the warm air out of the room to spread heat but not sure it does much
Love having the fire glowing in the evening
Mrs got me chestnut roasting pan for xmas and theres nothing like a few chestnuts freshly cooked
Got a fan to sit on top to try and blow the warm air out of the room to spread heat but not sure it does much
Love having the fire glowing in the evening
Mrs got me chestnut roasting pan for xmas and theres nothing like a few chestnuts freshly cooked
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