Logs for winter - how much is enough?
Discussion
So, we have two wood burning stoves, one a 5kWH, one at 9kWH. Installed over the summer ready for this winter.
How much wood am I expecting to get through over the winter (appreciating its a bit of a how long is a piece of string question).
I have ordered 1.5m3, which will fill my log shed for now. Am I ordering again soon?
How much wood am I expecting to get through over the winter (appreciating its a bit of a how long is a piece of string question).
I have ordered 1.5m3, which will fill my log shed for now. Am I ordering again soon?
I would say that you might need four times that to see you through. We've got a Rayburn and an open fire and probably use that amount, plus some coal. Always best to season your logs for a year in advance as dry seasoned logs produce so much more heat so you use less. If your burners are multi-fuel you can always supplement the logs with smokeless fuel.
I got through 1.6 cubic metres hardwood from Certainly Wood, another 10+ bags, ten bags of pureheat coal and three bags of anthracite stovesse last year on a 5kw fire. Cheap to run they aren't but this year I've just got the certainly wood and a delivery from the local logger, £55 a cubic m3.
I reckon if you run both of those fires most evenings and weekends without using any coal, you'll be on at least 5 or 6 m3..
I reckon if you run both of those fires most evenings and weekends without using any coal, you'll be on at least 5 or 6 m3..
It depends a lot on what type of house you have. I have a reasonably well insulated modern 4 bed and a 5kW stove ~90% efficient which I use evenings and weekends in the winter, backed up with gas in the mornings and for hot water. I expect to get through 3-4 m3 of firewood this winter, if its like the last few.
I am having a 5kw stove fitted in a week. I have just spent an afternoon de-nailing and sawing up a Vito van full of (free) pallets. Amazing the difference in build quality and what a lot of hard work dismembering them. Mind you, I could weigh the nails in and buy some wood with the money.
Its not going to be enough for 4 weeks,is it? Whats the best way of getting easier to deal with free wood seeing as I have a van to collect it with?
Its not going to be enough for 4 weeks,is it? Whats the best way of getting easier to deal with free wood seeing as I have a van to collect it with?
We get through 3 tons of wood per winter running the 5kw stove from about 6pm when we get home, till 10:30pm at night.
Get yourself a few bags of 'boiler nuts' too - they're a bit like coal, but burn really hot and don't turn to ash. They will really boost the heat output of your stove and strangely enough make the wood last longer.
Get yourself a few bags of 'boiler nuts' too - they're a bit like coal, but burn really hot and don't turn to ash. They will really boost the heat output of your stove and strangely enough make the wood last longer.
dickymint said:
What heating were you using before you had the log burners fitted and will you still be using it? I'm interested to know if you will be saving money or if it will actually cost you more.
LPG (no mains gas here) fired central heating: underfloor downstairs, radiators upstairs.I am expecting that the stoves will do away with the need for the underfloor to be on much at all from, say, 5pm is through to the next morning and that the internal exposed chimney will heat the master bedroom considerably too.
Its not so much a cost thing, I just missed seeing flames!
JPJPJP said:
I also came by a skip full of pallet blocks
Do you know where the pallets came from? If they're english or most of europe pallets then they'll be fine. If they're from Asia, South America or some US pallets, they'll be treated wood which will do one of two things: gunk up your flue and burner windows, and/or exude lots of lovely noxious gasses whilst burning...Buyer beware!
RedLeicester said:
Do you know where the pallets came from? If they're english or most of europe pallets then they'll be fine. If they're from Asia, South America or some US pallets, they'll be treated wood which will do one of two things: gunk up your flue and burner windows, and/or exude lots of lovely noxious gasses whilst burning...
Buyer beware!
I suspect they are English, given the clients of said pallet yard. They all look clean enough and I did a test burn in the garden with 20 and that seemed OK to me.Buyer beware!
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