Wood burner - can I get away without lining?

ixwood

Pallets are pine though and I thought you weren't supposed to burn pine wood as it's too tarry?

savemoney

I burn pallets but only for a small while they give off a lot of heat especially the slates that rune across rather than the thick parts to strengthen them

ixwood

Why do people keep their burners going overnight or when out all day? I've just got an open fire, so not sure about burners.

I know open fires aren't as efficient, but can't justify the expense of a closed stove. It's a long pay back time with free/cheap wood!

Igol

Basically you can keep a background level of heat in the house and its easier to relight them. In my case its also keeping hot water circulating through the cylinder so I'm using it to top up my heat store.

When I last got coal it was about £13 a bag so with topping off the bunkers I'm looking at £260 a year. It was around £1700 to swap to the stove complete with a CH system so looking at the numbers 6 years to pay for itself.
But, stoves are about 3 times as efficient as open fires (down to 3 years) my heating costs for the whole house are now zero, gas is only used for cooking and DHW(£16 last quarter).
I reckon it paid for itself just after a year.

ixwood

Thanks.

But couldn't you have just burnt free wood instead of buying the coal, meaning payback time of never? Sorry if I've misunderstood, but that's what's holding me back.

ixwood

I love the idea of wood power central heating though. 2k seemed like the going rate for a decent burner and chimney lining, so £1700 sounds relatively good. Still a lot of money though.

If I could pick up a stove cheap, I might go for it, but the whole lined chimney business puts me off a bit.

I doubt it, but would as old unused gas boiler flue be any use?

owned_by_2_Siamese

Just to clarify - even dry and seasoned wood will produce a residue that can condense (unless the chimney is hot) so even burning dry 2 year seasoned wood (as I do) you can still get the brown liquid goo....

owned_by_2_Siamese

And - no an old gas flue is a BAD idea - the inside is ridged which will allow blockages to grip - proper solid fuel/wood liner is smooth on the inside (double skinned corrugated on the outside) - it also should be insulates on the outside using rock wool sleve or similar (remember its job is to keep hot!)

Whilst tehre are building regs for installing (I think its now under 'building control) I dont think there are any specific standards for liner - another reason to speak to an expert! (as you might be able to tell I spoke to one and am now arranging for it to beinstalled - and yes that means uninstalling a two year old stove just to put it back!)

KittyBoo_2

I am having a nightmare as I was due to have the woodburning Stovax Stockton 4 fitted.
I was informed by my neighbour that we were in a smokeless zone ( he saw my logs being delivered) and when I started to look into it, I realsied that burning wood on this fire was not an option.
I have now ordered the Stokcton 5 plus a kit which enables this stove to burn wood in a smokeless zone.
The guy who is fitting it is coming to test the chimney and will fit it without a liner for £450 plus VAT. It will be over £800 with a liner.
He is HETAS registered.
My friend had a guy from her Council office call to say she is not allowed to burn wood on a fire that is not DEFRA approved (these fires come with a certificate) and that she could end up with a fine unless she starts burning smokeless fuel.

owned_by_2_Siamese

Kittyboo - I live in an area that isn't smokeless - but when I got my stove (a morso squirrel cleanheat) I was told it could be used in a smokeless zone. When I queeried this I was told that approved stoves are approved by model - and that there was a 'list' of those approved. I didnt get any certificate or the like - but the website and instructions clearly state it can be used in a smokeless area subject to burning smokeless coal or seasoned wood (and compliance with the instructions)
If you look at this web link http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/cleanburn-cleanheat-stove.html it gives details. I think that as long as the stiove is on the list I cant see how the LA can ask for more?
One other thing - you probably will need a liner to ensur ethe stove operates at the kind of efficiency that is required when it's installed. Your HETAS installer must advise you (make sure they are HETAS registered)
Dont lose heart - it can be done remember an open fire can be used with smokeless fuel - and there is no certificate or the like with a grate you buy from a fire shop!
(I find that if you ask for any advice given by teh Local Auth to be confirmed in writing it doesnt always match what you have been told!)