Remove storage heaters & install log burning central heating.....

bexbright

Hi everyone,

We are looking at buying a house, but it currently doesnt have central heating and there is no gas to the property, so we were toying with the idea of having a log burner installed for heating.

Currently there are storage heaters, and no (that I am aware of!) chimney or anything.

So my question is really:

1) How much (ball park figure!) do you think it may cost us to get something like this done? I am talking everything - stove, chimney, radiators, boiler, removal of storage heaters etc - full works.

2) How long do you think it may take to have such a big project completed?

I am only after rough estimates and of course appreciate there will be a LOT of permeatations and issues involved, but it would be good to have a rough idea so we know whether to put an offer on the house or not!!

I hope this makes sense, thank you!!

daveyjp

If the property has enough room for storing the fuel you could also consider a wood pellet boiler.

home-heating-oil

How big is the house? A solid fuel rayburn can run 8 radiators and provide hot water. Wood does not burn as hot as coal, oil or gas. So it is limited in the number of rooms it can heat.

Buying seasoned logs is quite expensive around £50 - £75 per load. Loads vary but in the winter you could be using a load, or more, per month.

It is also high maintenance if you do not put the wood in you will not get the heat so you will need to think how you would store the wood.. Going outside early in the morning in the snow is not fun.

If you have a natural supply of wood locally it is hard physical work.

But it is carbon neutral and it is a lifestyle choice so if you are up for it.. thumbs up..

hethmar

Is there a gas supply nearby? If so, I were you Id pay the money to have that connected and have full gas heating. It will probably be cheaper than all the works you are contemplating and much more convenient - without a chimney you may be thinking a double insulated job running up the side of the house, assuming you get planning permission for that, its may be £3k alone. And where would you put the stove as I take it you have no fireplace? Is it a country property with outbuildings that could take a boiler?

As said above, you need a lot of storage area, a reliable supply of wood (and I can see the cost of wood shooting up as so many people are now buying stoves) and a woodburner stove isnt brilliant for heating a whole house. If you are both working, you wont come home to a cosy house or get up to one - woodburners are labour intensive. We used to have a wood burning kitchen range which did heat our old cottage via a central heating system very well but a huge beastie so you would need plenty of room for it plus I was at home all day with young children, so I could get the wheel barrow full of logs to feed it all day.

jonewer

Be aware that solid fuel is hard work. I have open fires for fun on the weekends but often even then I cant be shagged to shlep coal about, chop wood, light the fire etc...

If you're after a workaday heating system, try something else.

Swipe

I'd echo the above. I only light my stove at weekends because I can't be bothered to tend to it during the evenings after a long day at work. You also can't set solid fuel heating to come on an hour before you return home or wake up.

naomig

saying all that, my husband enjoys nothing better than logging/splitting felled logs and then lighting the fire up every morning. He says its therapeutic. (im sure he means its therapeutic as he gets away from me for a few hours every so often). Might be the caveman instinct...