wood burning stove and new boiler

Gloomendoom

It's something I am looking into as well. Our house has rubble filled stone walls and a gas boiler even older than the OP's. We do have solid fuel heating as well though.

I don't like the idea of leaving a 2" cavity because it seems like an open invitation to mice. To be honest, I can't see why it would be necessary.

muckybutt

Gloomendoom wrote: »

It's something I am looking into as well. Our house has rubble filled stone walls and a gas boiler even older than the OP's. We do have solid fuel heating as well though.

I don't like the idea of leaving a 2" cavity because it seems like an open invitation to mice. To be honest, I can't see why it would be necessary.

Condensation can form on the wall if the insulation board is touching it from what ive read, the gap is merely there to maintain an air flow to keep the wall free from condensation and mould.

grahamc2003

f you are off the gas grid, it makes sense to pick up any generous payments from the rhi, which is soion to be finalised. It looks likely to cover most of not all your expenses for several years, including parts and labour - you just have to cough up the initial pcost, then get payments every years for the next 7 years. (With the new 'green deal', you may not even have to cough up anything if you jump through enough hoops)

The only stove to qualify for the rhi is the Broseley evolution 26kw, so your house has to be suitable for 26kw of heating. Nut don't underestimate the amount of work feeding a 26kW stove - it would need a lot of wood. I spend much more time than others messing around collecting, chopping, stacking, chopping more etc etc, and that is just for my current 5kW stove. If you have to buy wood, then it won't work out any cheaper than mains gas, or economy 7 electricity.(post the rhi).

In your situation, it may be worthwhile having a green deal survey arranged, to give you some (theoretical) figures and recommendations of what work to do first (it will say loft and wall insulation, draft proofing etc before any other work). You can get them free at the moment, otherwise they'll cost £100ish.

Google 'green deal', 'rhi', 'wood pellet stoves', 'air source heat pumps'. if you want a lot to read.

Gloomendoom

muckybutt wrote: »

Condensation can form on the wall if the insulation board is touching it from what ive read, the gap is merely there to maintain an air flow to keep the wall free from condensation and mould.

But wouldn't a gap need ventilating to stop condensation... and then you are back to square one. I would have thought it would be better to use the gap for more insulation. I suppose the only way to be sure would be to do some dew point calculations.

Another thing that is putting me off is the perceived wisdom that an old house must be allowed to breathe to be healthy. Lining the interior walls with layers of insulation is not going to help it breathe particularly if a vapour barrier is included.

hethmar

Not read all the way, but I think the high costings for the flue is because OP is saying that it has to be twin walled insulated solid liners going up the outside of the house (NOT internal 904/904 lining) - and yes, they are expensive.

As OP isnt keen on chopping wood - the cost of ready chopped needs to be taken into account and I have no doubt that the cost of wood will be increasing in the next few years as more and more people install wood burners. Using a large appliance will also require a lot of storage space. You may think of a huge biomass boiler with a feeder for chips but this will also require space.

As you mention you have a gas fire, I take it you are on mains? If so, Id spend the money on a new gas system for the house personally.

elantan

thanks everyone, Hethmar yes we are on mains gas, we have been looking at more things this weekend but we still keep getting drawn back to the wood burning stove, the heat is just so much different.

dont get me wrong we dont mind chopping wood, we just dont want to be spending all weekend every weekend doing it, but yes i was also thinking that the price may go up as more and more buy the wood burning stoves.


Also yes that is the type of flue we need hence the reason for the cost

asharon

I recently had a Hunter 14 put in as a linked system with and LPG boiler. I love it. I run the fire all day, not at full, more lower temp, but enough to keep the cold at bay.

I sized the radiators myself and the fire isnt meant to be enough to heat them, although it depends what temp you want.

I can chuck the wood on and get it really going, but I tend to put the LPG on in the evening when it's really cold and it tops it up nicely.

I really like having a stove to heat the house.

Good luck with your choice.

peterpan567

I am just considering to buy a wood burning or a multi fuel stove, I just need a small one for a semi-sized lounge. I found this one in sale for £285 only:) http://www.westcountryfires.co.uk/wcf-braemar-cleanburn-4-multifuel-stove-free-delivery-p-645.html

Any tips where to buy the wood for cheap these days?

Greenfires

I can't help wondering - at that price, quite what they mean by "built in Britain"? My gut feeling is that they mean "buying cheap parts that have been bolted together in Britain as shipping from China is cheaper if they send them flat pack" I'd be very happy to be proved wrong though!

muckybutt

Theres British Built, then theres Made In Britain - my thoughts are the same as Greenfires....cheap import !