Mains Gas Stove vs Multi-Fuel Stove

AMO

Hi all,

I've always been sold on wood and multi-fuel stoves mainly because I've been told that my open gas fire is only about 20% efficient and the multi-fuel stoves are about 85% efficient.

However, after discussing with a few installers, I realised that you could get gas stoves that were up to 90% efficient.

They told me that unless you could get your wood for free or very cheap, it was unlikely that a multi-fuel burner would work out better financially.

Even if initial higher costs are not taken into the equation, the daily running costs assuming you buy in your logs and coal are likely to be higher than running an 80-90% efficent mains gas stove. Gas would have to continue going up by another 50% over 5 years before it would make sense from a running costs perspective especially the higher maintenance costs of multi-fuel and the higher risk of replacement parts.

Could people in the know and have experience of comparing an efficient mains gas stove with an efficient multi-fuel stove sourcing wood/coal cheaply en masse but not picked up free because you know someone (stored in bunkers etc) give a knowledgable comparison of running costs.

Thanks!

A._Badger

I don't think you will find anyone who knows about the subject who will pretend that logs, coal or smokeless fuel are as cheap to burn as mains gas.

We do get quite a few posters to this forum attracted to log burners by the promise of 'free fuel' which they believe they can simply pick up on walks through the local woods. Anyone who has tried this will tell you that you simply can't.

Even a small wood stove consumes a huge volume of wood in a year and the only way of keeping one fed 'for free' would be if one had a small plantation of trees that one could coppice and manage.

Commercial prices for hardwood have risen hugely in recent years as the myth that stoves are 'cheap' has taken hold and as they have become very fashionable as lifestyle trophies. This has had the knock-on effect that supplies of properly dried wood have become harder to source, as well, leading to all sorts of problems with efficient and safe burning, damp wood being a serious problem..

As wood prices have shot up, so have those of smokeless fuel, which have been inflated to keep pace with those of wood and oil - the main two alternatives for those of us off the gas grid.

Which isn't to say that stoves don't have their attractions - it's just that cost, compared with gas, isn't one of them. And yes, maintenance costs are higher, too.

A modern mains gas fire will be cheaper to buy, install and run. It will also demand a lot less physical labour to keep running and it will make less mess in the house.

IMO, though, it just won't be as aesthetically pleasing to live with and I bet I am not the only one who would still use a solid fuel stove, even if I had mains gas.

The oil fired central heating would be gone like a shot, however!

Hope that's some help.