Wood Burners

littleun

Thinking of replaceing living flame gas fire with a woodburner.Can any one give me any advice as to install,maintenance ease of use, good points, bad points? thankyou in advance

debbie42

There have been quite a few posts on here about wood burners, so it's probably worth a search.

I had two installed last year, and am very pleased with them. Mine are both made by Scan. I had both chimneys lined: I was advised by more than one person that anyone who said it didn't need lining was wrong. Note: this does bump the price up, but is essential, IMO.

If you use a HETAS registered engineer to fit the unit, then they handle any associated building regulation requirements for you. In which case, make sure you get the appropriate certificate of the installer, before you pay would be good, as my installer (although good at his job) wasn't so brilliant at the paperwork!

Their web site has some useful info, and the people there are very good at answering questions. http://www.hetas.co.uk/

btw, mine are very easy to run, start, clean etc. One thing to bear in mind is where to put your wood store, and where to source the wood. I tried getting it in bags, but that works out very expensive. I have a very good cheap, seasoned source now from a local tree feller.

teleaddict

We had a wood burner installed last year and had the flue lined. How often should you get the flue lining swept? I know it sounds a stupid question, but it's never dawned on me before.

Peartree

If this is going to be a major source of heating, make sure you have a good source of wood. When I had one it just guzzled up the wood. The bags of logs you buy were gone very, very quickly.

soba

Hi, anybody out there got a Clearview stove? Thinking of taking the plunge and it looks like we'll be going for one of theirs.

debbie42

soba wrote: »

Hi, anybody out there got a Clearview stove? Thinking of taking the plunge and it looks like we'll be going for one of theirs.

I so nearly bought one of those, but didn't, so can't give you first hand experience of running one. I have only heard good things about them, and have seen them in action at Dinham Hall.

The reason we didn't go with them in the end was practical, regarding the dimensions of the chimney we were using.

Hope it all works out well for you.

The_Economist

I think a burner is a investment that what we see it as, we spent all our money on it but hope to cut down on central heating wherever possible.

Hi poppy cat just wondered how you are getting on with the wood burner. Have you managed to cut down on the central heating? I am still looking at getting one now christmas has passed but not sure if it is gonna be worth the £3000+ i have been quoted. This is to supply the stove re-open the fire place, sort liner for the chimney and have a slate hearth.

Lotus-eater

I can tell you my experiences if it would help.
We hesitated for 3 years on and off in our new house whether to get a woodburner or not as it was so much money. This is our 2nd year with it and we definately wish we had it installed before now.
Yes its alot of money, but if you are the sort of person that would get happiness from it, then if you can afford it, do it.
It is a sort of investment, it might make your house worth a bit more and it will cut down your heating bills a bit, as long as you turn down your thermostat...
But if you have to pay for your wood, then you aren't going to save any money really and unless you are on oil CH , you are going to save even less money.

Get as many quotes as you can, ask for satisfied customers. Don't automatically pick the cheapest, pick the best you can afford. From what I read on itsnoteasybeinggreen forum, buying a cheap import stove isn't a good idea, but I have no experience with them. We've always had villagers and now a charnwood.

Igol

Chimneys/flues should be swept at least once a year. I found with my old coal fire it was twice a year when little bits of soot were floating down from ceiling.
I fitted a Villager 'Berkely low integral' last summer that powers the CH and with the setup I came up with is nearly as controlable as gas CH would be.

Obvious advantage is the cost....pallets are free
Whole thing only cost 2 grand with stove, hearth, cylinder, radiators, pipework and so on. A local firm, who didnt really get the idea, when I explained it to them quoted 1700 just to run the pipes as my plan 'wouldnt work'?!
Question is should I start selling my plans on ebay?

Pennylane

I don't have a woodburner but was talking to a friend recently who acquired one in a house she moved into.

I don't know if other people are aware of this but she was storing wood against the sides of the woodburner and it very nearly all caught fire! I suppose when you have one fitted you are told how to store wood by these or at least get a booklet, but, like I say, it came with her house & was a few years old.

She was lucky she was in at the time and smelt this burning smell and the logs were actually smouldering! :eek: :eek: