Would I regret getting a 5 kW woodburner?

Hennymore

Thinking about getting a woodburner for our front room. Leaning towards a 5 kW one to save having to put in a vent, but I’m not sure if I’d come to regret it and wish I’d gone with a higher capacity one.

The room is 5 * 4.6 m with about a 3.25 m ceiling. It’s an Edwardian mid-terrace, mostly single glazed and not terribly well insulated. Door is usually open to the rest of the house. Online calculators tend to suggest around 6-7 kW.

We would want it as a cosy thing on a cold evening, but not as the main heat source or to save money on heating. So as long as we can sit a few metres from it and feel warmth radiate we’d be happy.

Do you reckon we’d be fine with a 5 kW one or might it be a good idea to go higher? Anyone out there picked too low a capacity and regretted it?

silverwhistle

To be honest I reckon a 5Kw would do you: the figures they quote tend to be a range anyway. My lounge is smaller and I'm better insulated, but then I have a dining room too and a door to the hall. If I want it warmer I just load more wood, burn a bit hotter or burn for longer but I always end up opening the door to the hall to let heat circulate. I don't actually use the central heating these days apart from testing it occasionally.


I'd probably make sure I had decent lined curtains and draught proofing but although there is a risk you'd regret it my (unbacked!) bet is that you wouldn't.

that

of you live on london, Kahn may outlaw fires, due the co2 and particles. Think there will be a ruling comming into place, or it may already be in place where very few areas when non clean burning fuel is allowed

SG27

Dont let getting a vent put you off getting a bigger one. If you want a bigger stuff just go for it. But as silverwhistle says a 5kw will give out a lot of heat still.

theonlywayisup

We have a 5kw in a snug about that size and it's more than enough. It's a West Fire and is uber efficient. I wouldn't go bigger unless you really want it to heat the rest of the house too. If like us you are using it as a feature/for atmosphere and the effect, you may find it belts out too much heat. Our UFH turns off in that zone when the fire is on, even on it's lowest setting.

cranford

Its not just the Mayor or London that is planning to regulate wood burners.
The government is also planning to bring in regulations although I can see that they would want to upset a million voters with existing burners.
https://www.ft.com/content/0e367636-a205-11e8-85da-eeb7a9ce36e4

Davesnave

I have a 5kW wood burner and heat a large area adequately with it. Like you, I can turn on central heating too if I need to, but I rarely do.

The difference is that the vast majority of my logs are not purchased and I have room to store 2 years worth, or more.

Before you consider which wood burner, consider storage and whatever inconvenience having a stove will create, because they are never work-free.

keith969

I also have a 5kW woodburner and my living room is about the same size. If I have it on full blast it gets too hot even with the door to the hall wide open. With the air turned right down it will maintain a comfortable heat in all but the coldest of weathers.

Gloomendoom

keith969 wrote: »

I also have a 5kW woodburner and my living room is about the same size. If I have it on full blast it gets too hot even with the door to the hall wide open.

I have just fitted one in our caravan.

Last week My wife had to resort to stripping off to her bra and pants.

Hennymore

Wow, super helpful answers. Thank you all so much!

Apodemus

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I have just fitted one in our caravan.

Last week My wife had to resort to stripping off to her bra and pants.

Clearly you should have gone for a 7.5kW! . That might have lifted your Gloom and Doom!