Heat logs/briquettes - What am I missing?

nappy501

I had a multifuel stove fitted the middle of March.  I have used up most of the wood I had.  I have some house coal from 2018, so I don't think I can use that.  I purchased some heat logs from Lidl £3.99 for 12, which works out about 34p each.
When the weather gets a bit warmer I am going to buy or build a proper wood shed, so I can have a couple of builders bags delivered for next winter.  I was going to buy maybe a quarter pallet of heat logs to take me through to next winter.  I was expecting them to be cheaper than Lidi as I am buying in bulk, but it is working out at about 62p or more each.  What am I missing?

Reed_Richards

I don't think coal has a use-by date.

Benny2020

What you are missing is that wood is free, why would you pay for it?
Here in Lincolnshire we have signs outside small holdings and farms etc asking you to just take the wood away.

k_man

Reed_Richards said:

I don't think coal has a use-by date.

Isn't it about 300 million years?

Benny2020

Its like cheese, they mature it for years and as soon as its put on a supermarket shelf its going to go off in 2 weeks.

FreeBear

Do not burn house coal in a multifuel stove - It will dump tonnes of tar/creosote in your flue liner and can shorten its life. Advertise the coal on facebook/freecycle and get rid of it.

A builder's bulk bag doesn't hold much in the way of logs - You will be severely disappointed in the quantity once it is stacked neatly in a shed. You'll get more for your money if you get a loose load, but even then, it won't look much when stacked. April/May is the best time to buy in seasoned wood - Bung it in a shed and it should get baked during the summer and be nice & dry come the winter. No need to spend extra buying in kiln dried logs, as the shed will do that for you (more money saved).

nappy501

Reed_Richards said:

I don't think coal has a use-by date.

From what I was reading.  You are not supposed to use house coal in a multifuel stove.

nappy501

Benny2020 said:

What you are missing is that wood is free, why would you pay for it?
Here in Lincolnshire we have signs outside small holdings and farms etc asking you to just take the wood away.

I'm in Lincolnshire.  I've seen them cutting down trees, but I have not seen them asking people to take it away.  The worse thing I have seen is when the chip it up and I think  I could be burning that.

nappy501

k_man said:

Reed_Richards said:

I don't think coal has a use-by date.

Isn't it about 300 million years?

I don't think I can use house coal in the multifuel stove.

nappy501

FreeBear said:

Do not burn house coal in a multifuel stove - It will dump tonnes of tar/creosote in your flue liner and can shorten its life. Advertise the coal on facebook/freecycle and get rid of it.

A builder's bulk bag doesn't hold much in the way of logs - You will be severely disappointed in the quantity once it is stacked neatly in a shed. You'll get more for your money if you get a loose load, but even then, it won't look much when stacked. April/May is the best time to buy in seasoned wood - Bung it in a shed and it should get baked during the summer and be nice & dry come the winter. No need to spend extra buying in kiln dried logs, as the shed will do that for you (more money saved).

Thank you for explaining about the house coal in the multifuel stove, I knew I shouldn't use it.  I will investigate a loose load.

Mstty

Yeah if you get them for £3.99 for 12 you will have trouble beating that especially with delivery most in bulk end up £4.50 for 12.

Just stock up at Lidl or Aldi when shopping and passing and put a few bags in the car?