Cost -Gas vs multifuel burner

owon

Apologies if this questions has been asked many times before

For years I have toyed with the idea of having a stove installed I grew up in a house with an open fire although GFCH is so convenient there is nothing more relaxing than heat from a fire

I've been quoted £3200 for the supply and fit of a 5kw multifuel burner which seems resonable considering the additonal work reqired at my property, my question is with the gas prices about to skyrocket over the coming months is it a good time to invest and would the savings I make reducing my gas consumption help ofset the install cost?

FreeBear

How much space do you have to store the fuel ?

It needs to be under cover, so either a large shed, or a garage. If you use predominately wood, you want enough space to store two years worth of logs - Do not underestimate the amount of logs you'd get through in a winter. I have a 10x6 shed packed full - The summer sun has baked the logs down to ~12% moisture content which should just about last the winter. Next years pile needs bulking out, so I'm on the hunt for more logs. I may well have to buy in a load, but prices are up (25-30%).

Smokeless coal has recently gone up in price by about 25%, and one 25Kg bag will last me about a week. Got enough in (another) shed to last until spring.

Bottom line - Unless you have access to large quantities of cheap/free logs, you are unlikely to save compared to gas.

owon

Well I have an unsued greenhouse throughout the winter 8x6 but I was mostly planning to use smokeless coal, sometime I will use logs to gather ash for composting/mulching so I dont need a big suppy. £60 a month on coal dosent seem to bad considering my gas will exceed £100 next month then maybe double that by January. Would you use those 4 bag in additon to the logs. If you were to use coal alone how many bags would you need per week?

mumf

owon said:

Well I have an unsued greenhouse throughout the winter 8x6 but I was mostly planning to use smokeless coal, sometime I will use logs to gather ash for composting/mulching so I dont need a big suppy. £60 a month on coal dosent seem to bad considering my gas will exceed £100 next month then maybe double that by January. Would you use those 4 bag in additon to the logs. If you were to use coal alone how many bags would you need per week?

How long will your fire burn? Take into consideration also,of chimney sweeping too. Your wood needs fresh air,a greenhouse doesn’t provide that. Never heard of storing wood in one if I am honest. 

Effician

mumf said:

owon said:

Well I have an unsued greenhouse throughout the winter 8x6 but I was mostly planning to use smokeless coal, sometime I will use logs to gather ash for composting/mulching so I dont need a big suppy. £60 a month on coal dosent seem to bad considering my gas will exceed £100 next month then maybe double that by January. Would you use those 4 bag in additon to the logs. If you were to use coal alone how many bags would you need per week?

  Your wood needs fresh air,a greenhouse doesn’t provide that. Never heard of storing wood in one if I am honest. 

We season our wood & store over winter in a poly tunnel ,bit of a breeze though & it works a treat, think solar kiln when in the height of summer.

owon

Effician said:

mumf said:

owon said:

Well I have an unsued greenhouse throughout the winter 8x6 but I was mostly planning to use smokeless coal, sometime I will use logs to gather ash for composting/mulching so I dont need a big suppy. £60 a month on coal dosent seem to bad considering my gas will exceed £100 next month then maybe double that by January. Would you use those 4 bag in additon to the logs. If you were to use coal alone how many bags would you need per week?

  Your wood needs fresh air,a greenhouse doesn’t provide that. Never heard of storing wood in one if I am honest. 

We season our wood & store over winter in a poly tunnel ,bit of a breeze though & it works a treat, think solar kiln when in the height of summer.

Probably just when I get home from work 4-5 hours a night  maybe 5-7 during he weekend