wood burners

Ectophile

Cash-Cows said:

You don't need log stores. Stack wood on pallets to keep off wet ground and it will dry. Periodically brush off any debris from the top eg wet leaves. 

But you will still end up with soggy wood when it rains.

I stack new wood on the driveway. But it spends another year in a covered log store before I burn it.

Longwalker

We stack on pallets at the side of the house

We stack properly - bark to the  exposed side, and a tarpaulin over the top

The wind tunnel that the space between the side of the house and the neighbour fence is, means we can get away with burning within a year

We can afford to burn logs this year, last year and for the next three years, because we had to remove or top some trees from our neighbour during the first lockdown, I would hate to be buying them right now. I know the smokeless has doubled in price since last year. We have maybe half a tonne from out last buy left and just use a few ovels to keep the stove ticking over 

We arent getting the same heat as we would be from using smokeless, luckily so far its pretty mild - cold but but not cold , central heating is on for two hours as well. Wood burning isnt cheap unless you have free wood  

billiebean

OK Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to my query. From what I can deduct then log burners are a wonderful lifestyle choice. With regard to the energy increase they are no cheaper to run that gas or electric central heating unless you are lucky enough to have an unlimited supply of free firewood at your disposal.

QrizB

billiebean said:

... they are no cheaper to run that gas or electric central heating unless you are lucky enough to have an unlimited supply of free firewood at your disposal.

That's about it, yes. If you can scrounge or collect free fuel they're cheap to run, but if you need to buy the stuff it's not any cheaper than mains gas or (some) E7 electricity.

It's still cheaper than standard-rate electricity, so long as you're not buying logs in little boutique bags from the garage or supermarket.

For example, this random Google hit suggests a 750kg crate of ash logs can be yours for £389 (if they had any stock). That's 52p a kg, and at the quoted 4.7kWh/kg works out as 11p/kWh - slightly more than mains gas.

However, if you buy dinky little boxes like this equally random Google hit you'll be getting 8kg for £10.78. That's £1.35 a kg or almost 29p/kWh - almost as much as standard-rate electricity.

Qyburn

QrizB said:

For example, this random Google hit suggests a 750kg crate of ash logs can be yours for £389 (if they had any stock). That's 52p a kg, and at the quoted 4.7kWh/kg works out as 11p/kWh - slightly more than mains gas.

Those national mail order suppliers are never cost effective, not to mention paying for the unnecessary kiln drying. Much better to buy locally. We just took in one cu.m of softwood and one of hardwood, a total of around 2800kWH and a cost of £159 = 5.7p/kWh.

So anyone researching this should check for local suppliers and prices in their own area rather than taking national pricing as gospel.

I don't recommend or approve of kiln dried firewood but these two links give an indication of local vs national pricing for exactly the same product from the same supplier ..

https://www.certainlywood.co.uk/products/kiln-dried-logs

https://local.certainlywood.co.uk/products/kiln-dried-logs

Ectophile

billiebean said:

OK Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to my query. From what I can deduct then log burners are a wonderful lifestyle choice. With regard to the energy increase they are no cheaper to run that gas or electric central heating unless you are lucky enough to have an unlimited supply of free firewood at your disposal.

I don't have an unlimited supply of free firewood.  But I have enough to act as top up or emergency heating.

silverwhistle

You'll probably find that most log burner owners can hear a chainsaw at half a mile or more as their scrounging radar kicks into operation. I occasionally buy a few briquettes to tuck behind the sofa for when it's really bad out but my wood is scrounged and processed myself. With an efficient 3 bedroom terrace I burn much less than mentioned here and I use the GCH very little. The coldest month last year for me was January and I used about 470kWh of gas for heat and hot water. Over the year the standing charge probably costs me more!

I've probably got 3 years supply: the latest some oak from around 250 yards away which caused grief to a sports car but luckily not the passengers when it came down this spring. Pallets are useful for kindling if they are marked HT for heat treated. Burning cleanly means my neighbours are happy to point out potential sources of wood, and a retired joiner gives me his hobby offcuts. Not many have oak kindling of such quality!

I'd certainly spend on PV first before a fire which is what I did, and I'm now thankful for both.

mmmmikey

Certainly not a solution for everyone, but I secured a supply of "free" firewood by buying a wood using tax-free cash from my pension fund. The woodland itself has steadily increased in value and is a resonably secure investment (but like all these things you have to consider eggs and baskets). I reckon on saving about £1000 per year on buying in kiln dried firewood at current prices (although as others have pointed out that is not the most cost-effectve way of buying firewood). There is a lot of work involved in felling and processing trees, but for me that is a pleasure rather than a chore. And of course I also have my very own piece of nature and tranquility to enjoy.

silverwhistle

mmmmikey said:

There is a lot of work involved in felling and processing trees, but for me that is a pleasure rather than a chore.

Yes, I could have added that, doing what some of us call 'green gym'! Plus the satisfaction and independence given by a full wood store and the ineffable warmth from the stove when I come in cold and wet from playing football on a dreary Sunday afternoon.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Cash-Cows said:

You don't need log stores. Stack wood on pallets to keep off wet ground and it will dry. Periodically brush off any debris from the top eg wet leaves. 

Technically you don't need to cover it whilst it's seasoning but it rained last night (and is going to rain all day), there's no wind and no sun today, if all our firewood that is ready to burn was out in the open without a cover what would we burn today?