Wood stoves are clean and efficient

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The green benefits of burning wood are gaining wider and wider support. Burning wood cleanly only releases the same amount of CO2 into the atmosphere as from a tree when it is left to rot naturally as it would do at the end of its lifecycle. What is more, harvested trees are replaced with new trees, which in turn absorb CO2 in the process of photosynthesis as they grow.

Most importantly, burning wood with a moisture level of below 20% will give twice the heat output of freshly felled timber and will also help to reduce a build-up of tar in your chimney and the environment. To achieve this correct moisture level, the wood should be seasoned or matured for approximately two years. Storage should ideally be outside and be stacked to let the air flow around the timber, this will then dry naturally.

Wood burning stoves can be used as an excellent alternative to the main central heating system in your home. Instead of turning up the thermostat try lighting the burner and you will be able to reduce the thermostat in a cold spell. If your home is well insulated and draught free you could even leave doors open and the log burner will heat assist all-round the house. Read more

The right fuel for your stove

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Stove owners often make mistakes when selecting wood to be burnt in their living room pride and joy. If you have paid out good money for your new stove plus having it fitted you will want to get the best results.

If you burn softwood as opposed to hardwood the heat you will achieve can be up to 50% less. Burning softwood can be expensive in the long run and your burner will not be working to its full capacity.

If you are contemplating installing a new wood burner do check in your area wood suppliers and what timber they normally supply.

The best logs are

Oak     –           Very dense, long burning, minimum drying 18 months 5*

Maple  –           Hot burner, long-lasting, efficient, minimum drying 18 months 5*

Cherry –           Medium hot burner, good starter log, minimum drying 18 months 4* Read more

The savings can be huge!

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A stove can cost varying amounts to buy and install. A recent survey of stove owners taken to establish whether it’s really worth the initial outlay discovered that 64% said their stove saves them money. The cost of a stove can vary wildly, ranging from £400 to more than £2,000, and that’s before you’ve factored in the installation costs.

Stove installation costs

A stove installation will again vary depending on the siting of the new stove, do get professional advice as this could save you money. For example, if you already have a chimney, that will make it cheaper, as one won’t need to be built. However, it might need to be relined to make sure it won’t let any gases escape into your home.

You can also have a freestanding stove, which doesn’t need a chimney. But you will still need to have the flue (effectively acting as the chimney) fed outside somewhere, which will involve construction work on your home.

Savings

Will depend on how efficient the stove is and the fuel you use. Burning wood with 20% or less moisture will minimise pollutants and increase efficiency. Kiln-dried wood has less than 20% moisture, but is more expensive than seasoned logs. Most stove owners burn seasoned logs, and 13% of owners told us they collect free wood. Read more

Redesigning your home this year?

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If you’re considering creating or redesigning your home this year, have you researched which features are essential for you? Apart from the appeal of a super new home do think about how you could improve the heating and in turn reduce costs.

There is nothing more magical for the family than gathering up the wood and settling down on the sofa, feet up, as the fire burns long into the evening.

Already you can see the benefit, but you will also save money by turning down the central heating that is for certain. Another hidden benefit is that your home will become more valuable with a professionally fitter burner, in some cases adding up to £10,000 in value!

As well as providing ambiance, a wood burner is a great aesthetic feature for your lovely abode, adding a quintessential charm.

In addition, they serve their fundamental purpose of providing warmth. The British weather can be unpredictable at times and the evenings can be known for being a little on the chilly side. The lure of gathering around a warm wood burner and being cuddled up with your loved ones could secure the conversion for newly designed home. Read more

Saving money?

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Christmas and New year is now over and we are all looking for ways to save money in the coming year. Fuel bills keep rising and this keeps hitting the monthly budget, so can a wood burner help reduce this cost?

While the initial outlay can be expensive, they can reduce your fuel bills significantly, while at the same time being a fashionable addition to your home.

Can they save you money?

At first glance it would appear that installing a wood-burner is a costly exercise, with owners spending typically around £1500+ to get one supplied and installed. However, the long-term financial benefits are far more appealing as they can result in reducing the cost of other fuel sources. In this way, they can be compared to installing solar panels, which have a large upfront cost that can be recouped through lower heating bills in the years that follow. Read more