Discussion
I was wondering what the PH community can tell me about modern log burning fires. I believe I am right in thinking that these can have a balanced flue type arrangement through a wall without the need for a chimney.
With the current crazy fuel prices I was thinking of getting one so as to be able to use the central heating for background heating and crank up the log burner to warm the house. I am in a lucky position that there is plently of woodland around me for virtually free fuel (just the labour collecting, cutting it up and drying it out.
Mrs e seems to think these will be a dusty and dirty form of heating which will make a mess around the house - I was thinking the modern technology that goes into these ought to have eliminated a lot of the problems.
Anyone got experience with them - are they good, cheap to run, clean etc - examples of good makes to consider would be good.
Fire away (pun intended).
With the current crazy fuel prices I was thinking of getting one so as to be able to use the central heating for background heating and crank up the log burner to warm the house. I am in a lucky position that there is plently of woodland around me for virtually free fuel (just the labour collecting, cutting it up and drying it out.
Mrs e seems to think these will be a dusty and dirty form of heating which will make a mess around the house - I was thinking the modern technology that goes into these ought to have eliminated a lot of the problems.
Anyone got experience with them - are they good, cheap to run, clean etc - examples of good makes to consider would be good.
Fire away (pun intended).
My parents use a log burner in their living room and its great. They use the chimney.
The log burner itself is one with glass doors and a cast iron grate.
It looks great and pumps out a huge heat. There is not too much mess (has to be hoovered out every now and again). Just watch out for what wood you use and some types kick out a lot of sap which can coke up the chimney and put the house at risk of a chimney fire.
The log burner itself is one with glass doors and a cast iron grate.
It looks great and pumps out a huge heat. There is not too much mess (has to be hoovered out every now and again). Just watch out for what wood you use and some types kick out a lot of sap which can coke up the chimney and put the house at risk of a chimney fire.
elanfan said:
Mrs e seems to think these will be a dusty and dirty form of heating which will make a mess around the house - I was thinking the modern technology that goes into these ought to have eliminated a lot of the problems.
Fire away (pun intended).
Fire needs a permanent air supply.Fire away (pun intended).
It will draw air out of the house, burn it and the dead skin it contains (80% or something like that, of dust is dead skin), which in turn rids your house of a lot of dust. Central heating just recirculates the same air around.
I have an open fire and will never go back to gas!
Edited by peaktorque on Saturday 4th October 19:21
Hyperion said:
I think the balanced flue stoves of which you speak are actually gas?
You'll need a chimney for a proper stove for sure.
Maybe "balanced flue" is the wrong vernacular. I received this reply from www.stoves-direct.org.uk...You'll need a chimney for a proper stove for sure.
"It is possible to install stoves in locations where there is no chimney available. It is necessary to use an insulated flue system called twinwall which can be run up from the stove either on the inside or outside of the building. "
Landlord said:
Hyperion said:
I think the balanced flue stoves of which you speak are actually gas?
You'll need a chimney for a proper stove for sure.
Maybe "balanced flue" is the wrong vernacular. You'll need a chimney for a proper stove for sure.
What you describe is a conventional flue. Balanced flues draw air and exhaust through the same wall, normally concentrically.
Puggit said:
Are there some stoves that are called "overnight" or some such? Is the idea that the stove will simmer overnight, and can be resumed easily in the morning?
Our Clearview stove can be kept going overnight, no problem. But even if they do go out, re-lighting them is dead easy. They are messy. You'll need to dust more frequently, and if you don't have perfectly dry timber a log burner will stink the house out. (I know.)
Also, hardwood logs are essential: I'll go through 100 softwood logs in a week to heat a (small) converted barn. At £20 for 100 logs that is certainly not cheaper than running gas fired central heating.
Also, hardwood logs are essential: I'll go through 100 softwood logs in a week to heat a (small) converted barn. At £20 for 100 logs that is certainly not cheaper than running gas fired central heating.
Mobile Chicane said:
They are messy. You'll need to dust more frequently, and if you don't have perfectly dry timber a log burner will stink the house out. (I know.)
Also, hardwood logs are essential: I'll go through 100 softwood logs in a week to heat a (small) converted barn. At £20 for 100 logs that is certainly not cheaper than running gas fired central heating.
Your paying way over the odds for your logs. Just had 1000 seasoned hardwood logs (mainly oak / few hornbeam) delivered for £80.Also, hardwood logs are essential: I'll go through 100 softwood logs in a week to heat a (small) converted barn. At £20 for 100 logs that is certainly not cheaper than running gas fired central heating.
I used to have a Clearview, which was an excellent stove.
Just building a house and putting one of these in. They can be fixed by any local blacksmith.
The mild steel allows it to run at higher temperatures and burn anything, rather than just logs.
http://www.dowlingstoves.com/
Its made from mild steel and has a jaw rather than a griddle for multi fuel. Multi fuel stoves attract more vat.
Do not keep a fire in overnight, you will tar the flue.
Just building a house and putting one of these in. They can be fixed by any local blacksmith.
The mild steel allows it to run at higher temperatures and burn anything, rather than just logs.
http://www.dowlingstoves.com/
Its made from mild steel and has a jaw rather than a griddle for multi fuel. Multi fuel stoves attract more vat.
Do not keep a fire in overnight, you will tar the flue.
swerni said:
Mobile Chicane said:
They are messy. You'll need to dust more frequently, and if you don't have perfectly dry timber a log burner will stink the house out. (I know.)
Also, hardwood logs are essential: I'll go through 100 softwood logs in a week to heat a (small) converted barn. At £20 for 100 logs that is certainly not cheaper than running gas fired central heating.
hello trouble, how you doing?Also, hardwood logs are essential: I'll go through 100 softwood logs in a week to heat a (small) converted barn. At £20 for 100 logs that is certainly not cheaper than running gas fired central heating.

Mobile Chicane said:
They are messy. You'll need to dust more frequently, and if you don't have perfectly dry timber a log burner will stink the house out. (I know.)
Also, hardwood logs are essential: I'll go through 100 softwood logs in a week to heat a (small) converted barn. At £20 for 100 logs that is certainly not cheaper than running gas fired central heating.
Somebody has you over a barrel and is doing you good style I'm paying £10 a ton for softwood but that is 2.5meter long logsAlso, hardwood logs are essential: I'll go through 100 softwood logs in a week to heat a (small) converted barn. At £20 for 100 logs that is certainly not cheaper than running gas fired central heating.
Also softwood is perfectly usable if you keep it burning hot as our friends over the scandinavia only use softwood as they have no hardwoods
Yes they do produce dust but they are way nicer then any gas fire
thinfourth2 said:
Mobile Chicane said:
They are messy. You'll need to dust more frequently, and if you don't have perfectly dry timber a log burner will stink the house out. (I know.)
Also, hardwood logs are essential: I'll go through 100 softwood logs in a week to heat a (small) converted barn. At £20 for 100 logs that is certainly not cheaper than running gas fired central heating.
Somebody has you over a barrel and is doing you good style I'm paying £10 a ton for softwood but that is 2.5meter long logsAlso, hardwood logs are essential: I'll go through 100 softwood logs in a week to heat a (small) converted barn. At £20 for 100 logs that is certainly not cheaper than running gas fired central heating.
Also softwood is perfectly usable if you keep it burning hot as our friends over the scandinavia only use softwood as they have no hardwoods
Yes they do produce dust but they are way nicer then any gas fire
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