Woodburning stoves - help needed

We have a multifuel burner on which we burn only wood because we have a few acres of land with lots of trees on it which are always dropping branches in storms... Some are Ash trees which are affected by Ash Dieback so we have a guaranteed source for years to come.

We only burn dry wood (tested with a moisture meter) and the burner is an approved model which 'reburns' its smoke. We're in a semi rural situation.

I wouldn't install one in a town house now that I'm more aware of the issue with emissions.

OTOH, open fires are supposed to be much worse for our health, but we've all survived...

PS I agree with Katie59 re cost. Properly dried wood burns up very fast, too...

If it's a woid burning stove, that's what it's for, wood! Not coal or anything else. You could damage your fire and flue using anything else. What did the installer tell you about the stove, do you have a User Instruction booklet? As others have said, use proper kiln dried wood, any old stuff could cause damage never mind add to pollution.

Katie59

You do need properly dry wood it won’t smoke, not cheap logs that some local lads sell. Kiln dried is ideal but expensive for everyday use, we use it during cold weather only.

If you have bought a wood burner to save money you may be disappointed good wood isnt cheap.

Ours doesn't cost us a penny. We are lucky enough to be surrounded by woodlands where we can get wood for free (and yes, we have permission from the landowners to collect it). It is then dried and seasoned in our log stores.

MissInterpreted

Katie59

You do need properly dry wood it won’t smoke, not cheap logs that some local lads sell. Kiln dried is ideal but expensive for everyday use, we use it during cold weather only.

If you have bought a wood burner to save money you may be disappointed good wood isnt cheap.

Ours doesn't cost us a penny. We are lucky enough to be surrounded by woodlands where we can get wood for free (and yes, we have permission from the landowners to collect it). It is then dried and seasoned in our log stores.

Precisely.

Our wood is stored for years, always ready, and free.

Fireplaces hold and radiate heat from the stones, breast - cosy and free.

Nothing wrong with well seasoned logs if they are seasoned for long enough (several years ) and kept dry but you do need the space.
After all kiln dried logs will take on moisture from the environment even when stored in a shed

Yes it will damage it , as it's not a multi fuel.
Solid fuel, such as coal burn hotter

We moved into our small newly built home in rural Dorset five years ago - and it has a lovely wood burning stove. The manual/ booklet thing says it is a multi fuel stove but the recommendations are that you do not use normal house coal. As we have only ever used logs, I’ve never investigated this further. However, I would say it’s a total joy and has saved us lots on our fuel bills. We’ve bought our local accredited dry logs with our government annual fuel allowance, lit the fire fire first thing in the morning during winter and switched the heating off. A fire not only brings warmth but a lot a of joy on a dark winter’s day. You’ve really done the right thing here in having one installed- but I truly would steer clear of coal if I were you. Logs smell so much better anyway. Enjoy!

You are right and your daughter wrong.

If you burn coke or coal you need a stove that has a grid that can be shaken to clear it of ash, as coke and coal cannot draw enough air to burn if the grid is choke with ash, or clinkers.

A wood stove has a fixed grid because wood burns best on a bed of ash.

You also need different fire-bricks in the stove, that burns coal or coke to those in a wood-burner.

Please read the instructions that came with your wood-burner carefully and never burn anything except the kind of kindling and fuel mentioned in the user's manual.

If you are still in doubt, ring your chimney-sweep - he or she will know exactly what you should and should not do with the stove.

Coal burns at a higher temperature, so it will warp your burner if used regularly....that is if it is a 'wood only' burner.
I know from past experience in my previous house!

I do get fed up with all the self-righteous stuff about the environment especially when it appears gratuitously on a thread asking for information
Most environmental regulation penalises the less well off while the wealthy carry on jetting about
The environment will not be safe till nine tenths of humanity are wiped out
Or we find truly ‘free’ forms of energy as in sci fi utopia
Enjoy your log burner exdancer
Personally I would only put logs on as I do with mine

Our main heating system is a wood burner and has been for the last 55 years.
DO NOT USE SOLID FUEL OF ANY TYPE ON YOUR WOOD BURNER.
Hope you get on OK with it - a lot of people give up after a short while, they don't like the extra cleaning involved with the 'dust and mess' it causes!

Most environmental regulation penalises the less well off while the wealthy carry on jetting about.

Same old clichds. Ho do you define 'wealth' and what is the evidence that they just keep jetting about.

Are there no environmentaly conscious wealthy people who do NOT jet about?

I’m sitting catching up with gransnet in the snug warmth of my wood burner. I’m a cheap date living alone, rarely leave the house after dark and one of my evening joys is reading in the glowing warmth of my log burner. Both dogs fast asleep. That spaniel has been known to snuggle up on the hearth if the room hadn’t warmed up yet.
I don’t want my ch on all the time, I don’t want every room toasty but this sitting room - yes, keep it warm

Tip from my chimney cleaner, clean the glass door with a dilution of water and white vinegar. Works like magic and I keep a squirty bottle full in my firefighting basket.

ask the firm that sold you the stove

Whilst I agree that wood burners do contribute to climate change then so do barBQs, fire pits in gardens, cremations etc.

Urgh can’t edit 🙄 Fire lighting basket. I haven’t needed to do any firefighting in 35 years of multi fuel stoves and solid fuel Agas/Esses 😄

We have two multi fuel wood burners, they have a raised grate for air flow for coal, which we rarely use. If a stove has no raised grate it's wood only. A big expense if you have to replace if you do use coal. Use seasoned dry wood, get a good heart going, put a lump on and shut it down, leaving flu slightly open for air flow. Use an eco fan always placed on the top of stove at the back, this will push the heated heat into the room and slows down when fire heat reduces, a good indicator to refuel the stove. Love my wood burners.

l have a Contura Woodburner and for it to burn efficiently l use kiln dried hard wood which is "sure burn " ready. Its Swedish and Defra approved. Kiln dried hard wood logs give out twice the heat of seasoned logs - yes they are expensive but there is a reason for it. My woodburner is 11 years old, serviced yearly and the manual states wood only.

Exactly as others have said - if the manual says it’s a wood burner, only burn wood. But oh my goodness, the greener and holier than thous, get a life!! I have a wood burner, and I would buy another 50 (!) if I needed to to keep warm, and I do not care if that’s considered un-pc or un-green or not!! When China or India toe the line and address their ‘green’ policies, I may think again. Until then ….

2420 It is scientifically impossible for kiln dried wood to give out twice the heat of well seasoned wood. Wood contains x number of joules, no matter if seasoned or kiln dried. ie the same amount of energy. It might appear to you that kiln dried is hotter because it is burning faster

I had some kiln dried wood last year and my well seasoned wood is burning exactly the same, at the same rate and both were hot