https://www.telegraph.co.uk/bills-and-utilities/gas-electric/install-wood-burning-stove-log-burner-beat-energy-crisis-2022/?fbclid=IwAR0ZXFM_vYt_c0NKXsNQHyhmSUpA9MlRjfb-1u0MUHItZbm40bzADA13RLk
The number of British homes firing up their wood-burning stoves looks set to grow, with the chilly weather continuing as we move into spring.
Installing a log burner, which is cheaper to run than traditional gas and electric heating systems, is more financially appealing than ever due to the rumbling fuel crisis.
But, homeowners must remember that running a log burner is not as easy as it seems. Legislation changes imposed strict standards on the type of fuel which can be burnt and some models are far less environmentally friendly than others. Some of the best electric heaters now look like stoves, so that may be an easier choice.
But if you are wondering whether to get a log burner installed, here's everything you need to know about their cost on your bank balance and the environment.
How much does a wood burner cost to install?
There is no hard and fast price for installing a wood burner. The cost will depend on the standard of the stove and the type of property into which it is installed.
The initial cost of a burner is significant and can range anywhere from £500 to in excess of £5,000 for luxury designs.
Installation costs will depend upon the age of a building and whether it has a chimney. It costs around £1,500 to install a burner in a property with a pre-existing chimney, according to Direct Stoves, a supplier.
However, if a flue system needs to be installed in the absence of a chimney, this bill can rise to the region of £2,000 plus.
How much are log burner running costs?
Once initial installation costs are met, the cost of running a stove is cheaper than its gas and electric counterparts.
Wood burners can cut a home's heating bill by 10pc, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Running costs for an average household are a third of electric heating bills and 13pc less than gas central heating, according to the Stove Industry Alliance. The savings will widen if other fuel prices continue to rise.
Number of logs required to produce 4kWh of heat over a 5 hour period
Open fire = 16 logs
10 year old stove = 6 logs
Ecodesign Ready Stove = 5 logs
A burner uses an average of 3.5 cubic meters of wood if used from mid-October to mid-April in the evenings and at weekends, according to calculations by the Stove Industry Alliance. With a cubic meter of kiln dried logs costing between £120 to £140, this puts the average heating bill for the colder months at between £420 to £490.
Andy Hill, of the Stove Industry Alliance, said: "With rising fuel costs, wood burning becomes ever more cost effective and our members are reporting increased demand for wood fuel supplies as concern grows about the financial impact on families of the energy price rises.
"Using an eco-design wood burning stove comfortably heats the room in which it is situated, while also warming the whole home, reducing our reliance on gas, electricity and oil for heating and offering an effective way of reducing home energy bills this winter."
How eco-friendly are wood burners?
The energy efficiency of a burner will depend on its age and design. An "Ecodesign Ready" stove is one which meets European standards on air pollution and particle emission. It was said that by 2022 all burners needed to be compliant, although many manufacturers adopted the design early.
The Stove Industry Alliance estimates an Ecodesign burner using quality wood emits up to 90pc less PM2.5 – tiny harmful particles – than an open fire and up to 80pc less than a stove which is ten years old or more.
"Significant improvements in stove technology have been made over the last five years as the industry prepared for Ecodesign regulations to come into force, making modern wood burning stoves a renewable, sustainable and efficient choice for home heating," said Mr Hill.
Homeowners must also be aware of legislative changes, which banned the sale of wet wood and house coal for domestic use. These types of fuel are particularly bad for the environment and the Government hoped the rule change would force people to burn cleaner alternatives in their stoves.
What are the downsides of log burners?
The green merits of log burners have recently been called into question. A study by the European Environmental Bureau found even Ecodesign stoves can emit 750 times more tiny particle pollution than a HGV truck.
Experts have also raised health concerns over particle pollution in the home.
A 2020 study by the University of Sheffield warned regular use of some burners, for four hours, caused the amount of harmful particulate matter in homes to triple. Burning wet wood, the sale of which has now been banned for use at home, is especially harmful.