Wood-burning stoves

Heating efficiency
A wood-burning stove allows you to enjoy the comforting smell and traditional look of an open fire with less wasted heat. While an old-fashioned fire channels up to 80 per cent of the heat up the chimney, where it is wasted, a stove projects the heat into the room.

Environmental benefits Because wood is a renewable form of energy, it is an eco-friendly way to heat your home so long as you choose wood from a sustainable, replenished source. Burning wood is a carbon-neutral method of heating as it only releases as much CO2 as the tree absorbed during its life. Some standalone stoves, which burn logs or pellets, can also be fitted with a back boiler to heat water as well. A biomass boiler can be used to heat the whole home and to power underfloor heating systems.

Cost considerations
The cost of a standalone stove is around £3,000 including installation, while a wood-burning boiler to heat the whole home costs around £9,000 including installation. But, the Energy Saving Trust estimates a wood-burner could save you up to £400 per year in heating costs compared to electricity, although it is likely to cost more than gas. Wood pellets cost around £125 for half a tonne. Also, you may be interested to learn that grants can be available on a first come first served basis for wood burning stoves and boilers from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. Wood fuelled boiler systems may be entitled to a maximum of £1,500 or 30 per cent% of the costs, whichever is lower.

Requirements
You will need enough space in a dry area close to the stove for wood storage. You also need a vent which is specifically designed for wood-burning appliances. An existing chimney can be converted to make it suitable by fitting a lined flue.

Size
It is essential to measure the room you intend to heat in cubic metres to ensure your stove is the right size. Too big and it will feel like a sauna, too small and you will be in for a long, cold winter. Heat output varies between 4kW-11kW depending on the size and model of stove you pick and you should work on the basis of roughly 1KW to every 14 cubic metres.

Types of wood
Pellet stoves are more environmentally friendly than log-burning stoves but do not create such a good flame effect. If you have a lot of land, it is possible to use your own wood supply, but you would need 6 to 12 tonnes of dry logs per year! A hectare of poplar would provide enough wood after three years. If you are buying wood, opt for seasoned hardwood to maximise efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and prevent damage to your stove.

Regulations
You also need to make sure you comply with various building and planning regulations. Seek advice from a reputable supplier or from your local authority if you are unsure. If you live in a smokeless zone, you will need to ensure you use an approved appliance. Make sure your stove is approved by Hetas, the Government-recognised body for overseeing heating appliances.

Installation
You can also use Hetas to find a trustworthy installer and to source a chimney sweep.

Design
While you might think of a wood-burning stove as a very traditional-looking feature, you can also find a wide range of contemporary, minimal designs that will suit a modern or urban apartment.

Drawbacks
Consider the fact that while undeniably romantic, wood-burning stoves also have to be filled with pellets or logs by hand - so it is not as easy as just flicking a switch on the central heating. If you get a pellet boiler with a hopper, you should only have to refill it once a week. It is not cost or energy efficient to use a wood-burning stove through the summer to heat water, so you may need an alternative system for that period. If you buy poor quality, unseasoned wood, you can end up with a clogged stove or sooty windows.