flazz Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Hi all, we are thinking of getting a wood burner & i need someone to come to the house & give a bit of advice on installing it. Is there anyone in the Middlesbrough area willing to pop in for a chat & a cuppa ? Here's hoping Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobt Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 before you even start, can you get a good supply of free/cheap firewood? plenty of people spent £3k to save money then found they have to buy wood too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 wish i could have a wood burner, i can get all the wood i need,free for the next 20 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 before you even start, can you get a good supply of free/cheap firewood? plenty of people spent £3k to save money then found they have to buy wood too. Very true, and they are becoming more popular every year so fire wood prices will only go up. Saying that, you can't beat a good wood stove and if you are willing to do it yourself you can do it for a LOT less than £3k. I salvaged one, it cost me £75 plus elbow grease, and then £250 for the liner, and it's our main source of heat for the house. If I was closer I'd come round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 before you even start, can you get a good supply of free/cheap firewood? plenty of people spent £3k to save money then found they have to buy wood too. That is so true. My mate sells net bags of logs for a price far exceeding central heating costs. It's only worth having one if you collect your own timber or can buy in bulk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 i was well lucky with mine ,got permission from the managers of maint n transport all scrap wood n pallets for free ,they paid a man to take em away .so i became bestest buddy saving them cash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 wish i could have a wood burner, i can get all the wood i need,free for the next 20 years. You lucky so and so, I should be investigating a way to have one Regards Hcc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flazz Posted January 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 before you even start, can you get a good supply of free/cheap firewood? plenty of people spent £3k to save money then found they have to buy wood too. I can get hold of as much wood as i'll ever need, if i had a truck big enough i could pick up 50 tons tomorrow free!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Check for smokeless zones first. We had the council round the other day saying we can't burn wood at work but coals ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flazz Posted January 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Check for smokeless zones first. We had the council round the other day saying we can't burn wood at work but coals ok Already checked , we're in a smokeless zone but burning wood is ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felly100 Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Check for smokeless zones first. We had the council round the other day saying we can't burn wood at work but coals ok Are you sure it's not the other way round? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasslle59 Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 They are pretty easy to install only gets technical if you are going to link it into your existing heating system, there is plenty of info on the net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 It is most defno burn wood not coal. I live in a new estate (1997 build but I call it new still). Although I use smokeless coal to keep it going through the night. Defra have guidance on their web page of approved stoves, you may have problems if you don't install an approved one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 You can burn wood in a smoke control area if you have a Defra exempt stove, that's a stove with cleanburn technology ( fancy name for having two combustion chambers and a secondary air intake ). My idiot ex-neighbour ( who had previously reported me to the council for having an overheight shed - it wasn't - and to the police for having no tax on my car - it was the first of the month and I had the tax disk but hadn't been out to the car to fit it yet ) complained about smoke from my chimney to the council, they came along and when I showed them the exemption certificate that came with the stove they were happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 She told us no wood to be burnt as not on list but we can burn smokeless coal 100% . We're a joiners shop for gods sake and even smokeless fuel smokes while your getting it going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Call into portrack there is a stove place there. Better still Northallerton heating center next to Sam Turners. Just installed a Zeoos Twin fire for my parents, mine will go in when I get my house finished. Fantastic heat and very little ash. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chacotawas Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 A thing to be VERY careful about is the chimney. You need to have it lined because if you don't it's entirely possible that the build-up of combustible resins over the years could result in a catastrophic fire. We burn timber from our own woods and I was advised of this safety issue by an expert. It's possible to buy kiln-dried wood, which is meant to be safe in this regard, but it's seriously expensive stuff. Btw, a good investment, we've found, is an electric log-splitter- magic gadget, well worth the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 A thing to be VERY careful about is the chimney. You need to have it lined because if you don't it's entirely possible that the build-up of combustible resins over the years could result in a catastrophic fire. We burn timber from our own woods and I was advised of this safety issue by an expert. It's possible to buy kiln-dried wood, which is meant to be safe in this regard, but it's seriously expensive stuff. Btw, a good investment, we've found, is an electric log-splitter- magic gadget, well worth the money. With respect that's not strictly correct. I suspect the op has a flue liner in clay or concrete which meets the requirements of a class 1 combustible appliance as his property was built in 1997. If this is an open fire with a Milner type fire back this will probably have to be removed to expose the throat unit and provide a recess big enough for a reasonably sized burner and possibly the hearth extended to give the stipulated dimension from the face of the appliance to the nearest combustible surface. The existing flue, I would imagine in 97, be a minimum of 9" possibly even 12" which would be no more susceptible to resin build up through condensation with a wood burner than it would with an open fire and would easily accommodate a length of 5 or 6 " flue pipe. He can take a short length of enamelled or ss flue pipe straight into the existing stack but should install a steel register plate first with preferably with an access door if there is enough room. If not it should be easily removable for sweeping the flue. . Its best to get a registered HETAS installer to complete the installation as he can advise on the possible necessity for supplementary combustion air relating to the output of the appliance and you may have to punch an airbrick into a external wall. You can do the installation yourself but you will need to get the LA Building control officer to inspect and certify the installation particularly as this may be a condition of building insurance cover. The chimney should be inspected and swept regularly in the normal way which again may be a condition of your buildings policy. Don't for get the installation of a suitable carbon monoxide alarm. Finally Bottle of port, pipe, slippers and enjoy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 With respect that's not strictly correct. I suspect the op has a flue liner in clay or concrete which meets the requirements of a class 1 combustible appliance as his property was built in 1997. If this is an open fire with a Milner type fire back this will probably have to be removed to expose the throat unit and provide a recess big enough for a reasonably sized burner and possibly the hearth extended to give the stipulated dimension from the face of the appliance to the nearest combustible surface. The existing flue, I would imagine in 97, be a minimum of 9" possibly even 12" which would be no more susceptible to resin build up through condensation with a wood burner than it would with an open fire and would easily accommodate a length of 5 or 6 " flue pipe. Regarding flue sizes on houses built in the 90s (and I was a site manager back then) : A lot of houses were built with 7" flue liners installed, which were only intended for use with gas fires. I can't remember for certain, but I think from the time that 7" flues are NOT suitable for any sort of solid fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 Regarding flue sizes on houses built in the 90s (and I was a site manager back then) : A lot of houses were built with 7" flue liners installed, which were only intended for use with gas fires. I can't remember for certain, but I think from the time that 7" flues are NOT suitable for any sort of solid fuel. Yes you are quite correct on both counts. I was assuming the OP had an open fire already. If it is however a gas fire and always has been it may well be a gas flue block which is a similar size to a normal block and is built into the wall. A gas flue block chimney would not be suitable for a class 1 appliance. Gas flue blocks were normally vented to a ridge tile terminal via stainless twinwall in the roof space so have a look in here first. You may have a narrow section chimney but in a lot of 90's built houses with gas flue blocks these were false. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprackles Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 Regarding flue sizes on houses built in the 90s (and I was a site manager back then) : A lot of houses were built with 7" flue liners installed, which were only intended for use with gas fires. I can't remember for certain, but I think from the time that 7" flues are NOT suitable for any sort of solid fuel. I have had a double lined flue fitted...6 inch for a coal fire. original chimney cracked in the earthquake and let fumes seep in upstairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pestcontrol1 Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 mine ace had it in 4 years now and had to buy a load of logs for the first time this year as i couldt use the saw or split any. Even the wife would be lost with out the fire now and we are looking into changing it to run the heating to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Log is the most expensive fuel in the UK based on calorific value. Fine if you have a non exhaustible free supply though. Be aware of this from the start, most think a tonne of logs will last all winter- it might if you have a tiny burner and use it mainly for effect! It certainly wont if you try and run heating and or water off it in a decent sized pad. Even burning just for space heating in one area I have gone through 3/4 tonne of Smokeless coal from the end of sept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprackles Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 (edited) My coal costs are around £25 a week too for one large fire......mind with the doors open it does warm the entire house.Have not turned on my central heating this winter so far. Hardwood logs from a local tree surgeon are £60 a tonne. Edited January 20, 2014 by Sprackles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandspider Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 wish i could have a wood burner, i can get all the wood i need,free for the next 20 years. If you're ever coming up towards Bristol and need to get rid of some wood... Then you'd be welcome to sit next to my wood burner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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