pestcontrol1 Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 i go through about 3 ton of logs a year and as much 3x3 skids as i can get in my sheds plus i get cheap coal and i have enough anthersite to last me about 4 years and my biggest bill for both elec an gas is £219 for nov dec and jan so happy days i have just lit it now and got my feet infront of it :whistling: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pestcontrol1 Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 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. is that a ton bag or lose load ? coal i would say i use a bucket a day with half a basket of logs ( 12 ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprackles Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 He sells it as a cubic meter in one of those builders bags.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pestcontrol1 Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 thought so there int many that do logs now the old way pickup or trailor full they looklike lots of logs untill you get them out the bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikk Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 He sells it as a cubic meter in one of those builders bags.... I'm not trying to nitpick but are you sure that weights a tonne? I'd imagine a cubic metre of hard wood would weigh quite a bit less than one tonne plus you've got all the spaces between the logs. I'm just curious as I would like to try ordering 2 cubic metres of wood to see if it's cheaper or more expensive that the smokeless coal we get (£17 per 50 kg) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikk 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. We're coming to the end of 3/4 of a tonne of coal as well, if we get a cold snap I'll probably buy another 5 sacks. We generally use the coal to heat downstairs in the daytime so we can leave the heating off and then have both on in the evening but it's been very mild for us this year, a lot of the coal gets used for the 'effect' during the two weeks over Christmas, I always makes fires as it's so nice to have them on especially when guests come round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandspider Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 (edited) I'm not trying to nitpick but are you sure that weights a tonne? I'd imagine a cubic metre of hard wood would weigh quite a bit less than one tonne plus you've got all the spaces between the logs. I'm just curious as I would like to try ordering 2 cubic metres of wood to see if it's cheaper or more expensive that the smokeless coal we get (£17 per 50 kg) A builder's bag of wood will weigh around 400 - 700kg, depending on how wet it is, what species of wood and how tightly packed. It's also not a cubic metre of wood - I can't remember exactly how much it is, but 0.8m3 springs to mind. Edited January 20, 2014 by sandspider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandspider Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Might even be less than 400kg - see http://www.woodfuel.coop/logs-or-briquettes.html. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Packed dried and split hardwood log is 1.5 m3 a metric tonne pallet (1000kg). Its not just the volume of wood its the heat that the particular wood or fuel creates or if you like how long you can get good quality heat from it. Weight is increased by moisture in the log and by volume beech will give a lot more heat than popular and seasoned and kiln dried beech a lot more again! Coal will totally trounce any log, if I fill the back of the pickup with coal it will last months yet fill it with even the best logs and we are talking weeks. Selling beech or oak against spruce or poplar makes volume a waste of time on cost comparisons, literally like comparing a dumpy bag full of turnips with one full of best eating apples Now so many have log burners a lot of the logs are of lower quality and higher price, one guy locally was actually including kitchen worktop bits in his loads as "mill offcuts". If you burn pallet wood, mdf and laminates you will mess up your kit (stove and chimney) real quick and MDF is super nasty stuff as regards toxic smoke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flazz Posted January 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 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. 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... We don't have a chimney so will need the external s/s flue, is it absolutely necessary to use the double skinned/insulated flue or can i use the single pipe ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yates Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Packed dried and split hardwood log is 1.5 m3 a metric tonne pallet (1000kg). Its not just the volume of wood its the heat that the particular wood or fuel creates or if you like how long you can get good quality heat from it. Weight is increased by moisture in the log and by volume beech will give a lot more heat than popular and seasoned and kiln dried beech a lot more again! Coal will totally trounce any log, if I fill the back of the pickup with coal it will last months yet fill it with even the best logs and we are talking weeks. Selling beech or oak against spruce or poplar makes volume a waste of time on cost comparisons, literally like comparing a dumpy bag full of turnips with one full of best eating apples Now so many have log burners a lot of the logs are of lower quality and higher price, one guy locally was actually including kitchen worktop bits in his loads as "mill offcuts". If you burn pallet wood, mdf and laminates you will mess up your kit (stove and chimney) real quick and MDF is super nasty stuff as regards toxic smoke Even if you use pallet wood just for kindling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikk Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 I think the pallet pine isn't bad for kindling it burns very hot and is generally very dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobt Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 We don't have a chimney so will need the external s/s flue, is it absolutely necessary to use the double skinned/insulated flue or can i use the single pipe ? it wont run correctly in single skin, as the gasses will cool before exiting. not to mention the chance of setting something on fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 i go through about 3 ton of logs a year and as much 3x3 skids as i can get in my sheds plus i get cheap coal and i have enough anthersite to last me about 4 years and my biggest bill for both elec an gas is £219 for nov dec and jan so happy days i have just lit it now and got my feet infront of it :whistling: My bills are also similar, never had my central heating on for 2 years. My electric and gas for the last 3 months was £58 but they are now charging a standard daily charge on the gas so that bill will be going up. Packed dried and split hardwood log is 1.5 m3 a metric tonne pallet (1000kg). Its not just the volume of wood its the heat that the particular wood or fuel creates or if you like how long you can get good quality heat from it. Weight is increased by moisture in the log and by volume beech will give a lot more heat than popular and seasoned and kiln dried beech a lot more again! Coal will totally trounce any log, if I fill the back of the pickup with coal it will last months yet fill it with even the best logs and we are talking weeks. Selling beech or oak against spruce or poplar makes volume a waste of time on cost comparisons, literally like comparing a dumpy bag full of turnips with one full of best eating apples Now so many have log burners a lot of the logs are of lower quality and higher price, one guy locally was actually including kitchen worktop bits in his loads as "mill offcuts". If you burn pallet wood, mdf and laminates you will mess up your kit (stove and chimney) real quick and MDF is super nasty stuff as regards toxic smoke Not all pallet wood as my 11kw burner runs solely on pallet wood, granted the pallets are all hard wood 4x3 and I've access to as much as I need. My fire is quite large and heats my whole bungalow so as you can imagine I get through a lot of pallet wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenny Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Hi would recommend a log burner any day if you have a supply of wood it helps on the costs heres mine Fenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flazz Posted January 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 I've just had a phone call from a pw member saying he's a fence erector , he has about 2000 old fence posts if i want them . He used to keep them till 5th November & have ONE MASSIVE bonfire , but his kids are too old & he can't be bothered anymore. My question to you guy's in the know is , would they be ok to burn or would they make to much muck in the flue ? He said he'll deliver them free if i want them Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pestcontrol1 Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 (edited) there ok if they arnt tanalized ? cant burn tanalized timber it gives off highly toxic smoke arsenick i think But i could do with 20 to make a new log shed Edited January 20, 2014 by pestcontrol1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Got to be careful of the chemicals they were treated with years ago like old engine oil or creosote or a mixture of the two. If you can get them and cut them you should be able to smell any creosote or oil in the wood, if not season and burn, any contaminated wood just take to the incinerator. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Croc Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 I have a Multifuel stove that does the Central heating and hot water, had it fitted 2 1/2 years ago (changed from gas, to dear!! cut my winter heating bill by nearly half) Admittedly, I get my logs for a very reasonable price I have just worked out, (for this year anyway) that I have used since mid Sept, 3 cube of hardwood logs and 26 x 20 kg bags of smokeless coal It roughly equates to .47 (thereabouts, coal bunker holds 12 bags) of a bag a coal and 12 logs a day HETAS guy fitted mine, (thankfully) and he had fun Got one of these http://www.charnwood.com/range/stove/slx-45.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 A bag of coal and twelve logs a day, good grief that's expensive to run. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Croc Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 (edited) Figgy POINT 47 of a bag and that's for 24 hrs not just the day time, ie less than half a bag to run 7 radiators and all the hot water we want (coal at £6.00 a bag) The fire runs 24/7 from mid Oct and only 26 bags used so far this winter I wouldn't want to burn a bag every 8 hrs Edited January 20, 2014 by The Croc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pestcontrol1 Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Figgy POINT 47 of a bag and that's for 24 hrs not just the day time, ie less than half a bag to run 7 radiators and all the hot water we want (coal at £6.00 a bag) The fire runs 24/7 from mid Oct and thats only a 20kg bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprackles Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 and thats only a 20kg bag Figgy POINT 47 of a bag and that's for 24 hrs not just the day time, ie less than half a bag to run 7 radiators and all the hot water we want (coal at £6.00 a bag) The fire runs 24/7 from mid Oct and only 26 bags used so far this winter I wouldn't want to burn a bag every 8 hrs A 20kg bag here is £8.20.. :( ....what type are you burning at that price ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Croc Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Large Anthracite nuts, Smokeless fuel normally £7 something (but had staff discount on top) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Get you now the coal bunker size in the middle had me confused and all the decimal points. So basically half a bag and a dozen logs for 24 hours of heat and hot water. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.