We are considering getting a woodburner stove to cut costs, can anyone advise on it?

Question

Does anyone know roughly how much it costs to install it and are they very efficient at heating the house ,it is a 2 bedroom house for the record.

Answer 1

I heat with wood because I get wood for free, I just pay a small amount for gas in the chain saw and gas for hauling. I spent $400 for a stove and $500 for a steel chimney kit. Plus $40 for a local permit and inspection.  I installed it myself.  My home insurance need a copy of the permit and inspection. It saves me a bundle. Here in Mich heating with gas can cost $2000-$3000 per winter. So that money saved is in my pocket. Also, there is nothing like the comfort of wood heat, it's so warm.

Answer 2

If wood pellets are available in your area, a pellet stove is much more efficient than a plain wood burning stove.

Answer 3

to be truly cost effective you must be able to get your wood for free or by the tri-axel load to make it worthwile...if you have to pay lots for a cord or buy pellets i dont think its worth the cost...

Answer 4

They can heat a house very well. How well depends partly on the house--whether it's well insulated or not, its design. If you have some larger open areas it will work better than if you have a bunch of little rooms. Make sure you get a stove that's the right size for the area you intend to heat. Do some real research on this to see how much installation would be in your area and for your house, find out what stoves are sold locally, talk to any neighbours or friends who have one. Every place has its own rules and every house is different, and yes, check with your insurance company. Some of them can be very sticky about woodburning stoves. Sometimes they won't charge extra if it's a cookstove but will for other types. And none of them will cover you if the stove is not installed according to specifications and building codes. Don't even think about it.

Also find out what you have to pay for wood where you live. If you have to buy it all, heating with wood might not be very economical. If you can get it for free, that can work very well but remember the old saying--"he who heats with wood is warm twice". Getting, cutting, splitting and storing wood can be a fair amount of work. What you burn must be dry so often you have to store the wood for months till it's ready to burn

Answer 5

Yes,   Take a look at 'Rayburn' and 'AGA'  they're excellent.  I use a Rayburn Supreme of about 1975 vintage. It burns wood, coal, coke and even peat.  It will easily heat up to 9 radiator (average size) and all the hot water you could want - plus you can cook on it, and bake/roast in it.  It's very efficient if you keep it burning 24/7, and in terms of 'free' waste wood I burn about 4 to 5 scrap pallets a day - at no cost.  Brilliant!!

Answer 6

Check with your home owners insurance, some companies don't allow wood burners.