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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Log Burner?
With energy bills for electricity and gas continuing to rise across the UK, many people are seeking alternative ways to keep their homes heated. One of the most popular alternatives is a log burner (also known as a wood-burning stove). But, are they really cheaper to run than a gas or electric heating appliance? Keep reading and we’ll tell you how much it costs to run a log burner…
Upfront costs versus running costs
Before we go, we want to differentiate between the two types of costs that are associated with log burners.
These are upfront costs and running costs.
Upfront costs refer to the one time payment that you’ll make in order to buy the log burner itself and any installation accessories that it may require.
Running costs refer to the ongoing costs that you’ll pay in order to use your log burner on a regular basis. These running costs are largely restricted to firewood and occasional costs associated with maintenance.
In the next part of this article, we’ll take a look at the upfront costs.
The upfront costs of a log burner
So, how much should you expect to pay for a log burner and the accessories and parts you need to install it in your home?
You’ll find the answers below.
How much does a log burner cost?
If you want a standard, no frills log burner that’ll keep your home warm, then prices start from £499.95 (as of April 2022).
For this, you’ll typically get a log burner with a heat output of around 5kW. This is enough to heat a small to medium sized living room or kitchen.
Explore our range of great value log burners now
It’s also possible at this price point to pick up log burners that are classed as ‘multifuel’ stoves, meaning they can burn other solid fuels such as coal, peat and wood pellets. This can be handy as it expands the range of options you have when it comes to stocking up on fuel.
If you want extra features on your log burner, such as a cook top, a back boiler, or advanced combustion systems, then you can expect to pay more.
Here at Direct Stoves, we have log burners covering all price points, all the way from £499.95 up to £5,000 plus.
Explore our range of log burners now.
How much does a stove pipe cost?
Log burners don’t always come with stove pipes; yet this is a necessary component as it helps to funnel the smoke and combustibles generated by your stove up into your chimney.
Explore our range of stove pipes now
The exact amount you’ll pay for a stove varies depending on the length and diameter required (these are determined by the size of the collar on your stove and the distance from your stove to the opening of the chimney cavity).
At the time of writing (April 2022), stove pipes start from £33 here at Direct Stoves.
Explore our range of stove pipes now.
How much does a chimney liner cost?
Whilst you aren't strictly required to use a chimney liner with your log burner, we highly recommend that you do.
As we wrote in this article, there are a whole host of benefits to using a chimney liner, including making your stove easier to light, more fuel efficient, and safer.
So you should definitely have a chimney liner on your ‘to buy’ list.
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Like stove pipes, the exact liner you require will be determined by the diameter of your stove collar and the length of your chimney. You’ll also need to buy a particular ‘grade’ liner depending on what you’ll be burning in your stove.
Here at Direct Stoves our chimney liners start from £18.56 (April 2022), with the price increasing depending on the length and grade required.
Explore our range of chimney liners now.
Those are effectively the ‘bare essentials’ that you’ll need to get a log burner up and running in your home (especially if you’re installing the stove yourself).
If you intend to hire someone to install your log burner on your behalf, then remember to factor in the cost of labour time as part of your upfront costs.
Depending on where you are installing your stove, you may also need to pay for a suitable hearth.
The ongoing running costs of a log burner
Once you’ve bought your log burner and installed it, you’ll be faced with the ongoing running costs.
As we mentioned at the outset of this article, these costs are largely restricted to firewood.
The cost of firewood
The cost of firewood varies slightly across the UK, but according to research undertaken by the SIA (Stove Industry Alliance) the average cost for 1 cubic metre of kiln dried wood logs is between £120 and £140.
According to this same research, a log burner will use an average of 3.5 cubic metres of wood if used during the evenings and weekends from mid-October to mid-April.
This means that the average annual heating bill for a log burner is between £420 to £490.
As you’ve probably already spotted, that’s considerably less than what many people are now paying for gas and electricity on an annual basis.
In fact, it means that a wood burning stove costs about a third of the price of electric heating and approximately 13% less than gas central heating for the average household.
The Energy Savings Trust has also gotten behind log burners, revealing that a wood-burning stove can cut a home’s overall heating bill by up to 10%.
With energy prices being what they are, that ten percent will make a real difference to your cost of living.
But aren’t log burners bad for the environment?
No. Not at all.
This is a common question we get from potential customers, but the idea that stoves are bad for the environment is very much an urban myth.
If you buy an EcoDesign ready stove - and all stoves on sale since January 2022 have to be EcoDesign ready - then it will emit 90 percent less particulate matter than older types of stoves.
EcoDesign stoves use advanced combustion technology to ensure that they are extremely clean burning and give off almost no pollution. This is because all of the combustible materials and particulates are ‘burnt off’ within the firebox of the stove before they have a chance to leave the stove pipe.
So, if you want a stove that not only makes your home cheap to heat, but is kind to the environment, then make sure that you pick one that is ‘EcoDesign ready’.
Note - all of the stoves that we sell here at Direct Stoves are EcoDesign ready.
The best value EcoDesign log burners
Are you ready to save money on your home heating? Then it’s time to invest in a great value log burner.
Below, you’ll find some of the best value EcoDesign ready wood-burning stoves in the UK.
Woolly Mammoth 5 Wood Burning/Multifuel EcoDesign Stove
Woolly Mammoth 5 Wood Burning/Multifuel EcoDesign Stove
At £499.99 this is one the best value wood-burning stoves on the market.
With a hearty 5kW heat output, and the flexibility to use other solid fuels as well as firewood, the Woolly Mammoth 5 is a highly versatile stove that will provide reliable heating performance for years.
Thanks to its exceptionally large viewing window, it’s also easy to see how the fire is burning, allowing you to only add firewood when you need to, saving you money and making your fuel go further.
It’s also an incredibly efficient log burner with an efficiency rating of 78.7%. This is achieved thanks to the Woolly Mammoth 5’s primary and secondary air intakes and pre-adjusted tertiary air supply which not only makes it super efficient, but very clean burning too.
Esse One Wood Burning EcoDesign Stove
Esse One Wood Burning EcoDesign Stove
Another fantastic value log burner at £524.95, the Esse One is a powerful little stove that puts out an impressive 5kW of heat. Enough to keep you and your family warm during the colder months of the year.
Esse is a British stove brand that has a pedigree that stretches back to 1854. Today, Esse continues to manufacture innovative stoves in the heart of Lancashire, and the One is no exception.
This is also a very efficient stove, with an efficiency rating of 82%, meaning that it’ll make your firewood last much longer.
Plus, as it’s EcoDesign ready, the Esse One is extremely clean burning and is suitable for use in smoke control areas. So, even if you live in the heart of a town or city, you can still install it in your home.
Thanks to its robust manufacture, with a steel body construction and cast iron door and grate, you can expect the Esse One to provide you with decades of unfailing service.
Portway Arundel Wood Burning/Multifuel EcoDesign Stove
Portway Arundel Wood Burning Multifuel EcoDesign Stove
Should you want a great value log burner that also comes with a long-term guarantee, then you’ll want to buy the Portway Arundel.
With a price tag of £524.95 and a 10-year guarantee, the Arundel offers the perfect blend of value for money and long-term quality.
As with the other stoves featured in this article, the Arundel has a heat output of 5kW making it suitable for the heating of small to medium sized rooms and kitchens.
What’s more, that 5kW heat output doesn’t come at the expense of efficiency as the Arundel has an efficiency rating of 82.5%.
When it does come time to stock up on fuel, you’ll have plenty of options open to you, as the Portway Arundel is able to burn coal or smokeless fuels in addition to firewood.
Need help selecting the right log burner for your home?
At Direct Stoves we know that making the switch to a log burner can be a bit daunting for some people.
But it really doesn’t need to be!
Whether you have questions about how to use a stove, or you’d like to speak to a member of our team about whether a stove can be installed in your home, make use of our video consultation service.
You can chat to one of our team and show them where you want to install your stove. Our team member will then be able to provide you with the advice and information you need to make the right decision.
Find out more about our stove video surveys here.
Get the best deal on a log burner now
If you’re looking for a great value stove that’s going to reduce the cost of heating your home, then explore what we have to offer here at Direct Stoves.
When you buy a log burner from us you don’t just get a stove at a great price, you also benefit from free mainland UK delivery, 14-day no hassle returns and the option of 12-month interest free finance.
Explore great value log burners at Direct Stoves now
For more stove buying guides, heating advice and information, read the Direct Stoves blog…
How to Save Money On Your Energy Bill | A Complete Guide to Buying Firewood for Your Log Burner | What Are the Best Low-Carbon Heating Solutions for New-Build Homes?
