5 Realities of Owning a Log Burning Stove

Log burning stoves and open fires are one of the most popular home improvement projects in the UK. They’re a cosy addition to your home and can be a fun, attractive centrepiece for your living room. They can even be practical.

If you’re thinking about investing in a log-burning stove, here are a few things you need to be aware of and prepared for.

1. They’re Expensive

Many people invest in log burners because they want to save money on heating bills, and it is an investment.

While you can absolutely lower your heating bills, as wood costs less than gas or electricity, you do need to factor in additional costs. For starters, wood prices aren’t completely stable. Right now, it’s cheaper to buy wood to heat your home. But this could change in 15-20 years.

More importantly, there’s the initial cost of the wood burning stove. The prices do vary, but you can expect to spend hundreds or even thousands of pounds on a stove, including installation costs. If you don’t have an existing chimney, it will set you back even more. 

2. You Will Need to Look After Your Chimney

You can’t just install a log burner and then forget about it. You will need to make sure your chimney is cleaned regularly and, if it gets damaged in a storm, you need to get your chimney repaired by a professional before you can use your stove. Otherwise, you risk ruining the air quality in your home and potentially causing a fire. 

This represents another potential cost to your log burning stove.

3. An Increased Fire Risk

Speaking of fires, any real fireplace represents a significant fire risk in your home. Log burners are safer than open fires, as they don’t allow sparks into the home as easily, but they are still more dangerous than no fire at all.

If you get any real fire, make sure that your house is fire-ready. This means installing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home and making sure the fire isn’t left open and unattended.

4. Lighting and Cleaning Your Log Burner

It seems obvious, but there’s more work involved in heating your home with a log burner than with your central heating. You can’t just push a button and feel warm.

You have to keep the log burner clean of ash builder so it lights effectively, and you also have to actually get up and light it. This means having wood, as well as kindling and paper or firelighters, on hand so you can light it. You then have to spend a few minutes lighting it and making sure it takes before you can start enjoying the warmth.

5. They’re Absolutely Worth It

After all of this, it might seem as though a log burner isn’t worth all of the money and effort. But there are plenty of much more compelling reasons to get a log burner anyway.

For starters, they’re fun. They’re pretty, and people get so much joy out of them. Regular cleaning and lighting only take a few minutes out of your day, and you only need to get the chimney cleaned each year, so most of the time, you’re just adding fuel and enjoying yourself.

Log burners are also fantastic in the winter, and especially if there’s a power cut. You can still feel warm with a log burner and even cook food on top of the stove. This keeps your family safe and comfortable, even when everyone else is having to cope without any heating at all. 

As mentioned before, log burners can also save you money over time. While open fires aren’t very efficient, log burners can get very hot with only wood as fuel, and they can burn slowly as well. While it takes a bit of planning, you can save money with your log burner, especially if you make it do double duty as a handy stove to cook food on.

Finally, log burning stoves are a great selling point for your home, so if you end up moving, you could add some value to your property.

In Conclusion

The only person who can decide for once and for all whether a log burner is the right option for their home is you. You know your schedule and whether you’re comfortable with the job of lighting a fire each time you want to feel warm. 

Hopefully, you’re able to weigh up the pros and cons of owning a log burning fire and, if you do decide to get one, you should get plenty of enjoyment out of it.

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Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.