Are wood burner stoves a cheaper alternative to central heating?
You do of course have to take the initial cost of installing a wood burner or multi-fuel stove into account when considering whether wood burners are a cheaper alternative to central heating.
Wood-burners typically require a one-time investment which is very often much cheaper than the installation of a central heating system, but what about the long-term expenses and overall efficiency?
The price of seasoned or kiln-dried wood suitable for burning can really fluctuate based on demand, seasonality, and availability. Our top tip is always to stock up and buy your logs (if you do buy your logs and aren’t foraging for them which is of course the most cost-effective!) in the summer months – come winter, you will always pay more!
In terms of efficiency, modern central heating systems are designed to distribute heat evenly throughout the house. In contrast, wood burners provide localised heat – they are regularly termed “room heaters” by manufacturers, making them naturally more suitable for singular rooms. Many people will say their wood burner heats their entire house – we tell our customers to approach that statement with extreme caution!
Wood burners and their chimneys also need regular cleaning to ensure optimal performance and safety, so you do need to factor in chimney sweeping, ash removal, and maintenance of the stove to the ongoing costs. Central heating systems, though still require periodic maintenance which can cost just as much. Central heating also has the chance of developing costly issues and is nowhere near as reliable as wood burners – for example, one huge factor currently for people is that you do not need electricity to run your wood burner, but you will need electricity for your boiler!
As you can see, there are many factors you need to consider when asking are wood burners a cheaper alternative to central heating and of course, no heating source is 100% maintenance or cost-free.
Used correctly, wood-burning stoves do have the potential to be significantly cheaper alternative to central heating. But always rest assured, at Abbey Fire Centre, we will always offer you honest advice, even if it is to our detriment!
If you are interested in a wood-burning stove or a Multi-fuel stove for your home, contact us and have a chinwag – we can help you make the best decision for you, your home and your family.
Abbey Fire Centre has been proud to specialise in the manufacturing and installation of beautiful, unique fireplaces, gas fires and wood-burning stoves into homes all over Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham and the West Midlands for over 40 years. We are experts in all areas of solid fuel, gas fires and wood-burning stoves.
Contact us to find out more.