Going for the woodburner in the spring.
Could do with some advice and feedback.
As in a smokefree zone, currently planning on putting in a
Dunsley Yorkshire in with back boiler for thermal store.
Will need to expand the fireplace hole etc. .
Cost? 5K with liner?
Would I do better putting just a small woodburner in and seeing how it goes? 1200 liner + burner - 2k?
That's assuming I can get the liner put in so that I can change later?
3 bed semi - 2 rooms downstairs - burner in back room.
If I put a straight burner in, I assume with doors open I can dump a few kW into the house to help the CH.
Just thinking that if the missus hates it, then we will have a backup for the future at a lower cost.
As have new baby and toddler, will be paying for all work.
Anyone done it this way?
Will put in Solar HW later once we have the burner sorted.
Woodburner - decision!
Moderator: Peak Moderation
I think a few have gone down that road. I have, but with a rayburn at the bottom end. Works very well. Hot water, cooking and heating from wood all winter with no reliance on fossil fuels. Yet to put the solar bit in, but have a water tank with solar coil in ready and waiting.
Are you installing it in an existing chimney?
Are you installing it in an existing chimney?
Jim
For every complex problem, there is a simple answer, and it's wrong.
"Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the myriad creatures as straw dogs" (Lao Tzu V.i).
For every complex problem, there is a simple answer, and it's wrong.
"Heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat the myriad creatures as straw dogs" (Lao Tzu V.i).
AFAIK, the gas combi complicates things quite dramatically, with the associated knock-on in cost. It may account for a large chunk of the additional 5k. A good stove, connected to a tank, with an insulated flue shouldn't normally cost more than a couple of thousand, installed.
I'd recommend taking SunnyJim's advice and getting a tank with a spare coil so you can add on solar hot water at a later date. Retrofilled coils don't really work as well, and trying to shoe-horn solar into an existing system will be problematic.
I'd recommend taking SunnyJim's advice and getting a tank with a spare coil so you can add on solar hot water at a later date. Retrofilled coils don't really work as well, and trying to shoe-horn solar into an existing system will be problematic.
Should have been clearer. Currently on a combi, and the plan would be to go to a thermal store, with inputs from solar, combi (take off of CH circuit) and woodburner.
5K cost would be for Dunsley Yorkshire 1.4K / increasing size of 50's fire place and liner into chimney(1.2K) store 1.2K, plumbing combi to store. Another 5K would do the solar and some other bits, so 10K is for the whole system.
I would do it in stages, and as has been said, future proof the store.
Dominic, main thing seems to be find a good plumber who knows what they're doing. Solar installers who know what they're doing with solid fuels.
The alternative would be fit the liner and a small stove -2K? to see how we got on. Young family, so walking before running seems like a good idea. Do the solar at that point. But, can I then open it up a little and upgrade using the same liner?
Sell the stove on?
Has anyone done this?
5K cost would be for Dunsley Yorkshire 1.4K / increasing size of 50's fire place and liner into chimney(1.2K) store 1.2K, plumbing combi to store. Another 5K would do the solar and some other bits, so 10K is for the whole system.
I would do it in stages, and as has been said, future proof the store.
Dominic, main thing seems to be find a good plumber who knows what they're doing. Solar installers who know what they're doing with solid fuels.
The alternative would be fit the liner and a small stove -2K? to see how we got on. Young family, so walking before running seems like a good idea. Do the solar at that point. But, can I then open it up a little and upgrade using the same liner?
Sell the stove on?
Has anyone done this?
My advice is this.
1. Dump the thermal store for a "vented" 3 coil tank. With solar bottom, next log store and then gas. Thermal stores take toooooooooo much energy to get hot to running temp and then use it for rads and its gone in a blink. The fact of the matter is this you will not get the btu from your solar or fire that is stated becasue that is running it hard ie lots of sun or lots of wood. More like you will want to use less resources and therefore you will get less btu but it will still be enough to get your tank to 60-70 degrees and warm up a few rads.
2. In rank order get solar last, especially if you have a family and need heat and hot water. Then its up to you which one next, if you dont mind being cold in the morning and missing out on not always having hotwater then get a stove, but if you need that comfort then gas first. (ie totally seperate pipe work circuits)
3. No problem whatsoever in using solar, stove and gas. You can use a neutraliser or what I would do is this. Use 3 coils so that's all the hot water problems sorted, then for rads have the stove do bathroom, kitchen, bedrooms, with the kitchen on low. Then have the gas to two very large btu rads, one in living room and one on your landing.
Total cost for doing everything yourself is;
Solar kit £1500
Stove & Install 2k
Gas Boiler £500
Tank 3 coil £450-£600
Sundries, Pipe, Rads, Fittings and other tanks £300-500
Hope it helps
but if nothing else really have a good think about the Thermal store, on paper they look great and easy to buy into, but be sure to read up on the negatives!
1. Dump the thermal store for a "vented" 3 coil tank. With solar bottom, next log store and then gas. Thermal stores take toooooooooo much energy to get hot to running temp and then use it for rads and its gone in a blink. The fact of the matter is this you will not get the btu from your solar or fire that is stated becasue that is running it hard ie lots of sun or lots of wood. More like you will want to use less resources and therefore you will get less btu but it will still be enough to get your tank to 60-70 degrees and warm up a few rads.
2. In rank order get solar last, especially if you have a family and need heat and hot water. Then its up to you which one next, if you dont mind being cold in the morning and missing out on not always having hotwater then get a stove, but if you need that comfort then gas first. (ie totally seperate pipe work circuits)
3. No problem whatsoever in using solar, stove and gas. You can use a neutraliser or what I would do is this. Use 3 coils so that's all the hot water problems sorted, then for rads have the stove do bathroom, kitchen, bedrooms, with the kitchen on low. Then have the gas to two very large btu rads, one in living room and one on your landing.
Total cost for doing everything yourself is;
Solar kit £1500
Stove & Install 2k
Gas Boiler £500
Tank 3 coil £450-£600
Sundries, Pipe, Rads, Fittings and other tanks £300-500
Hope it helps
but if nothing else really have a good think about the Thermal store, on paper they look great and easy to buy into, but be sure to read up on the negatives!"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." — Thomas Edison, 1931
If I were to order our wood burner again:
1. I would try to run the metal flue through the room above to retain more heat.
2. I would make the flue as high as possible, and would fit the highest tech cowl possible.
3. I would order a burner with a compartment below the burner, for drying of logs and also an oven-type cooking chamber above the burner. It might be more expensive and possibly a bit 'strong' visually ... but it would be more useful!
4. I would retain the coal-burning option for emergencies.
5. I would think about adding the backboiler thingy - but probably would not fit it. However I would ensure that the whole burner was sufficiently away from the wall to allow a backboiler to be added later without excessive grief.
1. I would try to run the metal flue through the room above to retain more heat.
2. I would make the flue as high as possible, and would fit the highest tech cowl possible.
3. I would order a burner with a compartment below the burner, for drying of logs and also an oven-type cooking chamber above the burner. It might be more expensive and possibly a bit 'strong' visually ... but it would be more useful!
4. I would retain the coal-burning option for emergencies.
5. I would think about adding the backboiler thingy - but probably would not fit it. However I would ensure that the whole burner was sufficiently away from the wall to allow a backboiler to be added later without excessive grief.
I'm really restricted due to smokeless zone, so a lot of stoves are out.
The missus and me have talked it over a lot just now.
Made a bigger decision now we've toted it up.
Our house will cost more to put in solar and a big stove than to move once the housing crash has stabilised a bit and do the same. (Don't ask about the plumbing.... and a flippin' combi)
Front is SW facing, so not ideal. Other insulating preps will continue - will help when we sell.
If we want to, I think we will be best putting in a small stove to heat the room and put of few kW into the house. Will get us used to a stove before we go on to better things.
I really wanted to do everything here, as we have been in since 2001.
We like where we are, but as I get more into what we want to do, we need to move. Not far, still in the same area, but with all the requirements we will need for the future, south facing rear etc. And I really HATE moving
The missus and me have talked it over a lot just now.
Made a bigger decision now we've toted it up.
Our house will cost more to put in solar and a big stove than to move once the housing crash has stabilised a bit and do the same. (Don't ask about the plumbing.... and a flippin' combi)
Front is SW facing, so not ideal. Other insulating preps will continue - will help when we sell.
If we want to, I think we will be best putting in a small stove to heat the room and put of few kW into the house. Will get us used to a stove before we go on to better things.
I really wanted to do everything here, as we have been in since 2001.
We like where we are, but as I get more into what we want to do, we need to move. Not far, still in the same area, but with all the requirements we will need for the future, south facing rear etc. And I really HATE moving
Sounds like the best move JonB, defo not worth doing a home to the level you need to ease the future if your not going to stay there. Houses are getting damn cheap to buy now and auctions have their books full again.
"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." — Thomas Edison, 1931