Wood Burner questions

[absconditus]

Hi first post here so may I take this opportunity to say hello to everyone

Like a lot of homeowners I am fed up with lining the pockets of the big gas suppliers to heat my home. So have recently been looking into alternatives.

We currently have a gas fire with back boiler in the living room fireplace. I understand its a baxi bermuda inset forget the number

My question is I would like to install a wood burning stove to heat the living/dining room could *just* the gas fire be removed and replaced with a wood burner ? leaving the gas back boiler in place ? Just wondering if I would have enough room ?

Secondly and ideally is it possible to somehow connect a wood burner to my existing gas back bolier and use it to heat my 8 radiators and heat my hot water ? If this is possible how difficult would this be to do ?

Would really appreciate some thoughts and ideas on this

Kind regards.


Gary

[Soloby Rob]

I think the conversion will give your wallet a beating but will be worth it in the long term.
You will need to have installed a solid fuel flu, depending on your present set up this could be a large cost.
I recon you'll also have to go for a multi fuel burner with boiler, a 'back boiler' is not very efficient at all.
My set up is a Parkray Chiltern that I installed myself, bought it very cheap some fifteen years ago, already had a solid fuel flu so no problems there, did the plumbing to seven radiators (clever dick aint I ) and it's saved me thousands of pounds. I manage to beg broken pallets and packing crates, always call in at a building site and offer to clear any scrap wood, do a bit of tree work etc, no blooming power company is in control of my house heating bill.
I say, do a bit of reading and go for it.
Good luck.
Rob

PS........Big welcome from me.

[Annpan]

Welcome to 'ish

Yes, you will have to check if your chimney is suitably lined - even if it a chimney, the recommendation these days seems to be to get all chimneys lined, helps avoid chimney fires. Cost depends on whether you DIY, or who you get to put it in and how tall your chimney/flue is.

I wouldn't think you would be able to use the back boiler you have, most stoves you get these day have specialised back boilers fitted in the factory (if you want them)

Personally I think it would be worth the investment, but then I have not long bought a HUGE woodburner which will eventually run our heating and hot water (its a clearview 650, which is to be retro fitted with a boiler - one of the few brands which offer this option)


I just realised you say you have an inset gas fire, when we looked none of the inset woodburners were compatible with any kind of back boiler, which seems unlikely but true. So you may need to look at free standing units.

[contadino]

Many (AFAIK, the majority of) makes of woodburner offer boiler models where the boiler can be fitted after initial installation.

You need to think about where your wood supply is going to come from in the future. The price of wood pellets is already on the rise, and so is firewood to a slightly lesser degree.

If you're secure in having a reasonably priced supply, then yes, you'll probably be able to reuse much of the existing plumbing for a woodburner.

[devonblacksmith]

I dont think a gas back boiler and a wood burner can use the same flue if they were running at the same time one would affect the draw on the other.

[Elizabeth]

no problems there, did the plumbing to seven radiators

Hi Rob,

my husband and I are just looking into getting a system which will do all - cook, water & radiators.

Just interested in what fuel you use and how often you have to stoke the fire when all the radiators are going - or say 4 of the radiators?

[ajstone]

Hi first post here so may I take this opportunity to say hello to everyone

Like a lot of homeowners I am fed up with lining the pockets of the big gas suppliers to heat my home. So have recently been looking into alternatives.

We currently have a gas fire with back boiler in the living room fireplace. I understand its a baxi bermuda inset forget the number There are quite a few 401-552

My question is I would like to install a wood burning stove to heat the living/dining room could *just* the gas fire be removed and replaced with a wood burner ? leaving the gas back boiler in place ? Just wondering if I would have enough room ? No its not legal to do so.

Secondly and ideally is it possible to somehow connect a wood burner to my existing gas back bolier and use it to heat my 8 radiators and heat my hot water ? If this is possible how difficult would this be to do ? Again its not legal..


Would really appreciate some thoughts and ideas on this

Kind regards.


Gary

Gary
The baxi should have a gas flue liner which is not suitable for solid/wood/multifuel burners.
If you really want to move away from gas then you need to remove the fire front and boiler.

I am Corgi/Oftec registered.
All Corgi registered gas engineers will become Gas Safe engineers from April when Corgi engineers will no longer be able to install gas appliances unless Gas Safe registered, look out for the new Logo. http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/

[prison break fan]

I don't know about other parts of the country, but here in West Sussex the price is logs is going up and up. I think more people are opening up their fireplaces because of the cost of electricity and gas. I am very fortunate to have a "free" supply, if not doubt I could afford to buy logs. pbf

[absconditus]

Well hello again, My OS went tits up on me and I lost all my bookmarks ! I have again been searching and **still** looking into the multi fuel stove when I stumbled upon this, my own post !!!

So firstly can I just thank everyone who took the time to reply and secondly apologies for not responding sooner ! but it was kinda outta my hands

I have decided now to have the gas fire and current back boiler removed and to have a multi fuel stove with back boiler.
If I get could some more advice that would be great. ?

My system is open vented (expansion tank in loft) ?? and the stove will be situated in the same place. I dont want to heat my hot water tank as i am going to have solar panels and or immersion heater for that. I just want the stove to pump heat into the room and heat my 8 radiators.

I know that the flu will have to be changed but can someone tell me what else will have to be changed and added ? Pipe work etc ?? valves that sort of thing ?

Much appreciated :)

Gary