With Ofgem recently raising the energy price cap for gas and electricity for the first time in the last 12 months, many people are wondering whether switching over to cheap wood fuel heat could be the answer. The thinking is that gas and electric heat is so getting so expensive that the costs of buying a wood stove and having it professionally installed can be covered within a single heating season.
But does the math actually check out? How much does it cost to buy, install, use, and maintain a wood stove for a whole year? And what is the real cost of heating your home with Ready to Burn firewood?
How Much Does It Cost to Buy a Wood Burner?
The cost of a log burner depends on three main factors: the appliance’s size, energy efficiency, and brand.
The bigger an appliance is, the more heat it can output, but the more it will cost.
Efficient Ecodesign and clearSkies certified wood stoves will output more heat per the same amount of wood fuel used and will release fewer pollutants. This also will come at a cost.
And appliances from premium brands will obviously cost more than analogous burners from lesser-known companies.
The least expensive commonly-available wood burner in the UK is the Woodpecker WP4. It currently costs £555.00. It’s made from cast iron, is Ecodesign certified, and can output between 2,000-5,000 watts of heat at 75% efficiency.
If you need more heat output, expect to pay between £1,000 and £2,000. High-end models from prestigious brands can cost upwards of £6,000-£7,000.
How Much Does It Cost to Have Log Burner Installed?
The professional installation of a log burner can cost anywhere between £500 and £1,500.
How Much Does a Kilowatt Hour of Wood Briquette Heat Cost?
According to calculations made by leading UK wood fuel supplier Lekto, the cost of briquette heat can be as little as £0.10 and £0.11 per kilowatt. However, in order to get such a low price, one needs to order briquettes in bulk. If you do not have the storage space to buy all of your wood fuels in one go, you may expect to pay around £0.15 per kilowatt of heat.
Firewood usually costs less than briquettes do, but it is also a lot less energy-dense, so you will usually end up paying around £0.17-£0.20 per kilowatt-hour of heat.
How Much Does Hiring a Chiminea Sweep Cost?
In 2022, having your chiminea swept by a professional will cost you around a hundred pounds.
