Gas Fires V Wood Burners

[katie b]

Hi everyone
We are considering replacing our wood burner with a fitted enclosed gas fire.
We are thinking this will be cleaner and more efficient and also we've been told there is little difference in the running costs.
The lounge in our villa is approx 8.20 x 4.65 metres. Has anyone any experience or comments on this and would you expect the gas fire to give
out as much heat as a log burner?
katie b

[maccasa]

I looked at gas v wood very carefully when we built the house - apart from the expensive gas bottle installation and the red tape associated with it, the cost came out a little higher for gas. It is clear that the actual combustion efficiency of gas is much higher than a log burner, but 5 years on I think the higher gas cost and improvements in log burner design have probably made them similar in efficiency but a lot cheaper using wood. Messy I agree, but nicer with wood. I think you would have to talk to the actual manufatcurers to get a true picture.

[widge]

Wood smells and sounds better than gas !!!!!!!!!!!

[Rampage]

Install a Bullerjan wood burning stove. (www.bullerjan.com). Super efficient, no mess (the stove actually requires a bed of ash to be present) and very trendy. We have had one for a few years now in our living/dining room (about 6m x 12m) in Carvoeiro and we are very pleased with it.

[blue]

We installed a Jotal logburner, it's a Norwegian make, we figured what the Norwegians don't know about logburners isn't worth knowing & Jotul have been in the business for about 150 years. Ours is freestanding & very compact, it only takes small logs so we have to specify that when ordering though Jotal do manufacture a full range of styles & colours. It is soooo super efficient that we use very few logs.
The Bullerjan look very interesting but it looks a bit like a car engine sitting there.

[maccasa]

Install a Bullerjan wood burning stove. (http://www.bullerjan.com). Super efficient, no mess (the stove actually requires a bed of ash to be present) and very trendy. We have had one for a few years now in our living/dining room (about 6m x 12m) in Carvoeiro and we are very pleased with it.

Its hardly what you would call a classic piece of styling is it? I have serious doubts about cleaning it as well - lots of holes for dust collection etc - it should be efficient with all those cooling tubes to duct the hot air away into the room, but I couldnt justify that in my room!

[steve]

The better fogo montanha woodburners have a vent to put out hot air as well as radiate it through the glass front. The models with a two speed fan and an adjustable draught control allow for extra heat circulation and greater economy in the use of wood. With properly dry seasoned wood the heat outputs can be very high and I often have to open the lounge door to let the heat out. I have had two in different houses and would not change. The downsides are the need to order and store logs and to clean out the ash plus despite whatever anyone claims the need to clean the glass door on an almost daily basis.

I can imagine though if you were not a full time resident that a gas fire would be very much more convenient. I would be surprised however if the running costs were not higher than a wood burner ( which can be left in overnight in the very cold weather on a damp down setting) - provided that you know where to go to get good quality logs at a reasonable price.

[shanagarry]

Steve - do you have a supplier of

good quality logs at a reasonable price.

[maccasa]

Cheapo logs at Pingo doce - ~ 2.50 for 10 kgs. Otherwise there is a place on the Guia - Gale rd that someone on this forum told me about - Head to faro, turn off N125 at Gale turn off, head towards val de Parra - about 3-4 km along on LHS. It is well BEFORE you get to Val Parra. Price was €10 for 60 kg. I also know of someone who can get delivered 1 tonne loads for €100.

[EMM]

THere is a very good wood yard on the old road to Silves, follow signs to golf.
They have 2 catergories of wood, The better is harder and a little more expensive.

Just turn up and load up your car very easy. He will deliver as well,.

Avoid some of the ones in Carvoeiro , overpriced rubbish.

[shanagarry]

That's very helpful - thank you all.

[Rampage]

Install a Bullerjan wood burning stove. (http://www.bullerjan.com). Super efficient, no mess (the stove actually requires a bed of ash to be present) and very trendy. We have had one for a few years now in our living/dining room (about 6m x 12m) in Carvoeiro and we are very pleased with it.

Its hardly what you would call a classic piece of styling is it? I have serious doubts about cleaning it as well - lots of holes for dust collection etc - it should be efficient with all those cooling tubes to duct the hot air away into the room, but I couldnt justify that in my room!

Luddite!!! We previously had the 'classic' design wood fire in a monstrosity of a fireplace with a brick chimney dominating one corner of the living room. 90% of the heat went up the chimney and it was hideously old-fashioned. Getting rid of the old fire plus surround and chminey was a great decision. We installed the stainless steel clad bullerjan on a SS plinth and it looks great while belting out as much heat as we ever need.

[maccasa]

THere is a very good wood yard on the old road to Silves, follow signs to golf.
They have 2 catergories of wood, The better is harder and a little more expensive.

Just turn up and load up your car very easy. He will deliver as well,.

Avoid some of the ones in Carvoeiro , overpriced rubbish.

So whats the price EMM?

[katie b]

Thanks everyone for your very interesting comments, it's certainly given us plenty to think about!
One of my main concerns with our current log burner is that last winter, unless we were almost sat on top the thing, I didn't find it
heated the room at all well. My husbands concern was having to repaint the ceiling and chimney breast every year as the smoke gets
them so dirty, which is another reason why we were considering a gas fire.
Mind you our current fogo montanha burner is over 20 years old so presumably the newer ones will be far more efficient.
Thanks again for your help.

[blue]

Our 'Jotul' blasts out the heat to the extent that even in the coldest months when we have it burning we have to open the windows & doors. Jotul also produce gas fires.
We bought it from the fire shop (can't remember its name) in the little trading estate after the Porches round about & MOT centre on the left hand side, the same place that 'STYLE' furnishings are.