Chilly for June? Think about a stove for next winter

24 June 2015

Take a hint from the recent unseasonable weather, and if you haven't already got one, think about installing a woodburning or multifuel stove in time for next winter.  Emily Thompson writes about her experience and the benefits it has brought:

I met Wendy in the summer of 2013 and we discussed my all electric, energy guzzling house. One thing she said to me was "If you only do one thing, swap your open fire for a wood burning stove". I might just do that, I thought.

By November '13 I had my lovely multi-fuel stove installed.  I had some logs and some smokeless fuel to use up. The logs were causing me problems (very small front garden and hip and lower back problems making the physical management of them increasingly difficult. And I was not happy to be burning coal although it was easier for me to manage. However,I had noticed the fuel being used by John Wood  -  Verdo wood briquettes - which I could store inside. Now I burn nothing but this. I reckon I use less than 1 ½ tons per year. That's about £370. BUT I have reduced my monthly electricity bill from £117 to £60 which means that over the year and taking the cost of kindling into account, I save about £290 a year. PLUS I'M MUCH WARMER!!

You will notice my lovely red kettle. I use it! I was clear I wanted my stove to sit fully into the room - not be recessed at all under the chimney. So - max heat into the room and a large "free" hotplate. I frequently cook my evening meal on the stove meaning my electric hob is little used.  The stove also enables me to delay turning on the storage heaters (now kept low) in the autumn and to turn them off sooner in the spring.  I still have lots of energy issues to address but this one measure has been nothing but good for me and for the environment.

Emily Thomson