How to save money on heating with a wood burning stove

In this extreme inflation, rising fuel bills and a huge deficit in the amount of energy the UK needs vs what it produces, we're all looking to save money. Woodburning might be an answer for you, but it does come with a choice:

Continuing rising costs, or lots of hardworking.

The good news is it is essentially the only heating solution that you can solve on your own for free.

[benjohnson]

Great video, I'm on my first year and have stacked and dried lots of local wood from community woodlands. This channel helped me choose a stove and great to watch all the videos on others. Thanks and keep up the good work. Really liked this Q&A :-)

[matthammond]

Love my peanut 8. Had a couple of years and when up to temp warms up my whole downstairs no problem. 5 stars here

[cliffspencer]

Ash and cherry both dry to under 20% moisture content in six months

[huwbishop]

Dead standing trees are ideal. The outer limbs are seasoned and reasonably dry. Where the main trunk can provide the next years supply. With ash, there are plenty of them.
Sycamore can also be burned the same year (collected at the start, burned at the end).
Ash can be burned at any time, but you're not allowed to burn it wet.
Don't bother with willow, fast growing, but a nightmare to dry and pretty rubbish to burn.
Blackthorn is good, if you can handle the thorns, smells superb.
Cypress such as Leylandii and Juniper burn hot and fast, but take at least three years to loose the sap.
Oak is great, but can be problematic due to it's density and variety.
Laburnum is superb, but poisonous (apparently).

[pooroldfred]

Hi
A few months ago i let you know i ordered a dunsley avance 500.
Wide and very slim. Had itninstalled a week ago. It's awsome.
ALSO
I had a recoheat unit installed...i have to say it freaking brilliant. It blows out a jet of hot air for hours! Look it up...do a review please its really awsome and does exactly what it says on the tin. Ive paid for it and have no interest or commision....but its really fantastic at heating the room quick and also when it dies diwn. I put the pump outside and there is a noticeable hiss....but it can be turned off whenever but it great at heating the whole house...3 bed semi completey warm after an hour and 2 logs. More than happy for you to look at it in action over a beer at mine. Great informative channel. Well presented. Regards Paul

[lastcosmic]

I'm new to log burning.
I'm collecting from the park.
Lots of twigs and bits of wood

[VinceKnowles-el]

I loved my pioneer 400. I’ve had 4 of them in the past but recently plumed for a Dik Geurts Ivar 5 so will let you know how it compares. Tough decision between another Clearview a Clock blithfield 5 a woodwarm and the Dik Geurts ivar 5 Mrs made the last call because of how easy it was to control. The Clearview fell short because I needed the bigger range of output which the Ivar 5 is at least half as much again. Loved my Clearview. Always been the Rolls Royce of stoves but the others are all catching up now.

[hughclark]

If you get trees/branches cut about 6-8 feet lengths and stand then up on end, they will dry much quicker, and can be chopped later .

[Buzzjugs]

Love the channel. Can you do a top 5 stoves of 2022 or similar? I really value your opinion. Thanks.

[Thereishope]

The price of netted bags of logs has rocketed as well. Last year in Tescos they were £5.50, now £6.50. certainly a very expensive way of running a log burner.

[freakeystyley]

Great video! We have some sycamore which is well seasoned from early 2021, and some willow from early 2022. It seems like the stove is much smokier when first getting lit - would you advise starting with the willow and switching to sycamore when it's up to temp, or doing the opposite but keeping the air flow down to avoid over firing?

[chicofoxo]

Would like to hear an update on "buying wet wood". Where can you do this in UK, or South East England? Also, isn't there Gov regulations banning the sale of wet wood in 2023?

[CliveMaxwell]

Hi Gabriel - looking to buy my very first wood burning stove which will use an internal twin walled flue. Looking for something like the Hunter Allure or Bignut with maybe a 5kw output as I only need it for looks and secondary heating - simple use with a great flame. Suggestions please

[roblawson]

Great video, we had a stove fitted this year, I live on the edge of an urban area and have tried local tree surgeons for wood, however they all said no to logs etc. Is it a case of keep trying or is there another way us city folk should be using to source wet wood 😀? Many Thanks

[siamakga]

Do you move the wet wood to a shed for further drying - after being out for a year or two and before using them in the oven?

[esme]

Where is your shop? I need one to heat my very small to bed home on a daily basis and have the chouce to boil a kettle or slow cook. Thank you. These videos are so informative.

[SamanthaWilde-ej]

Hi Gabriel,
I'm a new stove owner willing to put some effort in to keep the running costs down and hopefully enjoy some warmer winters! I've just been given a load of conifer logs by a local landscaper and I plan to cut them to size and split as you've described. I need to DIY a simple store to season the wood and I like the sound of your pallet + tarpaulin, any chance you could share a picture? Does this work even if exposed year round? Really appreciate all the videos you've made, keep up the good work!

[shazzam]

Great advice, really helpful. I am still searching for a stove. May I ask what is the one in this video? I love the front guard on it, they are normally quite plain or non existent. Many thanks.

[Ian-gwvx]

I just pick any wood up from the countryside and dry them around the stove and test with moisture meter.

[ianscottuk]

hi, whats your opinion on scots pine? I am in scotland and its quite easy to get scavenging etc. But is it ok for the liner? I read in a stove manual not to burn resinous wood. Is this just a bit over the top? Or sweep more often?