Wood-Burning Stove, DIY
CASE STUDY WBS01
KENILWORTH
INSTALLED
Summer 1980.
FUEL REPLACED
n/a
DESIGNED TO SERVE
Three-bedroomed bungalow.
PROPORTION OF NEEDS MET
80% to 90% of space heating – when bringing up family used it to heat domestic hot water, supplementing AGA stove; now reverted to space heating only.
PROJECT IDEA
What I did
Installed wood-burning stove as part of new self-build house.
Why I carried out the project
To provide space heating for new self-build house.
What type of equipment was installed?
‘Hunter’ 12 kW wood-burning stove (no longer made).
Who was the installation company?
(DIY)
What costs were involved?
£400 approx. (1980).
DID I THINK IN TERMS OF PAY-BACK?
No – had free supply of wood.
FINANCIALLY WAS DECISION DIFFIFULT?
No.
WAS THERE SOMETHING I OR MY FAMILY DID NOT PURCHASE AS A RESULT?
No.
WAS THERE AGREEMENT IN THE HOUSEHOLD THAT THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO?
Yes.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE PROJECT
That ‘free’ wood is very expensive in terms of physical effort expended when gathering it!
WHAT WORKED?
Sitting-room heated very well.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK?
Not enough heat from CH system – for rooms other than Sitting-Room).
UNEXPECTED KNOCK-ON EFFECTS, GOOD OR BAD
None in particular.
HOW WERE CARBON EMISSIONS & PREVIOUS FUEL CONSUMPTION REDUCED?
n/a.
HAVE YOU REDUCED YOUR DEMAND FOR FOSSIL FUELS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN – COULD YOU DO MORE?
n/a.
WOULD I REPEAT THE EXERCISE?
Yes.
WHAT WOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY?
Choose a different stove.
DO I PLAN TO INSTALL OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY EQUIPMENT?
Yes – probably solar PV (solar thermal domestic HW system would not be compatible with our AGA; in any case it provides as much HW as we need).