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Thread ID: 113460 2010-10-20 21:41:00 heat pumps vs log burners globe (11482) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1146624 2010-10-20 21:41:00 currently have log burner. looking at possibly switching to heat pump as I have to move the burner during renovations. Just wondering if anyone who has gone from wood burner to heat pump has any comments or feedback.

I know all the stuff about cost of wood, instant heat and all those comparisons, just wondered if there were any regrets or best move ever made kind of statements.

thanks
globe (11482)
1146625 2010-10-20 21:50:00 The bloke in Huntly who takes out the ash makes a heat pump a lot more pleasant.
Your downwind neighbours will appreciate it too.
R2x1 (4628)
1146626 2010-10-20 22:15:00 I have had houses with a wood burner and wiithout.
I hated the ones without. Current house we're moving to hasn't got one - I intend to fix that massive problem as soon as I can afford to.
pctek (84)
1146627 2010-10-20 22:18:00 We had a heat pump installed. Didn't have a log burner tho we were using a convention heater. Very efficient and cheap to run - well worth the initial expense :) Just make sure you service it regularly SoniKalien (792)
1146628 2010-10-20 22:33:00 We moved from a house with a heat pump and log burner to one with only heat pumps.

We miss the cheeriness and welcome of the log burner, and the nature of the heat from it (especially no draughts like you get with a heat pump). I think it is cheaper than a log burner to run (we didn't have access to free or cheap firewood).

We do not miss stacking, chopping, and carting firewood inside, or the mess from chips, bark etc across the carpet. Neither do we miss the mess caused by ash, smoke etc, and I bet our downwind neighbours don't miss the swirling smoke from a southerly. We don't have to pay for chimney cleaning (mind you, the chimney in our former house fell down in the earthquake, so it won't need cleaning any more).

You pays your money and takes your choice, but as we are getting older, the firewood management was going to become more of a chore at some stage. I love a fire, and we also feel a bit vulnerable in an electricity-only house, but overall we are happy with what we now have (two heat pumps).
John H (8)
1146629 2010-10-20 22:37:00 We had a woodburner for 20 years (including the DSIR-designed one made in Wainuiomata whose name escapes me) then changed to a heat pump in April 2006. A very good move. In particular, removal of the woodburner *and woodbasket* gave significant extra floor space. It's also cheaper to run and easier to stop/start. We turn it down to 18° overnight BBCmicro (15761)
1146630 2010-10-20 22:47:00 I like the wood burner it heats our hot water, drys our clothes and can be used as a stove if the power goes off. Anyone had sex in front of a heatpump?
Heat pump is just a coal burner but at Huntly.
prefect (6291)
1146631 2010-10-20 23:54:00 We miss the cheeriness and welcome of the log burner, and the nature of the heat from it (especially no draughts like you get with a heat pump). I think it is cheaper than a log burner to run (we didn't have access to free or cheap firewood).

There is no shortage of good clean and free firewood out there if you look for it. We collect pallets in summer and cut them up with a cheap skilsaw with tungsten tipped blade. It takes no longer than dealing with tree wood and is clean and bark/insect free as well. Most places can't give away their used pallets in summer, they only go quickly in winter.

We occasionally get long lengths of nail free dressed pine from a local factory but it is much in demand and you have to be quick. I was lucky a couple of months back and already have all of next winter's wood stacked on my driveway under a tarpaulin, ready for cutting when the weather improves.

We have a wood burner built into our old fireplace with the flue running up inside the chimney. It has been there 20 years now and there are no signs of any problems. We've even had the flue swept about 3 or 4 times over the years.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
1146632 2010-10-21 00:19:00 I dearly miss our log burner in Christchurch.
While the heat pump blows, to my mind it actually sucks. I'm not a fan of hot air blowing around unless it's a north west wind.
Mrs Hitcher cranks that damn pump up to 28 degrees, rain or shine, day or night and me being a bloke, I have to put up with it or bugger off outside.
You can only hide the remote so many times ...
The Hitcher (14826)
1146633 2010-10-21 03:05:00 Was going to get a new Fireplace, initial price for the heating unit was $4000. then it ended up going to $5500 after we added all the taxes and charges around installing the blasted thing. in the end we decided against it and stuck with the trusty beast we have currently. big problem for most people is wood. we have plenty of wood + a 100yr old Macrocarpa drying so we are set for a good many winters The Error Guy (14052)
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