Cost of Large Gas Bottles and Central Heating

[kteee]

Also you can leave them on when you go out or go to bed - definitely much better than an open fireplace (and we have had both).

[peterm]

It's because the air supply is controllable. A wood burner will run at 80% efficiency, an open fire is, I think, around 20%. Open fires tend to smoke, which means they are sending a lot of particles up the chimney and spreading them around. A properly burning stove won't produce smoke.
Lastly, with an open fire, there is a big hole going up through the roof, up which your heat goes when the fire isn't on. We have a couple of inglenook's here, the sitting room one is open, and the sitting room is cold unless I block off the chimney with a dust sheet or something. The other one has a woodburner and doesn't lose all the heat.

[Gambrinus]

Does anybody know if its possible to keep excisting door/window frames ..which are wooden...and install double glaze without changing the whole lot....ie...can one get double glaze windows and fit in excisting frames with a smaller bead......anybody do this service ??

The problem with the old windows, is that they let air flow through the gaps in the frames. The wood frames will never close completely and can leave you with a nasty draft even after you fit double glazing.

My parents have a tiled wood burning stove fitted in their place. Apparently, the ceramic surfaces let more heat through into the room and retain the heat over a longer period of time. Coupled with an existing ventliation system used by the aircon in summer, they are able to supply the whole house with warm air. Obviously, this is not something that can be easily fitted into an existing house, but the tile stove may be worth a look.

[piglet]

Many thanks to everyone for their input. Very, very much appreciated

Certainly lots to consider.....I did not realise the cost of running central heating,was so expensive. Now I know why so many houses do not have it and the ones that we looked at that did....said...we never use it. Makes sense now.

Muito obrigada
Piglet