The energy market is certainly turbulent at the moment, with price hikes along with the desire for many to move away from fossil fuels to heat homes. The average fuel bill in the UK is set to have increased by at least 80% by the end of this year. So, naturally, many people across the country are looking for alternatives with a lot of people heading back to trusty woodburning stoves. We know first hand just how much demand for woodburning stoves has increased recently – and for good reason!
During these uncertain times, we understand that cost is a big factor that shapes decisions. Therefore, we’ve put together this article that highlights the cost differences between woodburning stoves and gas fireplaces to help you make an informed decision on the best option for you.
Installation Costs
The first thing to think about when price comparing wooburning stoves and gas fireplaces is the cost involved in having the fire installed in your home. There are so many variables that impact this, from where in the country you live, the size of your home, the style of fireplace you opt for and whether or not you have a chimney.
Unfortunately, due to these variables, there isn’t an overall average cost for installing a fireplace. However, at UK Stove Installers we offer a highly competitive service enabling us to provide a quality woodburning stove installation service at affordable prices. To get an idea of how much you’d be looking at, you can use our handy build your own stove tool on our website. This will give you an instant price for your area based on your selections.
Running Costs
It’s vital that you understand the ongoing costs involved in using your chosen fireplace. While running costs do greatly vary based on both wood and gas costs, hopefully the information below will give you an idea of what you can expect for both fireplace types.
There are a few of variables that impact the cost of running your woodburning stove, these include the cost of wood, the bulk in which you buy the wood and the kilowattage of your stove. Of course, the bigger your stove, the more wood you’ll need to burn.
Firstly, let’s look at the costs of wood. As with almost everything, the price of wood has gone up due to increased demand. It’s estimated that wood costs have gone up by around 50% this year, while the cost of gas has gone up by 99%. So, despite the increase, using a woodburning stove is still a more cost effective way to heat your home than through a gas fireplace.
On average, per hour you can expect to pay £1.25 for running a woodburner, compared to £3.55 for a gas fireplace. So in terms of running costs, investing in a woodburning stove is a no brainer! There’s also a whole host of other benefits, you can read more about the benefits of woodburning stoves in our blog.
Maintenance Costs
In terms of maintenance, both gas fireplaces and woodburning stoves have similar requirements to keep them working their best. Both require cleaning, which can be done yourself so isn’t a cost to worry about. Gas fireplaces need to be serviced once a year which is a cost that needs to be considered. With woodburning stoves, you need to factor in the need for frequent chimney sweeps, it’s recommended that this is done every quarter. The costs of these do greatly vary depending on your location, but you can find quotes relatively quickly online.
Closing thoughts
So there you have it, an overview of the cost differences between woodburning stoves and gas fireplaces. On average, woodburning stoves cost less to run, particularly given the current prices for gas. Our installation costs are also extremely competitive, making woodburning stoves more accessible for many. Don’t forget, you can get a quick quote for your installation using our build your own stove tool.