Which is better gas fire or wood burner ?

howard24, Sep 10, 2:45am
costing ,, of both the units pros an cons please help ,,
blueviking, Sep 10, 6:31am
wood burner if you can get free firewood.But if you have to buy it 6-8m3 at a cost of between $100-140 a cube.
pleco, Sep 10, 7:12am
I always liked a wood burner when we were younger but now it is so easy to just push a button. We put in a Rinnai Energy Saver recently and it heats a huge area just as well as a wood burner does and far better than a heat pump.
lythande1, Sep 10, 1:07pm
Wood.
sunnysue1, Sep 10, 2:14pm
I had a gas fire put in. cost of wood and me aging were the reasons .
wembley1, Sep 10, 3:06pm
Both probably have the same benefit — a nice comforting radiant heat.

Can't speak to the relative costs of MJ/$ but there are other costs:

Costs — Woodfire
Humping the firewood up the drive to the wood shed.
Splitting the wood for the fire place and chopping kindling
Humping the wood in the wood basket into the house
Clearing the fireplace of ash regularly
Getting the flue swept annually

Cost — gas
Line charges in summer when you're not using the fire - mitigated if you are using gas for hot water or cooking
Finding the remote to light the fire.
tegretol, Sep 10, 3:23pm
How long is a hunk of binder-twine? You need to provide more facts if you want a sensible answer.
bill1451, Sep 10, 6:26pm
find someone with a bit of land and go in with someone, buy a truck and trailer load of logs, get your self a decent chainsaw, and get some mates, stock your wood shed for a couple of years worth, and sell what you dont need to cover your costs. Anyway thats what my bro does, he is 75 still going strong.
IMHO you just cannot beat a log fire for heat and "ambience" But if you are afraid of a bit of work then just pussy the button.
tegretol, Sep 10, 6:29pm
Sounds good but the OP could be a 78yr old frail gentleman in a flat in Parnell with no interest in or access to outdoor activities!

But I agree, a bloody big log fire can't be beaten - plenty of smoke and sparks, real mans stuff.!
gunhand, Sep 10, 7:42pm
And you can still use the wood burner when the mouse steps out of its wheel.
xs1100, Sep 13, 1:19pm
fire brilliant, yes bit more work but nothing like it, just ha one installed along with wetback and cook top,,,well sorted for any power cuts
nzshooter01, Sep 13, 3:14pm
nothing better than a fire, 2 dogs and a cat shareing the floor space in front, very homely
xs1100, Sep 27, 4:42pm
start getting yr wood now
ryanm2, Sep 27, 4:48pm
What you do with wood in the wood basket is best kept private.
Gas cons also include running out of gas , and if power is needed , not being able to use the fire place. Also has prices keep steadily rising, there's always ample free wood around if you can cut it yourself.
stuffed, Sep 28, 4:36pm
The https://www.escea.com/nz/ fire we installed in our big old fire place was one of the best investments we have ever made.
2 big vents into 2 rooms suppling 9kw of heat.
Great to look at.
In the middle of our Central Otago winter a gas cylinder lasts us (2 adults) about 3 weeks. That also is for hot water and cooking.
Ok when the kids arrive for skiing that changes!
Of course can be turned on from your telephone.
tygertung, Oct 7, 3:03pm
Gas, bad emissions and expensive. Better off with heat pump. Wood fire is best of course if the council will let you put one in.
mistletoe22, Oct 7, 4:26pm
We had a gas fire and found it didn't get the chill out of your bones when it was really cold. So in this house we now have a wood fire and this winter it has been great! Bought some wood super cheap during lockdown - which was delivered to side of front lawn. We put a cover over it and every time we needed some wood we just topped up the basket inside.
mistletoe22, Sep 22, 6:02pm
At night we open the doors into the hallway and it heats the whole house. We have two cats and 2 kids that spend their evening stretched out in front of the rosy glow of the fire - it is just great!