Hi I am toying with the idea of either this or a diesel hob/heater combo. I love the idea of the sustainability of wood however I cannot stand smoke and also I have extremely limited space in my transit connect. My living habit though is more aimed at settling on a site so storage would not have to be an issue. The stinking of smoke would be the dealbreaker for me though. Can you tell me how much of an issue it is and also how much did that one cost? If it is more than a grand, which is the cost of a diesel heater and hob combo it makes it mostly a moot point as I do not want to pay more than than but similar price, if minimal smoke, I may be interest. I know people make gas bottle stoves for a few hundred but I guess they would be more inclined to smoke up the living space being less high tech? I really cannot stand the stench of smoke on clothes and would just go home if friends were making a campfire. It would just stick on your clothes for days on end like how cigarette smoke used to before it was banned in public places. So is this inevitable going to be the same?
Being able to collect your own fuel is the big appeal, especially as my living goals are to stay more stationary and just use the van as a portable home and stay wherever as long as is feasible rather than constantly traveling about.
Its a tough call, and ultimately one you will have to make for yourself
If you are sensitive to smoke you might struggle... Have you spent time with a real fire? Although a good chimney takes 99% of all smoke out the room, you will ALWAYS get
some into the room, often a little puff when you open the door. Do keep in mind, wood smoke is a lot nicer smell than cigarettes smoke , a lot less pervasive
You also get plenty of dust. For me , I am happy with it all this, I've never lived with anything else but a real fire, and the benefits outway the costs . Fire is essentially our only the traditional heat source, Humans have lived with fires for 1,000s of years, every other source of heat is new & novel in the grand scheme
Ask yourself this, do you really want to have to light a fire everytime you want to boil a kettle? or cook beans on toast? Cooking with a real fire forces you to take a more holistic, slow approach to life, no 'on demand' convenience like we are so used to..
Price for a log burner install is anywhere from £500 DIY to a couple of grand professionally installed.
I really cannot stand the stench of smoke on clothes and would just go home if friends were making a campfire. It would just stick on your clothes for days on end like how cigarette smoke used to before it was banned in public places. So is this inevitable going to be the same?
I mean no offense, don't mean to sound rude, but after reading your post, I really don't think a log fire is for you. go for LPG , I think it's a much better option for someone with your particular needs. LPG is almost completely odourless, and so long as you have adequate ventilation the fumes shouldn't be an issue either
Btw a propex LPG heater is often a better option than a desiel night heater, similar idea but cleaner burning, more reliable - they come up cheap second hand on eBay
HS2000 blown air heater fuelled from Propane, Butane or LPG gas
www.propexleisure.co.uk