Solid fuel heating systems and boilers

What is solid fuel heating?

Solid fuel heating systems burn wood, peat or coal to heat your home and, in some cases, provide you with hot water.

They can be used as an alternative to gas, oil and electricity, especially in off-grid rural areas that don’t have a mains gas connection.

There are two main ways to use solid fuel for your heating supply:

• Wood-burning/multi-fuel stoves

• Biomass boilers.

While solid fuel heating systems can be cosy and cost-effective, it’s important to take into consideration factors such as fuel storage, maintenance and environmental impact.

Types of solid fuel system

Here’s a closer look at the main types of solid fuel heating systems:

Wood-burning stoves

These closed fire systems typically have a glass-fronted panel and can run on wood logs, pellets or briquettes.

They usually provide heat directly to a particular room or area of the home. But they can be plumbed into the central heating system by a qualified engineer and used to heat radiators and provide hot water.

The cost of installing a wood-burning stove will depend on whether you’ve already got a chimney, what flue liner it has and whether you intend to heat one room only or use it to heat other rooms and water too.

Multi-fuel stoves

These heating systems offer versatility as they can burn both wood and smokeless coal, which is less polluting than traditional coal. But they can get clogged up with ash unless you clean them regularly.

They have a raised grate for burning coal, which you can remove when burning wood. This allows you to choose the most cost-effective and available fuel.

Multi-fuel stoves are highly efficient and capable of heating large spaces. Many modern models also have controls that let you adjust the burn rate and heat output.

Biomass boilers

Modern biomass boilers can provide an incredibly efficient way of heating your home and water while producing lower CO2 emissions than fossil fuels. They burn organic matter like wood pellets, chips or logs.

As they only produce carbon that was originally absorbed by trees, they’re considered a carbon-neutral heating source.

A biomass boiler can satisfy all your heating and hot water needs, or work with existing gas or electric heating systems. However, biomass heating systems take up more space than a regular combi-boiler, and upfront costs tend to be a lot higher.

Open fireplaces

What’s not to love about a cosy, crackling, romantic open fire? Well for starters, they’re not that efficient.

Although they’re usually fuelled by wood or smokeless coal, a great deal of heat escapes up the chimney. They’re also pretty labour-intensive when it comes to cleaning and setting the fire daily.

Most open fires nowadays are used mainly for aesthetic purposes as they can provide an attractive focal point for a living room or bedroom.

Is solid fuel heating expensive?

The upfront costs of solid fuel heating systems can be on the high side. For example, the average cost of buying and installing a biomass boiler is £18,000.

A wood-burning stove will cost around £400-£1,500. But that is without installation, and structural changes may be needed, such as a new chimney flue and additional vents. These could end up costing you more than the wood burner itself.

However, once your solid fuel heating system is up and running, it could be a good long-term investment, especially if you have your own wood supply.

If you don’t have your own supply of wood, buying in bulk and out of season could reduce the overall price you’ll pay for your solid fuel.

Can I get help with the cost of solid fuel heating?

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a government grant available to help people switch to cleaner heating systems like biomass boilers or heat pumps.

To be eligible for a £5,000 biomass grant, you’ll need:

• To be the owner of a property not connected to the gas grid in a rural area of England or Wales

• To be replacing a traditional fossil fuel heating system (gas, oil or electric)

• A boiler emissions certificate showing that polluting emissions are kept to a minimum

• A valid energy performance certificate (EPC).

To benefit from the scheme, you’ll need to find an MCS-certified installer in your area who is able to carry out the work and can advise you whether your home is suitable. They will apply for the grant on your behalf, with the £5,000 saving taken off your bill.

A similar scheme is available in Scotland.

Find out more about BUS on GOV.UK.

What is the environmental impact of solid fuel heating systems?

Burning coal, wood or other solid fuels has historically produced high levels of particulate matter that can be harmful to both air quality and health.

The two most polluting fuels – wet wood and traditional house coal – have now been phased out under government regulations.

Cleaner alternatives, such as dry wood and manufactured solid fuels, produce less smoke and fewer pollutants while burning more efficiently.

Modern solid fuel stoves and boilers are subject to strict environmental standards to reduce emissions and make them more energy-efficient than older models.