Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

Yeh, a couple of unofficial south coast stations topped 40c the same day.

A sign of things to come,.... who knows ? :unsure:

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

I'm pretty sure this wouldn't be considered 'safe' in England but we have an electric blanket on our sofa all the time. It just takes the chill off. You can see why the Spanish have that brasero under a dining table and all sit round it. It seems strange to me too but as it's only for a few months of the year, and only when you're not moving around, or out and about it's worth considering having a fold down table in place of your coffee table during the coldest months and maybe putting a brasero or even just a greenhouse heater under it.
Instead of a fire we have a freestanding stove at the moment, The sort the spaniards put in their outhouses, We bought it because we can't yet afford the boiler stove and solar water heating for underfloor that we want. And you can't just buy the boiler stove and use it without the whole system as they break.
This little thing is more efficient than the open fire we had in our rental as you get heat out of 360 degrees of it and out of the stove pipe. We use a combination of the things we call 'Hot logs'(Those compressed wood logs from Leroy Merlin) and small pieces of olive wood. It uses a *lot* less than a fire and is toasty! You get the fire going with the 'hot logs' with the little base panel open then get some hardwood burning. Shut the bottom down and open the little round flap in the top which feeds just enough air to the base to keep it going. Just adding the olive wood pieces one by one. Another hot log is only needed if you've accidentally let it burn nearly out to boost how quickly the olive gets going. But if it's good and hot inside the stove there's usually no problem. I know this won't help if you already have a fireplace... But I am amazed at it's efficiency..(.if not so much by it's beauty;)) I recommend them for anyone who's got an old rural house they use for holidays...if you're more into cosy warmth than showing-off. :D There are several sizes but the bigger ones are best because they can take reasonable sized (not large) logs. They cost about 150 euros all in incl the pipes.

If you're building a fireplace from scratch (sorry I know you aren't OP).
Bil (now banned unfortunately) had great advice on this and that was to set the fireplace and chimney just a little forward of the exterior wall leaving an air gap behind. This makes sure you feed hot air from the bricks at the back of the fire back into your room.rather than passing it out of your side wall to your neighbours, or even worse, to the street!
I'd certainly do this if we did decide on an enclosed fireplace.

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

Wow this certainly is a HOT topic!

Thanks for all the info about wood prices, wood burners and electric blankets.

Yes it was three large bottles of Propane. We are hoping now that before we moved in the owner of the house had part used the bottles prior to swapping over to the others. :confused:

Yes the tiles are very cold. We will spend most of our time in front of the fire wearing socks, slippers, vest and a couple of jumpers for the next few months!

I am happy to have a little cold to live the dream, I have not forgotten the winter weather in the UK. The cold in Javea is not much to put up with in comparison! :thumbsup:

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

Sounds idyllic! :rofl:

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

:rofl::rofl:

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

Whilst I would have not put it that way, I do understand the sentiment.

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

:eek: I would suggest you get the gas appliance(s) serviced

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

I enjoyed watching Sherlock on the box almost as much as the new Sherlock movie which we saw last week :thumbsup:

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

having just moved out here, I spent my last few weeks in the UK explaining to people that No, it wouldnt be much warmer than the UK, that Spain has some very volatile temperature changes. Most couldnt understand that Malaga had a night temp of 5, much the same as the UK at the time.
The UK generally only has a 5deg change overnight whilst Spain has a 14deg change overnight.

someone tell me again why I chose Spain instead of Singapore ??

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

Well I agree! We put up with a few discomforts and work our way round them. There are many people on here who'll scoff at other's ideas of a dream, and other's ways of achieving it. But when the sun shines through your window from 9 to 5 even on a midwinter day, and when you embrace the change of lifestyle and find your way round the little problems, almost every day brings a sense of achievement and a feeling of wellbeing. That, to me is living the dream. The 'scoffers' may want to tell us how much better their lives are because they live here, or there, or have money and yachts etc. If they're having no problems, nor useful advice to share and live such an extraordinary life...what the hell are they doing here? Methinks some of them protest too much!

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

I left Tenerife for mainland Spain, but it certainly wasn't for the weather.

Despite being well forewarned I was still surprised at the contrast over a full twelve months.
It is much more similar to the UK than the Canaries.

OK there's more sunshine, but unfortunately more extremes, making it more uncomfortable both in mid-winter in badly insulated Spanish houses and in mid-summer with the oppressive heat.

For anyone in a flat or apt, maybe its not quite so bad cost-wise, but other than the odd short spell in Beni, that's just not for me.

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

Anyone here got a back boiler on their wood burners to run central heating?

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

Why can't others have a differing opinion?
You are living your dream and good luck to you, but your vision would not suit all, including me.
I have a pretty simple lifestyle whether I am in the UK or Spain but the thought of not heating the house is not my idea of fun.
What you actually describe would be considered fuel poverty in the Uk.
I do struggle with both Expats and returnees who are myopic in there views but the whole point of a forum is to allow people with all opinions to post them, providing they are not malicious etc.

Re: Firewood & gas for heating
 

Different opinions are great, it helps people understand what living in Spain is like if they are relevent to the thread.
angiescarr is referring to a few people who just post their opinions to gain points as topdogs in the UK versus Spain pissing contest.
Some would try and convince you that the Spanish flag is black and white and are no help at all to people in or moving to Spain.