OK so it is turning colder rapidly and our thoughts turn to central heating.....I am looking for advice/experiences on pellet burners -

Best makes?
Can they burn all types of pellets (or does one type only burn a certain type of pellet)
Is it true noise can be a problem (the fan?)
Are they cheap to run?
General pros/cons
Do prices vary widely - best suppliers?
Cost to install?
I have an inset gas fire - best to go for an inset - or go for freestanding?

Thanks...

We did look into pellet burners versus wood burners & decided on a small wood burner, the make being Bronpi. The installers persuaded us because:

• the noise from the fan in the pellet burner
• You mustn't open the door when it's working
• We have a plentiful supply of available wood
• in the end the log burner is nicer to sit in front of!
• It fits nicely in the corner of the room

I think offhand the total cost was around €1000 give or take; sorry I cannot find the bill, unusually.

If you can get a reliable source of seasoned wood (preferably hard wood not soft wood like pine) then go for a woodburner. They look nice, work remarkably well and depending upon design you can even cook on one. In the UK we have two Jotul's one each end of the house and the heat output is very high. I have no personal experience of pellet heaters but friends in America fitted one and moved back to wood, noise and reliability issues were had with the pellet burners.

OK thanks folks - interesting feedback. I had heard noise was an issue. I do not have a ready supply of wood so I need to think some more and see what other comments come in.

My poblem with A/C, in a house with high rooms, is that most units are positioned high on the wall and throw in a lot of warm air which stays up high. WHen you walk in the room you feel ok but after sitting for 30 minutes or so your legs and feet are too cool. Maybe solution is one of the floor mounted A/C units, but i think they are pricier. Or maybe a more powerful unit - when i gave my room dimensions to a Brit engineer and average external winter temperatures with little insulation he reckoned i need the equivalent of 5KW to heat the room up to 19C -20C.

It will really depend on the layout of the 🏠. In Ireland we have a wood burning stove from termatech and it can basically heat the whole house. We just have the AC on for a short time and mainly use the stove otherwise infrared in bathrooms. We usually buy a pallet (960kg ) of wood briquettes from RUF and it will last the whole winter. In Spain I would go for welltherm heaters once finished and maybe stove in future, but it's a small house.

Our living room is over 4m high and I have no problem if you aim the vents down. Yes, a high room will need more heat, but that is to be expected as the volume is much greater.

Hi spainrico.We installed a insert pellet boiler which runs central heating and water in the winter we find it very good and extremely warm even hot house.
The model we bought can run on several types of pellets is an eco forest
best type Eco forest or Ferroleux
If it a type of pellet stove maybe insert then this has to blow hot air in to the room and and on cheaper brands the fan can be noisy.Our is a pellet boiler so only heats radiators
Our opinion they are cheaper to run for the heat and hot water we get.But do not buy cheap pellets WE pay 304e a ton of pellets which is 77 15 kilo bags we will burn over 2 tons a year
Pros.low ash .easy to vacuum and clean with special hover(35e).No smoke.No smell.No log store
cost to install varys on fire place get installer to quote Cons picking up 15kilo bag of pellels
What ever suits you and house
prices most shops gave us a brochures with fixed prices.No discounts
do not forget you are buying at peak installation time for suppliers so prices are not for negotiation
we have had a few hic ups but overall for the heat and water and cleaness and ease we are well satisfied
hope this helps good shopping

Thanks - lots of useful information and yes agree not a good time to buy (only been in the house a few months) maybe I will try and get through this winter with the gas fire and AC and not rush into anything and pay OTT. The idea of central heating appeals so I need to do a lot of research and get some money together! (Pound going up hurray)

By the way - I do think we are lucky to have a well run and organised forum where we can sensibly exchange good information to the benefit of all.

Interesting. I suspect you have a better specced or more powerful unit. Do you know its output?

We have two 3.5kw units. The room is 50m2 but has double glazing, foamed double brick walls and an insulated floor and ceiling. We also have a woodburner for when it gets really cold, but most evenings the AC is used.

Ah, insulation. That explains everything. Our builder omitted any insulation so within 1 hour of turning off the heating in winter the temperature drops down to an icy12C.

Why do the Spanish detest insulation? (I think I know - cost). And arent there any EU regs on insulation these days?

Insulation has been in Spanish building regs for years. I cannot believe the cost of those polystyrene panels is high.