When you are looking for the right wood-burning stove in your home, it can be a complicated process and daunting task. There are so many different ones to choose from! Wood burning stoves vary massively on the market; they differ in size, designs, features and heat outputs.
When buying a new wood-burning stove, there are a few things you can take into consideration first. Here is our list of things to look out for when buying a wood-burning stove.
5 things you need to look for when buying a wood-burning stove:
What type of stove do you want: wood burning, multi-fuel or a pellet stove?
Depending on what your stove preferences are, you need to decide whether you want a wood-burning stove or a multi-fuel stove, or a pellet stove. It is also worth taking a look at what fuel is available in your area, and factor that into your decision. How easy is it to get wood, fuel or pellets?
If you’re looking for simplicity, then buying a wood-burning stove is your best bet. This is because you control a wood-burning stove through its air vents. These are set up to only burn wood, whereas a multi-fuel stove has more control as it allows you to burn different types of fuel other than wood.
As a wood burning stove only has air vents to control the fire, it means that it is easier to maintain and control the whole fire. You will also find the process of lighting a wood-burning stove easier.
Learn more about the differences between wood-burning stoves, multi-fuel stoves and pellet stoves.
Freestanding or insert?
Another decision that you need to make when it comes to buying a wood-burning stove, is whether or not you want it to be freestanding or as a fireplace insert that fills the entire opening of a fireplace.
How do they work? A stove insert works very similarly to a freestanding fireplace stove. The difference is an insert must be located within your existing fireplace. In comparison, a freestanding stove is completely flexible in where it can be placed. If you don’t want it to go into your existing fireplace, it doesn’t have to be located there – there is freedom of choice that you just don’t get with an insert.
Fireplace inserts come in three different types: wood, electric or gas.
Steel or a cast iron body?
Typically, wood-burning stoves are made of one of these two materials: cast iron or steel. It is because these materials are excellent conductors of heat, making them perfect for use within stoves. However, they release heat in slightly different ways.
Cast iron stoves take a long time to heat up, however, when heated they can radiate for longer periods of time. Even long after the fire has gone out!
Whereas, steel wood stoves release heat far more quickly into a room, but they aren’t great at retaining and radiating heat for long periods.
What size and heat output do you want?
When thinking about buying a wood-burning stove, you want a fireplace that is the right size for heating your home. If you buy an undersized stove, this can lead to you running the stove too hot. A hot stove burns through wood too quickly to be efficient. It can also lead to damage as the components can crack or warp due to the too hot temperatures.
On the other hand, if you buy an oversized stove then this can lead the stove to perform below its capabilities as it is underutilised. Again, this has the effect of not burning the wood efficiently.
We advise getting a professional to take a look at your space, this is to give you a better idea of the size and heat output to find the most suitable wood burning stove for your home.
Heat output and size will depend on:
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The size of the room or home that you intend to heat
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Whether an existing fireplace is large enough to provide this
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How well insulated and airtight your home is
Efficiency ratings
One of the benefits of a wood-burning stove is that they have official efficiency ratings. These ratings give you an indication of how efficient your stove is at burning wood. As expected, the higher the efficiency rating, the better the stove. This means that it can produce the most amount of heat when burning every piece of wood. In turn, this means that less heat is being lost up the flue.
contact burning inspirations
If you’re interested in installing a wood-burning stove in your home, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team here at Burning Inspirations. Call us today on 01908 507 027, alternatively, you can fill out our online enquiry form, and we’ll be in touch.