As cold weather approaches, it’s a good time to learn the basics of one of life’s great comfort appliances: wood-burning stoves. Harkening back to ancient times, wood-burning stoves offer heat, cooking, and even hot water, but the aesthetic delight of a crackling fire tops all advantages. Here’s what you need to know.
A long, historic legacy
Wood-burning stoves go back to medieval times, even longer in some ancient cultures. Having a contained metal box for burning wood and coal for heat and cooking has served humans for millennia.
In America, wood-burning stoves evoke memories of early times, when family life centered on warmth and the aroma of wood smoke.
Benefits of wood-burning stoves
If you have the right space for a wood-burning stove, you can enjoy:
- Cost-effective heating because wood is a cheaper fuel source than oil and gas
- Cozy ambience with toasty, snuggly winter nights
- No dependence on power companies (staying warm even in power outages)
- Up to 80% heating efficiency with modern stoves
Types of wood-burning stoves
There are five types to consider:
- A free-standing model typically has an enclosed firebox and a front door with a glass window. It stands on a brick or other heat-resistant platform and has a “stovepipe” exhaust that rises through the roof or a high wall to the outside. Heat radiates from the door, the small window, and the firebox body.
- An insert version is a firebox that fits into a fireplace, with the exhaust rising up the chimney. It has a glass door that radiates heat into the room.
- A built-in stove is installed in a wall or on the floor; it heats through a glass front.
- A boiler stove includes a water-supply line. The water is heated in a jacket space around the firebox, providing dual use: home heating and hot water for daily living.
- A cooking stove provides a place on top (and sometimes in the firebox) for preparing meals.
Shopping for wood-burning stoves
Measure the square footage of the room you want to heat, and select a stove sized appropriately using the guide in the online listing or in-store box. You don’t want an undersized stove that leaves the room too cold, nor an oversized one that makes your home uncomfortably hot.
Choose the stove type based on your usage, and have it installed by a professional to ensure safety and warranty coverage.
Related – The Warm and Cozy Facts on Fireplace Choices
