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Wood Burning Stoves are Timeless Classics
Wood Stoves are Still a Popular
Supplemental Heating Source
By: Mark J. Donovan
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Though some urbanites may think that the wood burning
stove is simply an old relic from the past, they are sorely wrong. Wood
stoves are far from limited to winter ski and hunting lodges. Many
people around the world, including the United States, use wood burning
stoves as a second or supplemental heating source. Some people still
even use wood stoves as their primary heating source and for cooking.
And it’s a no wonder. Where wood is plentiful it’s a much cheaper fuel
alternative than burning oil, gas, coal, or electricity. |
Also, in many cases people can harvest and prepare the wood
themselves saving even more costs on heating their homes.
Though in many ways wood burning stoves have not changed much throughout the
centuries, wood stove manufacturers continue to produce new and beautiful
wood stove designs each year. Besides providing functional value many
free-standing wood stoves that are manufactured today act as central focal
points in family rooms and great rooms. With their beautiful ornate designs,
and many with glass viewing windows, the timeless classic wood stove has
been transformed into a gorgeous decorative piece that offers both
functionality and beauty to a room or home.
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Wood stoves are also much more efficient than traditional fireplaces. Due to
the fact that they are free-standing they radiate heat outwards in all
directions. Also, since their dampers can be closed, warm air is not sucked
out of a room and up a chimney when the fire goes out, unlike the
traditional fireplace. Moreover new air-tight wood stoves, versus the
traditional updraft wood stove, have baffles built into them to create
secondary burning chambers.
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As a result, these types of wood stoves are extremely efficient. This
translates into a reduction in the amount of wood needed to be burned in
them to produce same amount of heat output. Also, they spew less soot and
ash into the air.
Woods burning stoves have traditionally been built in either cast iron or
3/16 or ¼ inch rolled stainless steel. However they are also manufactured
out of ceramic and soapstone. They are available in tall and narrow shapes,
as well as short and fat styles. And again, many can be purchased with
viewing windows to provide a touch of ambiance. They also come in various
sizes, so it’s important to purchase one that is appropriately sized for the
room or home it is expected to heat. Too small and you may end up not being
unable to adequately heat the room or home. Alternatively, if you buy one
too large you may find yourself roasting when it’s going.
| Also, you need to think where you plan to place the wood burning stove in
your home. It is important to check with your building code inspector and/or
fire chief to see what type of setbacks from walls and combustible surfaces
are required. Moreover you want to install a wood stove in an area that is
away from the normal traffic flow in your home. In addition, you want to
position it in a location that is easy for storing wood and loading it. |
Photo By Mark Donovan |
When heating with a wood burning stove it’s also important to regularly
clean the chimney. Wood stoves can produce high amounts of soot and creosote
in the wood stove pipe and chimney. Left unchecked, a chimney fire could
easily be started. To mitigate the risk of a chimney fire, the chimney
should be cleaned a couple of times a season if you’re burning several cords
of wood. Also, burn only dried hardwood in your wood stove. Burning wet wood
or soft wood is a recipe for a chimney fire, high soot production, and poor
heat output.
So before buying any timeless classic wood burning stove do your homework
first and select one that is best for your home’s particular heating needs.
For information on maximizing your
wood stove’s home heating efficiency see
the “Installation
of Hood over Wood Stove Ebook”.
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