Let Us Help You

People have many reasons for deciding to purchase a wood stove. Everything from saving money to the nostalgia of growing up with a stove can play a role in the decision-making process. Many consumers are under-informed, however, when they begin their search for a wood stove. This article will guide your purchase of the perfect stove for your home.

Steel or Cast Iron?

Two basic types of wood stoves are on the market today - steel or cast iron. Manufacturing techniques vary between these metals, and the designs created by the unique metals will also be different.

To build a steel stove, manufacturers weld different gauges of steel together. This construction can withstand long hours of heat when built with heavy, good-quality steel. Steel stoves are sturdy workhorses serving as whole-home heating sources.

Cast-iron stoves also serve as excellent heat sources, but manufacturers create them using a different method. Workers use gaskets to join the separate iron parts. These gaskets can eventually wear out, and someone will need to rebuild the stove. Cast-iron stoves are usually more attractive than the average steel wood stove, which makes up for their gasket-wear issues.

One exception is the Napoleon cast-iron stove (1100C, 1400C). Napoleon builds its stoves from steel with cast iron parts bolted to the outside. These stoves possess the beauty of cast iron and the rugged construction of welded steel.

Find One to Fit Your Decor

The aesthetic value of the wood stove you are considering is important. You, your family, and your friends will be gathering around the fire all winter. Also, you will have this purchase for many years. Choose a wood stove that you will enjoy seeing every day and using when the temperature drops.

Finding a beautiful wood stove is easy with the variety of styles and manufacturers to explore. Our wood stove selection is large, so take your time and check out the various features of each. Contact our pros at info@woodstovepro.com or 888-418-0005 with questions about the process .

How to Determine the Size You Need

As an experienced hearth professional, I can’t stress enough the importance of sizing your wood stove properly. Too small and your space is chilly in the dead of winter; too large and you’ll have to open the windows to keep from sweating.

The newer generations of wood stoves will use considerably less fuel and produce much more heat than older wood stoves. We measure heat using the British Thermal Unit, or BTU, and determine the best wood stove for you by the heat you need.

Most manufacturers rate their stoves in both BTU and square footage, but be aware that the square footage number is all but useless. The manufacturer can’t know your climate, windows or insulation, which allows them to judge how many square feet a wood stove can heat. This is why you will see a wide swing such as 500 to 2,500 square feet on brochures (a rather large variance!).

You should always use BTU to determine the proper sizing for your stove. A BTU calculator is useful to find the correct size for your situation. Log size and burn times are also considerations, but only after you have determined the proper BTU.

Where to Put Your Wood Stove

Think of your wood stove as real estate: location, location, location. Putting your wood stove in the right spot can be the difference between a warm and cozy home and a dissatisfied consumer.

Some houses will limit your choices and force you into finding creative ways of moving heat around your home. If you have the flexibility, place your wood stove in a central location. This will allow the heat to move easily throughout your home. Ceiling fans can also help distribute the stove's heat if a central location isn't possible.

Each stove is different in design and requirements, and sometimes this can change where you put your wood stove. An NFI certified professional can help you with the details.

You Will Need a Chimney

Once you've determined the size of your wood stove or insert, and where you want to put it, you’ll need to have a safe chimney for venting. If you have an existing chimney, you should have it swept and inspected before using it. It may be that you may decide the location of your stove by your existing chimney.

An older, masonry fireplace can hold a new wood stove insert. The chimney is already there, and it provides a beautiful setting for the stove. You will need to line this existing chimney with the same size pipe as the collar on the wood stove insert. Not doing this properly can cause poor drafting and, possibly, chimney fires.

A freestanding wood stove will need a properly designed Class A solid fuel chimney system. It sounds like a daunting task, but an NFI Certified professional can help you with the design. WoodstovePro offers this free service and has designed hundreds of systems in its nearly 20 years of operation.

A new chimney system can cost 50 to 100% of the purchase price of the stove. Be sure to include this cost into your budget. You should also keep in mind your stove's location if you are installing a new chimney system. Finding a spot that requires less pipe will also lower your expenses.

Your chimney pipe needs a specific amount of space between it and anything that might catch fire. Learn more about clearance-to-combustibles requirements at Chimney Pipe 101: Frequently Asked Questions Answered.

EPA Certification is Important

Wood burning stoves haven't always been as efficient as they are today. During the 1980s, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started regulating wood stoves. These regulations forced many manufacturers to invent ways to burn wood more efficiently.

The first attempt to follow the regulations included catalytic combustors. Combustors allowed the unburned smoke to combust at lower temperatures inside the wood stove. Unfortunately, combustors lower the efficiency of the stoves over time, and they have a short lifespan. Manufacturers continue using this technology in some wood stoves today.

The next version of wood stove technology involved injecting super-heated air into the unburned smoke. The smoke could now combust at higher temperatures. Wood stoves using this method are more efficient over their lifetime and don't require regular part replacement.

Be careful to choose EPA-rated wood stoves because the long-term cost savings on fuel can be significant. Some manufacturers, however, have their wood stoves rated under different categories, such as coal, to avoid EPA certification. Doing your homework on EPA regulations and certifications will help you make the best decision.

Other Considerations

We don't want to talk you out of purchasing a wood stove - they are amazing additions to your home. We do, however, want you to have the facts before you buy.

• Always check with your insurance company and local authorities before planning your wood stove installation. Some insurance companies hesitate insuring wood burning appliances. You may have to go as far as switching insurance companies, so talk with them about your plans.
• Some local governments have strict rules about wood stoves, so always check with them before buying.
• Don’t forget that wood stoves burn wood. This may sound obvious, but make sure you have an available source of fuel. Good dry cord wood is the key to success.
• Our article Choosing and Using the Perfect Wood for Your Indoor Fireplace applies to wood stoves, too. It covers the ideal moisture content and the types of wood that burn best. If your wood isn't dry enough, you can have losses in efficiency and heat output.
• If you don’t have a place to store or purchase wood at a reasonable price, a wood stove may not be for you.
• Be sure you have the time and can handle the labor involved.

Questions?

Contact us at info@woodstovepro.com or 888-418-0005.

Written by Sean Summers, National Fireplace Institute (NFI) Master Hearth Certified Technician - WoodStovePro.com