Choosing A Wood Burning Stove For Your Home
Wood burning stoves are a popular way to heat homes as they are efficient and can provide a cosy atmosphere. However, with so many different stoves available it is often difficult to pinpoint exactly what you need. From the fuel you want to burn, your stove budget or the size of the room you want to heat, here are some factors to consider when choosing a wood burning stove.
Considerations When Choosing A Wood Burning Stove
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The Size Of Room
Different-sized rooms will require a wood burning stove with a different level of power. To calculate your stove’s output, a rule of thumb is to divide the cubic meter of the room by 14 to determine the minimum (kilo watt) kW output of the stove you need. For example, a room that is 72 cubic meters (5 x 6 x 2.4) would need a stove with a minimum output of 5 kW. Doing this simple maths beforehand ensures that you get the right sized stove for your needs.
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Size of the fireplace
The size of the fireplace will also help determine what kW of stove you can fit, stoves get the heat into the room in one of two ways, traditionally stoves radiated the heat into the room and thus need an air space round the stove. An inset stove works by convection and as such does not need an air space. It is often better to go for a smaller stove and have more space round it rather than trying to squeeze a bigger stove into the fireplace.
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Fuel
There are three main fuels for stoves, wood, smokeless fuel and pellet. Some stoves are only designed to burn wood, while multi fuel stoves burn wood and smokeless coal. Pellets can only be burnt in a pellet stove. more manufactures are only producing wood only stoves for environmental reasons as smokeless coal is made from a fossil fuel. You will need to choose a stove that is DEFRA-exempt if you live within a smoke control area which allows you to burn wood as products have been rigorously tested to ensure low smoke emissions. Wood pellets are made of compressed saw dust. The pellets are put into a hopper and are automatically feed into the burn chamber. A pellet stove will automatically light itself and can be programmed to turn itself on and off.
Stoves are also available that run on gas, bioethanol and electricity.
Tips For Choosing A Wood Burning Stove
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Get Professional Advice
A Hetas Approved Retailer can help you choose the right stove for your needs and ensure that it is installed correctly.
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Read Reviews
Read online reviews of different stoves before you make a purchase. This will help you get a good idea of the pros and cons of each model.
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Buy From A Reputable Dealer
Make sure you buy your stove from a reputable dealer who will stand behind their product. Stoves are an investment and you want to make sure you are dealing with someone that knows what they are doing.
Invest In A Wood Burning Stove Today
We hope this has helped you learn more about how to choose a wood burning stove for your home. With a little planning, you can find the perfect stove to heat your home and create a cosy atmosphere.
Are you looking for a high-quality wood burning stove to add to your home? Look no further than Iron and Wood. We supply a wide range of stove options at a price point that suits your requirements. Whatever you choose, you can be sure that your stove will be of the best quality and that our high levels of customer service will be adhered to.
Contact Iron and Wood today to find out more.