People have been heating homes and cooking with wood burning stoves for centuries. Electric and gas appliances have become more popular with advancements in technology but some homeowners prefer this traditional alternative for supplying heat to the home. Certain updates make modern versions of this appliance safer and more efficient to operate.
Many consumers want to purchase a stove that burns wood to combat rising utility costs. Some prefer the ambiance to modern appliances and the cost savings is a bonus. They are reliable because they will keep working even if a severe storm or some other adverse weather conditions result in the home losing electrical power.
Material options for this type of stove include cast iron, soap stone, and steel. A cast iron unit requires more time to heat up but it will radiate heat back into the room after the fire starts burning out. Soap stone is a material that will retain heat from when the fire is lit and continues to release it for a period after the fuel is gone. A steel stove will heat up the quickest but cannot retain the heat, so the room feels colder as the fire dies down.
A unit with a catalytic combustor allows re-burning of smoke inside the flue pipe before it travels to the chimney. This allows for cleaner emissions. Combustors improve heat output and allow users to consume less firewood.
The best choice for fuel is any well seasoned hardwood. This includes white oak, black cherry, walnut, hickory, and chestnut. Regardless of the type, the hardwood should have a maximum moisture level of about 20 percent.
Soot, vapors, steam, and incomplete combustion can lead to a buildup of creosote inside the vent pipe. To avoid clogs, users should burn less fuel at a time in wood burning stoves and choose larger air settings. Cleaning the chimney two times a year will help prevent carbon monoxide buildup inside the house and fires in the chimney.
Many consumers want to purchase a stove that burns wood to combat rising utility costs. Some prefer the ambiance to modern appliances and the cost savings is a bonus. They are reliable because they will keep working even if a severe storm or some other adverse weather conditions result in the home losing electrical power.
Material options for this type of stove include cast iron, soap stone, and steel. A cast iron unit requires more time to heat up but it will radiate heat back into the room after the fire starts burning out. Soap stone is a material that will retain heat from when the fire is lit and continues to release it for a period after the fuel is gone. A steel stove will heat up the quickest but cannot retain the heat, so the room feels colder as the fire dies down.
A unit with a catalytic combustor allows re-burning of smoke inside the flue pipe before it travels to the chimney. This allows for cleaner emissions. Combustors improve heat output and allow users to consume less firewood.
The best choice for fuel is any well seasoned hardwood. This includes white oak, black cherry, walnut, hickory, and chestnut. Regardless of the type, the hardwood should have a maximum moisture level of about 20 percent.
Soot, vapors, steam, and incomplete combustion can lead to a buildup of creosote inside the vent pipe. To avoid clogs, users should burn less fuel at a time in wood burning stoves and choose larger air settings. Cleaning the chimney two times a year will help prevent carbon monoxide buildup inside the house and fires in the chimney.
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