The cracking of firewood. The distinct smell of burning wood. When it comes to awood-burning stove, it is as nostalgic as it gets. It doesn’t matter how many years have passed. It’s still one of the most efficient ways to generate heat in a house. Today, you can still find a large or small wood-burning stove tucked away in many buildings. The timeless wood-burning stoves are still commonly found in many rural areas and even some urban homes.
The popularity of wood-burning stoveshas fluctuated over the years. Besides environmental concerns, convenience might also be a factor. Sourcing enough firewood to keep you heated throughout the seasons is very labor-intensive. However, the work is worth it. So, if you are considering installing a wood-burning stone in your home, want that smokey atmosphere, and don’t mind the extra work, we have compiled a guide to walk you through the process.
What is aWood-burning Stove?
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Before building a wood-burning stove, you might want to learn more about it. It’s a heating appliance that uses wood (for the most part) as its fuel. It keeps the fire contained inside the stove. To keep the fire burning, you have to keep feeding firewood into the stove. No matter its design, size, or material that it’s made of, awood-burning stovehas one main purpose — generate heat.
How Does aWood-Burning StoveWork?
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Wood burns, generating heat and warming up the house in the process. The fire gets contained inside the unit, and as long as the fire goes on, the stove will radiate heat like a radiator. However, there are more factors in play that make the stove a worthy addition to your home.
With a wood-burning stove, you have to manage two things: air and a baffle. The fire itself takes in air, usually from the bottom. Even amodern wood-burning stove has a slit or vent that can be adjusted to control air intake. If you want the fire to burn faster, increase the air intake. Suppose you want it to burn more slowly, partially close the stove’s slit or vent. The smoke itself exits through the chimney.
However, you can also manage the output of the smoke. More exactly, how much waste gas is outputted. To control the output, you have to adjust the baffle. It regulates the waste gas that gets generated from burning wood. If well-regulated, the best wood-burning stove can achieve an efficiency of 70 percent!
Is a Wood Stove Better Than a Fireplace?
It all comes down to personal preference. However, the wood stove has the advantage of efficient heat distribution. With awood-burning stove, you can quickly heat up both your water and your room. Also, if you install a wood-burning cook stove, you can also use it to prepare food.
Visually, the fireplace takes the cake. It’s a staple of a classicliving room design. However, a fireplace is less heat efficient. It will heat up the surrounding area but not the entire room. So, in the end, it comes down to what you want.
Find the RightWood-Burning Stovefor You
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Sticking with the stove? Well, you should first select the option that best suits you and your house. Different stoves come with different characteristics. All of them provide their own benefits and disadvantages. However, these are the main features you should consider before heading to the store:
Safety Measures First!
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Found the right stove for you? Let’s address a few safety concerns before proceeding with thewood-burning stove installation. Safety is the number one priority, so take your time with this step and make sure no mistakes are made.
Wood Burning Stove Installation Tips
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As mentioned above, we strongly suggest seeking professional help. Nevertheless, if you want to do it yourself, we have some tips to save you some money.
DIY or Professional Installment?
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If you know what you are doing, you can install the stove yourself. However, make sure you follow all safety measures. Run through the guide and ensure you check all the boxes for safety. Nevertheless, we still recommend seeking professional assistance. The installation of these stoves requires a lot of expertise that professionals acquire through many years of practice.
FAQ
What is the Difference Between a Wood Burner and a Wood-burning Stove?
The difference comes down to wording. In the UK, wood burners are the same as stoves. So, if you are looking at this guide from the United Kingdom, replace the term “wood-burning” with “wood burner.”
How Long Do Wood-burning Stoves Last?
If you buy and maintain a quality stove, it should work for 10 to 20 years. However, to ensure longevity, get a professional to assess the stove.
How Much Does Installing a Wood Stove Cost?
Installment of a stove like this costs a hefty amount of money. If you are going for quality (which you should), the cost typically ranges from $1,500 to as much as $5,000.
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