Why and how to choose a wood stove?
Posted by David Pennarun on
Why choose a wood stove?
Choosing a wood stove is choosing an ecological and economical way of consumption. Wood is the cheapest fuel on the market: it is less subject to price increases than other energies such as gas, electricity and fuel. Choosing a wood stove allows you to significantly reduce your energy bills, while enjoying the comfort of the fireplace.
The latest technological innovations have also enabled the development of more efficient wood stoves, capable of heating the whole house efficiently and consistently. Various criteria must be taken into account in order to be able to benefit from the full heating potential of the wood stove, in particular:
- Selected materials: cast iron, steel or stone clad stove
- Technology: air, hydro or ducted;
- The components
- The thermal efficiency.
By use, the wood stove attracts more and more by its simplicity of use and ease of maintenance. Unlike its counterpart, the pellet stove which needs an electrical connection to operate, the wood stove only needs wood to heat the ambient air. In short, selecting a wood stove has the advantage of combining economy, ecology, performance and ease of use.
How to choose the wood stove?
The dimensions, design, materials and performance of wood stoves are varied. The best stove is above all the one that suits your needs.
The surface to be heated
Depending on the type, a wood stove has the ability to heat a room or an entire house.
- For an entire home, plan for a hydro wood stove (also called a boiler wood stove or hydraulic stove) or a ducted wood stove. The hydro wood stove connects to the central heating system to heat the radiators. The ducted wood stove is the ideal solution for heating different rooms in your home. Warm air is distributed through ducts to different rooms, including those located on the upper floor.
- To heat a living room, turn to a traditional wood stove or a sealed wood stove if your home is a low energy building.
- The area to be heated in m² or m3
- The height under the ceiling
- Isolation of your habitat
- Place of residence: Energy needs are more important if you live in a colder area and above sea level, for example.
Example for a heating area of 50 m2 with a pellet stove
It is considered that 100 watts are needed to heat an average of 1 m2. 50 x 100 = 5000, or 5 kW required for 50 m2. This method gives you a first estimate of the power of choice for your home. Contact our team of experts to discuss your needs.
The thermal efficiency
Thermal efficiency is defined as the stove's ability to burn heating wood. The higher the percentage efficiency, the better the combustion. These data are a good indicator for evaluating the quality of a wood stove, but also for guaranteeing savings. A stove with high efficiency consumes less due to the slower and more complete burning of the log.
The material: wood stove in cast iron or steel
The material used for the stove determines the heat that will spread inside. There are two types of materials each with specific benefits: cast iron wood stoves and steel stoves.
- Steel wood stoves are lighter. They allow for a much faster temperature rise: ideal for quickly heating up the room. Steel also offers the greatest design possibilities, both in shapes and colors. The steel wood stove is therefore the choice of efficiency, but also of a contemporary design.
- Cast iron wood stoves have excellent thermal inertia, which means they are able to store the heat produced by the stove and restore it for long hours even after the fire has gone out. Unlike a steel stove, its temperature rises less rapidly, but the diffusion of heat takes longer and therefore these stoves have a better performance. Aesthetically, the cast iron wood stove has a more traditional but very timeless style. A plus for successful integration into your home.
Double combustion
To optimize their performance, some wood stoves are equipped with a dual combustion system. How does it work? To burn, fire needs oxygen in the ambient air. That's why simple combustion devices need air supply. This first burn is never complete, with the fire not getting enough oxygen. The exploitation of these gases from the first combustion - thanks to a secondary air inlet - that double combustion wood stoves have a better efficiency.
The «clean glass» system
Manufacturers have been able to innovate to find solutions to the black and dirty windows of wood burning stoves. During the burning of the logs, some of the air needed for the fire is directed against the glass to avoid soot deposits. This system has proven to be effective and is becoming increasingly popular on wood stoves on the market. Be careful, however, to use good quality wood, i.e. as dry as possible. Damp wood, in addition to significantly reducing the efficiency of the stove, accelerates the deposits of soot on the glass of the stove.
The price and design of the wood stove
At even performance, it is common to find varying prices between wood stove models. This difference is due to a pricing policy and the different notoriety of the different brands on the market. The price also varies depending on the design of the wood stove. A more carefully crafted and finished design (handles, window size, ornaments, integrated or non-integrated storage tray, cast iron trim, color) also leads to price variations between models.
What kind of wood stove do you choose?
Each type of wood stove meets a specific heating requirement. To choose your stove well, discover the different technologies, their characteristics and the interests of your accommodation.
The wood-burning stove is sealed
The sealed wood stove works in a closed circuit, i.e. the air needed to burn the wood is sucked in from outside your habitat, unlike a "classic" wood stove.
The hydro wood stove
The hydro wood stove is equipped with a water tank which allows it to distribute the heat produced in different parts of your home. Connected to the central heating system, the hydro stove powers your radiators, underfloor heating or towel warmers . This heating solution saves you extra money: the heat produced is beneficial in a larger area of your home.
The ducted wood stove
Due to its operation that pushes warm air to nearby rooms, the ducted wood stove is prized for its ability to heat the home efficiently, including rooms on an upper floor. The duct system is necessary to distribute hot air to parts remote from the stove.
Discover our ducted wood stoves
The wood stove
Versatile, the thermal cooker responds to two functions:
- Wood heating like a classic wood stove;
- Enjoy the heat released for cooking dishes.
A thermometer, usually placed on the glass door, gives the temperature of the oven.
Discover our wood-burning thermo cookers
What maintenance for a wood stove?
The cleaning of the flue must be carried out once a year. We recommend that you always and only contact qualified technicians in possession of a regular license who will give you a certificate of conformity. The more regular and conscientious the maintenance of the device, the longer its life is longer.
In addition to the annual maintenance, carry out regular maintenance to ensure optimal functioning of the stove. Every two days, during the heating season, sweep the ashes from the brazier and empty the ash drawer. Also think about cleaning the stove window as soon as it gets black to prolong the show on the flames.
Various accessories for wood-burning stoves allow you to carry out stove maintenance quickly and easily. Before starting, make sure that the last embers are well extinguished and that the body of the wood stove is cold.
What brand of wood stove?
Various criteria can help you choose one brand of wood stove over another. The origin of the brand, its technical skills, its prices, the manufacturing guarantee offered or its commitment to manufacturing products in line with the environment are, for example, criteria to be taken into consideration.
To choose the best brand of wood stove, we advise you to analyze the different characteristics mentioned and make sure they are in line with your needs. Regarding the origin of the brands, it is important to note that the main wood stove manufacturers come from Italy. They have proven know-how and offer equipment that is well known for its quality and longevity.
Take the time to analyze the characteristics of each product and see if they meet your needs, home and lifestyle. You will have the assurance that you are making the best choice of wood stove no matter what brand you have. To be guided in your choice, contact our consultants!