Updated Woodstoves Keep Home Fires Burning
It’s no surprise that the cultures of cold climates have produced some of the greatest innovations in heating technology. With forests blanketed in snow for months at a time, the countries of Northern Europe have led the way in designs and technologies related to the burning of wood.
The trend toward the use of renewable biomass energy sources has meant a new embrace of a time-tested heat source, the woodstove. Advances in ceramic glass technology have brought stove fireboxes to our living spaces with flames in clear view, radiating both light and warmth. Used intermittently as a secondary or backup heat source, woodstoves pay for themselves quickly during a power outage or an unplanned visit from the polar vortex.
Combustion technology has advanced to the point where many modern woodstoves are carbon neutral. That is, they emit an amount of carbon dioxide equal to that of a log naturally decomposing. This boost in efficiency also means it takes less wood to heat the same square footage. Less wood means less handling, splitting, transporting, stacking and ash removal. Wood is now more cost effective than ever. But before you start splitting and stacking your wood, here are few things to think about.
Woodstove Materials
Woodstoves are made of one of two primary materials: cast iron or steel.
Steel stoves heat up (and cool down) more quickly than cast iron. They’re also less expensive to fabricate and lighter, and can usually be placed closer to wall finishes, because they often utilize shell-within-shell construction — an outer steel shell or cowling combined with an inner steel firebox.
Unlike with their cast iron counterparts, steel stove components are welded together, creating a permanent joint that requires no maintenance. However, this also means that replacing a damaged component isn’t possible. To temper the variable heat that a steel stove provides, some manufacturers offer lay-in soapstone panels whose mass and physical properties allow it to absorb and radiate heat over a longer period.
Pros: Radiates heat quickly; low maintenance; modern styling; durable; cost effective.
Cons: Heat dissipates quickly; limited color options; welded components can’t be replaced.
Cast iron stoves are generally more expensive, because of the complexity involved in the manufacturing process. But they are subject to less variation in temperature than steel and thus provide a more even heat. They take quite a bit longer to come up to temperature than steel stoves of the same size, but they also hold and radiate heat longer.
The casting process allows for more detailed ornamentation, and cast iron can be enameled and thus offers a broader range of colors than steel stoves. Because cast iron can’t be welded, these stoves must be mechanically fastened together, with gaskets and furnace cement. Over time cast iron stoves require maintenance to prevent air infiltration at these joints, which can cause improper combustion. Overfiring is a real possibility if this maintenance isn’t performed. One side benefit to the bolt-together construction is the ease of replacement if a part becomes damaged.
Pros: Even, prolonged heat; decorative classic design; replaceable components.
Cons: Long heat-up times; heavy weight; higher maintenance; higher price.
Choosing between steel and cast iron often comes down to economics. Given the same funds, purchasing a steel stove will often net a better overall value, because purchasing a low-end cast iron stove can mean sacrificing construction quality, which can make for a poor experience over the life of the stove.
Output Size
One of the most important considerations when selecting a woodstove is size. This applies to both the size of the space you’re intending to heat with the stove, and the firebox or chamber that you fill with wood.
All manufacturers offer heating performance guidelines, which are usually tied to square footage. This square footage number is generic in that it assumes 8-foot ceilings, but you can easily translate that to cubic footage to more closely approximate your home’s size.
Heat delivered is shown in a range and represented in BTUs, or British thermal units. The range represents the amount of heat delivered over the entire firing cycle of the stove, from initial to final burn. The average BTU output, the middle of the range, is what you should pay attention to, as firing the stove on the high end will cause undue wear on both the stove internals and the flue.
Knowing your climate zone and your house size and configuration can get you very close to determining the size of stove you’ll need. Follow the stove manufacturer’s guidelines and if possible consult with a local woodstove supplier — they are invaluable resources. Oversizing or undersizing your stove will ultimately mean you’ll use it less often.
More about the Updated Woodstoves Keep Home Fires Burning
The trend toward the use of renewable biomass energy sources has meant a new embrace of a time-tested heat source, the woodstove. Advances in ceramic glass technology have brought stove fireboxes to our living spaces with flames in clear view, radiating both light and warmth. Used intermittently as a secondary or backup heat source, woodstoves pay for themselves quickly during a power outage or an unplanned visit from the polar vortex.
Combustion technology has advanced to the point where many modern woodstoves are carbon neutral. That is, they emit an amount of carbon dioxide equal to that of a log naturally decomposing. This boost in efficiency also means it takes less wood to heat the same square footage. Less wood means less handling, splitting, transporting, stacking and ash removal. Wood is now more cost effective than ever. But before you start splitting and stacking your wood, here are few things to think about.
Woodstove Materials
Woodstoves are made of one of two primary materials: cast iron or steel.
Steel stoves heat up (and cool down) more quickly than cast iron. They’re also less expensive to fabricate and lighter, and can usually be placed closer to wall finishes, because they often utilize shell-within-shell construction — an outer steel shell or cowling combined with an inner steel firebox.
Unlike with their cast iron counterparts, steel stove components are welded together, creating a permanent joint that requires no maintenance. However, this also means that replacing a damaged component isn’t possible. To temper the variable heat that a steel stove provides, some manufacturers offer lay-in soapstone panels whose mass and physical properties allow it to absorb and radiate heat over a longer period.
Pros: Radiates heat quickly; low maintenance; modern styling; durable; cost effective.
Cons: Heat dissipates quickly; limited color options; welded components can’t be replaced.
Cast iron stoves are generally more expensive, because of the complexity involved in the manufacturing process. But they are subject to less variation in temperature than steel and thus provide a more even heat. They take quite a bit longer to come up to temperature than steel stoves of the same size, but they also hold and radiate heat longer.
The casting process allows for more detailed ornamentation, and cast iron can be enameled and thus offers a broader range of colors than steel stoves. Because cast iron can’t be welded, these stoves must be mechanically fastened together, with gaskets and furnace cement. Over time cast iron stoves require maintenance to prevent air infiltration at these joints, which can cause improper combustion. Overfiring is a real possibility if this maintenance isn’t performed. One side benefit to the bolt-together construction is the ease of replacement if a part becomes damaged.
Pros: Even, prolonged heat; decorative classic design; replaceable components.
Cons: Long heat-up times; heavy weight; higher maintenance; higher price.
Choosing between steel and cast iron often comes down to economics. Given the same funds, purchasing a steel stove will often net a better overall value, because purchasing a low-end cast iron stove can mean sacrificing construction quality, which can make for a poor experience over the life of the stove.
Output Size
One of the most important considerations when selecting a woodstove is size. This applies to both the size of the space you’re intending to heat with the stove, and the firebox or chamber that you fill with wood.
All manufacturers offer heating performance guidelines, which are usually tied to square footage. This square footage number is generic in that it assumes 8-foot ceilings, but you can easily translate that to cubic footage to more closely approximate your home’s size.
Heat delivered is shown in a range and represented in BTUs, or British thermal units. The range represents the amount of heat delivered over the entire firing cycle of the stove, from initial to final burn. The average BTU output, the middle of the range, is what you should pay attention to, as firing the stove on the high end will cause undue wear on both the stove internals and the flue.
Knowing your climate zone and your house size and configuration can get you very close to determining the size of stove you’ll need. Follow the stove manufacturer’s guidelines and if possible consult with a local woodstove supplier — they are invaluable resources. Oversizing or undersizing your stove will ultimately mean you’ll use it less often.
More about the Updated Woodstoves Keep Home Fires Burning
