When you are looking for the right wood stove for your tastes, budget, and size of the room, you will need to keep a few things in mind during you wood stove shopping process. There are countless wood stove manufacturers and companies on the market, and knowing how to make your final decision can be a lengthy process. You will need to review both performance specifications, and work with a trustworthy dealer that can answer any questions you may have along the way.
Specifications and product guides are readily available from wood stove manufacturers, and many of these can also be found online. Wood stoves come in a variety of shapes, sizes, output levels, and parameters. You can find out what type of space they are capable of heating in square feet, and also learn about the materials used during construction, and any finishes that may be available for a customized look. Specifications will also help you determine the size and fit of your wood stove with ease, and you can make a well-informed decision when you know exactly what the wood stove will look like in your given space.
Most wood stoves are made with cast iron or welded steel. Although there is no heating performance difference in these materials, you will want to review each type for its visual appeal. You can find a variety of engravings and patterns in cast iron stoves, while welded steel offers simple, sleek, and smooth design. Cast iron stoves are the most popular since you can add accents and embellishments for a customized look. The internal parts of cast iron stoves are also very easy to replace.
The second component of your wood stove shopping process is reviewing combustion options. You will need to decide between catalytic or non-catalytic combustion. Non-catalytic combustion makes it very simple to start the fire, and is fairly easy to replace. These provide consistently high temperatures, and will require little replacement. Catalytic combustion produces steady heat, and does tend to deteriorate over tie.
Learning about the emissions and EPA standards of your wood stove is important. This will help you determine what type of output the unit may have, and how valuable the quality of air in your home is. All wood stove and inserts sold in the United States must meet certain EPA standards, and these will be written into the product description or specification sheet.
When shopping for wood stoves, you will also need to review efficiency, heat output, burn time, and heating capacity. Efficiency is determined by the performance level, and is usually presented as a percentage. An efficiency level of 80% or higher is most desirable. Heat output is determined in British Thermal Units (BTUs), and you will need a range of between 5,000-25,000 for most homes in cold weather climates. Heating capacity will tell you how much square footage is covered during the burn cycle, and will help you learn how much wood you will need as a supply. The burn time will vary on the type of wood stove model, and the type of wood or fuel burned.
