Choosing A Stove
Knowing and finding out what sort of stove you want or can have can be a confusing and daunting task. There are many things to consider when choosing a stove, stove size, stove output, design, quality, material to name a few. To help you with your decision we have produced this guide and also have a reviews feature on all the items listed on our website.
What do you want the stove for?
An obvious question really, but the first step in deciding on the type of stove you want.
Is it purely for aestetics?
Here the design and style of the stove will be very important, with as large a view of the flames as possible.
Is it to be used as the primary heating source or secondary heating source?
Maybe you are considering heating your house as a result continuously rising fuel prices, or just some secondary heating. One of the main considerations here will then be what sort of output the stove has and whether it has a back boiler to heat radiators. It is important to calculate what output stove you require to heat the space you have and/or the radiators to you wish to heat, dont be afraid to ask a stove expert about sizing your stove. The heat output of a stove is measured in Kilowatt Hours (kwh) and if you want to know more on this you can check Wikipedia.
Do you want to cook on your stove?
Some people will want a range cooker stove that you can cook on, with an oven and the ability to provide hot water.
What sort of style do you want?
The majority of traditional wood burning stoves and multifuel stoves are traditionally styled, although in recent years the availability of more contemporary styled stoves has increased. It is always advisable to choose a look that matches your property and decor.
Should you choose a multifuel or woodburning stove?
A dedicated woodburning stove will generally not have a grate as wood burns best on a bed of ash, whereas a multifuel stove has a grate for burning coal or wood. In the majority of cases a dedicated woodburner will generally burn wood more efficiently than a multifuel stove. Wood is a both a renewable resource (more trees can be planted to replace any cut down for fuel) and abundantly available.
Wood is also a ‘carbon neutral’ fuel, which means that it only gives off as much carbon dioxide when its burnt as it absorbed during the tree’s life. What’s more, the same amount of carbon dioxide would be given off if that same wood was left to rot instead of being burnt. Wood is also relatively clean to handle and doesn’t give off large clouds of dust like coal when moving it around. Well-seasoned logs can also produce a pleasant aroma.
Coal is a fossil fuel - burning coal results in the release of a lot of CO2 which drives climate change - the responsible choice if practical would be to choose a dedicated woodburner so you are not tempted to burn coal.
Which stoves are better - cast iron or steel?
Historically steel was once a poor material for stove manufacture. However steel quality has now greatly improved so there really is not that much in it anymore. In some cases cast iron stoves are built more heavily than steel stoves and may have the quality edge.
Defra approved stoves and smoke control areas.
If you live in a smoke control area (most UK cities) and would like to heat with wood you will need to choose a stove approved for burning wood in smokeless zones.