Warming Up to Wood Stove: How to Pick the Best Wood Burning Stove for Your Home

A crackling wood fire has a cheery effect, no matter how dreary the weather. That uplifting of spirits as well as the possibility of economizing on heating fuel has made wood stoves very popular. But many of the wood stoves sold in the past pose two major problems: They cause a disproportionate share of residential fires, and they increase air pollution considerably in many parts of the country. When a stove doesn't get hot enough to burn wood gases completely, it gives off a mixture of tarry, flammable, toxic substances. Unless the stove's flue or chimney is fairly hot, some of those substances will condense there as creosote, a prime cause of chimney fires. The rest of the unburned gases continue up the chimney and pollute the air. To address those problems, stove designers have developed new, highly efficient models that burn the gases before they go up the chimney.

Some of the new stoves include catalytic combustors, similar to catalytic converters in cars. The high-efficiency wood stoves sold today can add both warmth and cheer to a room. They also hold out the promise of safer, cleaner, more efficient wood heat. The stoves burned more efficiently than older models, contributing fewer pollutants to the air, and leaving less creosote in the chimney. They also consumed less wood. And they may represent the only types of wood stoves that will be legally available in many parts of the country, if present trends toward regulating wood-stove emissions continue.

The wood stoves tested are rather expensive, ranging from about $700 to $1.500. Installation is extra and can run considerably more than the stove itself, if much work is needed to make the chimney and hearth safe. Of the stoves tested, the Kent Tile Fire, $835, would be a good choice. Its heat output was high, it burned cleanly, and it was quick to heat up. The Blaze King also scored well, but at $1,135, it's rather expensive. Unlike most large stoves, the big Blaze King produced heat very quickly and emitted it uniformly for more than 24 hours on a single load of wood. If you need no more than a small parlor stove, consider the Victorian-baroque Hearthstone III wood stove, at nearly $900, and the austerely modern Jotul 201, at about $1,000. The Jotul won't hold a fire overnight, but you may not find that a drawback. Be extremely careful of a wood stove's installation. The engineers say that unless you're an accomplished do-it-yourselfer, don't try to do it yourself- Check with the fire department or your local building inspector for the regulations governing wood stoves in your area. Don't cut corners or skimp on materials. If you hire a professional to handle the installation, hire a firm with the best reputation.

Sources:
Perreira, Don "Guide to Wood Burning Stoves and Fireplaces" 2008

Ivins, David The Complete Book of Woodburning Stoves 1978