A growing number of people are questioning if purchasing a wood burner would be prudent given the record-high costs of gas and electric heating. However, switching to conventional wood heat can be intimidating, particularly if you’ve never done it.
People who wish to use small wood stoves are always concerned about several things. What is a wood stove’s cost? Can you do it yourself, or do you need a professional to install it? Are kiln-dried logs more costly than seasoned logs from the grocery store? How does the debate over air pollution stand?
This article explores the main benefits and drawbacks of owning a wood stove to help you decide if wood heat is good for you. These are some of the benefits;
Effectiveness
The capacity of a wood stove to extract the maximum amount of heat from each piece of wood and transfer that heat into the room is known as efficiency. Modern wood-burning stoves can be incredibly efficient. Therefore, one of the primary advantages of wood-burning stoves is their significantly higher efficiency when compared to wood-burning fireplaces. This means it is possible to generate more heat, release fewer emissions, and flames that are longer and require less care.
More Environment Friendly
The amount of smoke and other dangerous particles that can be released when firewood is burned is decreased by the increased efficiency of contemporary wood-burning stoves.
As a result, less emissions are emitted since the firewood and waste gasses are burned more efficiently. When compared to conventional open wood-burning fireplaces, this makes wood stoves significantly more ecologically friendly.
Increased control
A wood stove gives you more control over how quickly and efficiently a fire burns, generating heat. Slowing the fire and managing airflow can increase heat production from every piece of wood.
Fires Burn Longer
With wood-burning stoves’ easier airflow control, fires burn longer and require less maintenance than open fireplaces. Longer fires allow for less fire maintenance and stove-wood addition.
Below are some of the drawbacks;
The price of the stove & installation charges
The initial cost of purchasing a wood-burning stove is typically the biggest drawback. A wood-burning stove may appear expensive at first, but with continued use over many years, the investment can be recouped. There will also be costs attached to the installation of the stove in your home which can push the expenses higher.
Getting Ready and Maintaining
It may seem like a hassle to have to build a fire, add firewood to it regularly, and remove ash if you’re used to getting instant heat by just turning a dial.
Conclusion
The primary advantages of wood stoves over conventional open fireplaces are their generally high-efficiency ratings, their capacity to provide far more heat and considerably lower emissions. The primary drawback, though, is the hefty upfront costs associated with buying and installing a wood fire. It is necessary to weigh the possible savings during the stove’s lifetime against the upfront expense of a wood stove.