Is The Cost Of Heating Your Home Breaking Your Bank Account? Try A Small Wood
Burning Stove!
Small wood burning stoves can be a cost-efficient way to help with your home heating bills this winter. They are
ideal for a large room or seasonal cabin and the ambiance they add is priceless.
There are two main material options for small wood burning stoves – cast iron or welded steel. Cast iron stoves
can be much more intricate and artistic, but they can also cost more, while welded steel has a more plain look.
There are also soapstone or porcelain small wood stoves available.
The next decision to make concerns combustion. With catalytic combustion, the exhaust gases are sent through a
catalyst-coated ceramic honeycomb inside the stove, where they ignite and burn. This produces a long, steady output
of heat. These types of stoves have a damper that is used for starting and loading, which makes operation a bit
more complicated.
With non-catalytic combustion, everything happens right in the firebox. They are easier to operate and produce a
beautiful fire. The heat output tends to rise and fall, however. Both types of stoves burn up to 90% cleaner than
older conventional stoves.
Many small wood burning stoves are built in a pedestal style, with legs, so an ash pan can be emptied easily.
Otherwise, the stove can sit on the floor of a room on a stand. Of course, a chimney is also required. Today’s
small wood burning stoves have many stylish contemporary designs and are also available in different colors.
They can also be covered with marble or porcelain. Often, small wood burning stoves will have glass doors so the
flames can be viewed and one gets the feel of a fireplace. In fact, many new models have an infrared barrier on the
door that reflects the heat back, increasing efficiency. There are also many new models with thermostats that allow
the owner to control the temperature.
There are numerous advantages to using a wood stove over fossil fuels like oil and natural gas. First, unlike
fossil fuels, wood is a renewable resource. Trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, and when it burns, this
carbon dioxide is released and absorbed again by young trees.
Therefore, there is no effect on global warming. Second, wood stoves are not subject to the vagaries of the
electrical system. If the power goes out, you will still have heat from your wood stove. Third, heating with a wood
stove necessarily involves space heating, which uses less energy.
The living room stays warm while the bedrooms stay cool. Fourth, and probably most importantly, heating with a
wood stove is cheaper than using fossil fuels, especially with the incredibly efficient stoves on the market
today.
Finally, contemporary models of small wood stoves have an impressive array of stylish designs, which can add a
touch of sophistication to any room.
|