Is it time to get a wood-burning stove?

With the price of fuel going up and up and looming winter bills, it is no surprise that families are looking to alternative ways to heat their homes. The idea of a wood-burning stove conjures up magical ideas of cosy, warm cottages, yet now many homes are turning to this alternative solution. Is a wood burning stove right for your home? What are the pros and cons of having this burning furnace in your kitchen or lounge area? Let’s investigate:

Wood-burning stoves have the reputation for being an environmentally friendly alternative to other forms of heating your home and therefore a financial ease on your monthly bills. Some families have claimed that their bills have been slashed almost in half by the installation of this enchanting device, meaning they will pay off the cost of the stove in 3 years. Lets dig deeper into what a wood-burning stove is and the benefits of owning one.

What is a wood-burning stove?

A wood-burning stove uses wood fuel and biomass fuel such as wood pellets to heat your home. It is typically a cast iron or steel closed fire chamber placed in a brick base with some form of adjustable air control. The wood-burning stove needs to be connected to an appropriate chimney.

What fuel do you need to run a wood-burning stove?

You can burn pretty much any wood based product in your wood-burning stove such as fallen branches, dead trees, junk mail, newspapers, untreated furniture and so on. You can also purchase logs and wood pellets.

What are the pros of owning a wood-burning stove?

Not surprisingly, there are many benefits to owning a wood-burning stove that fall alongside that romantic lodge atmosphere they produce:

• The fuel cost is cheaper that alternative ways of heating your home. Families have estimated that the stove will pay itself off within 3 years due to the savings on the monthly bills.
• Wood biomass can be grown locally and purchased locally so it promotes the local economy.
• You can also burn waste that would otherwise be on its way to the tip saving you a visit and the landfill a break.
• Fuel prices don’t fluctuate very much and are stable.
• Pellet stoves that burn wood pellets are relatively non-polluting.
• If engineered correctly, wood burning stoves emit fewer pollutants into the air that other heating systems.
• The smell in your home can be incredible based on the fuel you decide to burn. Your home can get really cosy and warm.
• A few simple safety precautions mean that the stove is very safe to use.

What are the cons of owning a wood-burning stove?

As with anything there are also some cons that could weigh out the pros on a wood-burning stove:

• The upfront costs of installing a wood-burning stove can be high (between £750 to £1000) and it can take a few years to see the return on your investment.
• You need to stock up on continuous supplies of wood or biomass fuel to ensure you can heat your home consistently.
• Fuel can be bulky to store.
• You can find yourself outside chopping fuel at unusual times of the day. It is a lot more work that it seems.
• It can be a little messy and dirty if ash and dust fly out into your home. The wood can also be messy when you bring it in from outside. We won’t mention the spiders…
• There is no timer, so if you are out all day, you have to heat the house yourself when you get home, not set your heating to turn on before you get home.
• There can be some safety concerns, especially if you have small children running around.
• For the record, the wood-burning stove will not heat your entire home. The room in which the stove is situated will get very cosy but your home would have to be relatively small and well insulated for the heat to do that much work.

So what is the verdict? It really comes down to what type of a person you are. If you are a neat freak allergic to chopping wood every once in a while then this is probably not the option for you. If the idea of snuggling up in front of a real fire every night sounds so wonderful that nothing could stop you, then you should go for it and sit smug knowing the gas companies aren’t getting as much of your money.

What do you think? Is a wood burning stove in your future? What hesitations do you have after reading this article?