What are the best makes of wood-burning stoves to buy? All of these are common questions people ask when shopping for a new wood-burning appliance.
A lot of improvements have been made to home heating devices. Such improvements have led to more efficient combustion, heat distribution, and more aesthetic appeal among other benefits.
Fireplaces mostly operate on three broad fuel categories; gas, electric, and wood-burning fireplaces.
We’re more interested in wood-burning stoves. How do they function?
This article comes in handy as it provides vital information that will guide you towards making the right pick.
Best Wood-Burning Stove Brands
When it comes to wood-burning stoves, you’ll be spoiled for choice. These come in varying sizes, designs, and brands. Here, we’re more interested in the best wood-burning stove brands.
When buying one, it isn’t proper to go for just about anyone you can lay your eyes on.
Such a decision can turn out to be regrettable.
Tips For Buying the Best Wood Burning Stove
As expected, there are certain selection criteria or guidelines when choosing a wood stove to buy.
These include the heat output & size, secondary combustion, freestanding or insert, as well as the ash bin.
Other considerations include its ease of use, efficiency, steel or cast iron body as well as catalytic and non-catalytic devices.
What more? Is the wood-burning stove EPA-Certified? Does it have a blower?
Let’s take a look at these points for more understanding of the points under discussion.
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Heat Output & Size
Your space matters when buying a wood-burning stove.
You want one that adequately covers the targeted area. So, what happens when you don’t get a wood-burning stove that’s appropriately sized?
If you buy one whose size is inadequate, you’ll need to run your stove for longer than necessary.
Over-firing issues can also develop. Your best bet at picking the right wood stove type is by understanding your energy needs.
The best way to achieve this is by measuring the height, length, and width of your room and have the figures multiplied to arrive at your room’s volume.
This figure should help with picking the right stove.
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Secondary Combustion
The best wood-burning stoves have secondary combustion as part of their designs.
Here, fresh air is supplied to help burn out waste combustion gases. This leads to the product of even more heat.
You might want to look out for wood-burning stoves with such designations.
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Freestanding or Insert
These are two basic wood-burning stove designs you’ll need to choose from.
It all depends on what your needs are. For freestanding wood stoves, these can be kept independently with chimneys extending through the roof or exiting horizontally through your walls.
For wood-burning inserts, these have to be installed within an existing fireplace. Both of these function effectively.
You’ll need to decide the type you need.
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Ash Bin
Does your wood-burning stove have an ash bin? This is a handy component that serves to increase efficiency. The best wood-burning stoves have removal ash bins for easy cleaning and disposal of ash.
You should consider getting such.
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Ease of Use
Ease of use is crucial for any reliable heating device.
The best wood-burning stoves have been specifically designed to be operated with ease. A buyer should be able to figure out its mode of operation within a short period.
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Efficiency
One of the primary requirements for wood-burning stoves is efficiency.
Of course, wood-burning stoves are designed to be efficient. Such efficiency is seen in the heat being produced, the combustion rate, and the heat distribution rate.
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Steel or Cast Iron Body
The material your wood-burning stove is made of matters.
You’ll need to understand how steel and cast iron stove bodies function. While both of these are reliable, steel tends to heat up and release heat faster than cast iron wood stove bodies.
Although a cast iron body has a slower heat-up process, it tends to radiate heat for longer.
You’ll have to choose what works for you best.
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Catalytic and Non-Catalytic Devices
When it comes to high combustion efficiencies, catalytic devices tend to rank higher.
Here, the burn rate is enhanced due to a catalytic process. Most of the best wood-burning stoves are catalytic devices. However, this isn’t to say non-catalytic wood-burning stoves aren’t efficient.
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DEFRA or EPA Certification Approval
There’s an added layer of confidence and assurance when using a certified wood-burning stove. It’s important to check for DEFRA or EPA-approved heating devices as these are among the most efficient.
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Blower
Heat distribution is of significant importance when using wood-burning stoves. The best devices come attached with blowers.
This component helps distribute heat further away into your home.
Best Wood Burning Stove Brands
When it comes down to making a pick of the best wood-burning stoves, you’ll have to consider the different brands. While there are lots of brands to choose from, some are more reputable (with customers and installers) than others.
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Top Suppliers of Wood-burning Stoves
The top brands include Volgelzang, Camp Chef Alpine, Drolet, Pleasant Hearth, and EcoZoom.
Other top brands include Charnwood, Morso, Stovax, Contura, Esse, Arada, Aga, Clearview, Hunter, Woodworm, and Yeoman.
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Some of the Best Wood Burning Stoves
Speaking of the products from the best brands, there are several of these.
Some of the best known include Camp Chef Alpine CS14 Cylinder Wood Stove, Drolet HT2000 Wood Stove, and the Vogelzang TR009 Performer EPA Wood Stove.
There’s also the EcoZoom Rocket Stove, as well as the Pleasant Hearth 1,800 sq. ft. Medium Wood Burning Stove.
Although there are several more, we won’t be going into such details. Not only are all of these aesthetically appealing, but they’re also cost-effective, safe, and environmentally friendly.
Other clear benefits include being an efficient heating source and having no need for an additional power source to function.
There you have it! Some of the best wood-burning stoves have been listed. We’ve also provided you with a buying guide for making the best purchase decisions.
Here is how to convert an existing fireplace to a wood stove.