There’s no denying the appeal of cuddling up on the couch and basking in glow of a wood stove fire. Not only does a wood stove add character and ambience but it also provides an added source of heat for those colder days. But before you commit to getting one, learn whether a wood stove is right for your home and family.

Wood Stove Basics

• Wood stoves have been around for hundreds of years. And aside for being more efficient than ever, how they work hasn’t changed all that much. First, you place wood logs into the firebox, then ignite them. The logs burn in the closed, controlled environment while the air from built-in vents feeds the fire. The stove radiates heat into the room, while smoke and other waste products vent outdoors.

Pros and Cons

There are countless good reasons we moved beyond wood heat years ago. For those who enjoy modern comforts, regularly heating the house with wood would be a monumental inconvenience. Others, however, enjoy the rustic nature of a wood stove and are drawn to heating their home in a more primitive, independent fashion. Which camp do you fall into? Let’s find out.

Pros

• In areas where wood is readily available at low cost, heating your home with a wood stove can save money over a gas or oil system.
• Unlike fossil fuels, wood is a renewable resource. For some, that’s reason enough to think seriously about making the switch or supplementing their traditional oil- or gas-fueled system.
• If you’re using a wood stove as your sole source of heat, a wood stove provides a way to decrease your reliance on the grid.
• There is something deeply satisfying about wood heat. Some feel a connection to the land that simply cannot be matched by a system that’s controlled by a thermostat on the wall.

Cons

• It requires a lot of work – felling trees, sawing them into logs, and splitting those logs into stove-length pieces. On the other hand, purchasing precut and seasoned firewood can get expensive. Be realistic about your budget and abilities and tolerance for heavy work.
• Heating a home with a wood stove takes dedication. For instance, if you’re not willing to keep the fire going overnight, you’ll need to start a new fire every morning.
• If you want to solely really on wood heat, someone needs to be home to tend to the fire. Otherwise, with no other source of heat, plumbing pipes can freeze when the temps dip below freezing.

Wood Stove Installation

Because wood stoves are extremely heavy and get very hot, placement and installation can be complicated. You’ll want to make sure the space you plan on installing a wood stove meets the following criteria:

• The stove should sit close to the center of the area to be heated, away from exterior walls.
• The floor below the stove must be covered with noncombustible material, such as ceramic tile, concrete, brick, or stone.
• The floor may need to be reinforced to handle the weight of the stove and the platform or hearth below it.
• You’ll also need a heat shield behind the stove. This can be made of metal, stone, tile, brick, or other noncombustible surface.
• Both stove and pipes must be situated at least 3 feet away from combustible items like curtains, furnishings, and firewood. They should also be positioned 18 feet away from unprotected ceiling or walls.

What if you want the best of both worlds – the rustic beauty of a wood stove and the easy, dependable heat of a furnace or boiler? That’s where we come in – C&D Cooling & Heating. We offer you a full slate of home heating services to ensure that your winter is just as comfortable as can be. Contact us today to request service or for more information on new heating system.