As colder weather approaches, you might be looking to find an alternative heat source. For many homeowners, the answer is a wood-burning stove. But are they worth it?
A good wood stove offers many benefits, including a warm and cozy ambiance, energy independence, economical home heating and even environmentally responsible. However, there are some important considerations to make before you decide to install one in your home.
In this article, we’ll share the fundamentals of wood stoves, including how they work and how to best operate them. We’ll walk through some wood-burning stove pros and cons so you can get a clear picture of what to expect from owning and maintaining one.
Ensure your stove is ready for burn season with helpful maintenance tips and tricks from the experts at Forge & Flame.
What is a Wood-Burning Stove?
A wood stove is a traditional, self-contained heating solution that offers warmth, ambiance and even cost savings on your energy bill. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles, making them versatile for different home aesthetics. Operating a wood-burning stove can heat your most lived-in spaces when using zone heating. You can even cook on a wood-burning stove depending on the specific model you have.
How Wood Stoves Work
Many models of wood stoves are available but they each operate similarly. An in-home wood-burning stove uses firewood as the primary fuel source to create a steady, radiant heat through wood combustion.
Wood stoves have a solid cast iron or steel firebox lined with firebrick for reinforcement. They require venting, which is specific to the location of the stove in your home. Some wood stoves come standard with a blower to move the air, others have it as an option. Some also have additional technology, like a four-point burn system and advanced energy technology to maximize their effectiveness.
Explore all Forge & Flame wood stoves to elevate the ambiance in your home and bring warmth to your space.
Benefits of Wood-Burning Stoves
A wood stove can be one of the most intelligent purchases you buy for your home for several reasons. As we’ll discuss in more detail below, some of the main advantages of wood-burning stoves are that they can last for decades with the proper maintenance, they can heat your home efficiently, they don’t require electricity and they offer a cozy ambiance that other heat sources can’t offer.
Aesthetic and Comfort
If you own a wood stove, you can enjoy one of nature's most beautiful elements daily with the quiet crackle of burning wood. Undoubtedly, watching a fire is relaxing and produces a calming feeling. Installing a wood-burning stove can enhance the visual and physical appeal of your home, creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with its traditional design and comforting flame.
Reliability and Independence
Wood stoves don’t require electricity to operate and allow you to access heat independently from the utility grid. Instead, you only need a steady supply of wood to keep your fire burning. The dependability of a wood stove for warmth as well as it being safe to use for cooking means you will always have a reliable alternative heat source. In the event of a power outage or if your cabin or living space has limited electricity, you can rest assured you’ll be comfortable and protected from the cold.
Cost-Effective Heating
As home heating costs continue to climb, wood-burning stoves help reduce the use of non-renewable energy sources while saving you money on your heating bill. So, how much does it cost to regularly operate a log-burning stove? It might be more economical than you think.
For instance, a wood stove in a 2,000-square-foot space uses three to six cords of wood in a single season, depending on usage, climate and heating requirements. This year, the average wood cord cost is $296, resulting in a wood stove cost of $888- $1,776 to heat the space. If you're using wood cut from your backyard, the fuel is free. Compare that with the cost of gas or electricity and you're seeing a substantial reduction in your overall energy bill at the end of the year.
On top of the price comparisons, switching to a wood stove as a heat source entitles you to a federal tax credit, which includes the cost of purchasing and installing eligible stoves.
Alternative Cooking Method
A wood stove with a dedicated cooking surface can be used to heat food and water with a few safety precautions. Cooking on your wood stove can be a unique and rewarding experience as you learn how to best control the heat and set the right cook times to prepare a delectable meal.
Responsible Fuel Source
Modern wood stoves are designed to be more environmentally conscious than traditional models. Today's market requires all wood stoves to have Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification. The certification requires compliance with strict emissions and energy efficiency regulations designed to optimize the amount of heat output.
Long Lifespan
Wood-burning stoves are durable and long-lasting, offering good value for your investment. Forge & Flame stoves can last up to 15 to 20 years with proper care and maintenance before your wood stove needs replacing. Proper maintenance, operation and selection of the right stove for your space can ensure a longer lifespan.
Learn more about choosing the right wood to burn to have the most heat possible in your space.
Considerations For Wood Stoves
It’s important to know both the pros and cons of a wood-burning stove when deciding if it's right for you. Despite the long list of benefits, wood stoves might not be the best choice for those who want a set-it-and-forget-it fire-burning experience, like with a gas or electric heating stove. If you’re thinking about installing a wood stove in your home, here are the key considerations to evaluate.
Regular Maintenance and Upkeep
Wood-burning stoves require regular maintenance to optimize their use. A clean stove is a happy stove. Weekly, monthly and annual stove maintenance is vital to preserving your stove’s beauty and function.
Upkeep includes cleaning the venting, removing soot buildup in the stove and making sure all stove parts are in working condition. If this doesn’t sound like something you can commit to, you may want to think about an electric or gas stove.
Attention to Detail For Installation
You’ll need to pay close attention to the user manual or guidance of the authorized dealer to install the stove in the proper location in your home with the appropriate venting. This will ensure the safe use of your wood-burning stove and meet compliance with local building codes. For these reasons, we highly recommend hiring an installer for your wood stove installation to avoid any complications or dangerous mistakes. Ask your local dealer about installation fees and options to streamline the process without the worry.
Requires Education
Wood-burning stoves are cherished by fire lovers for many reasons. A primary reason is the interaction with a wood fire. This includes building a fire from scratch, adding more fuel so the fire doesn’t go out, determining how much wood you’ll need for the winter and choosing what type of wood to burn. There can be a learning curve to operate a wood stove effectively and you will need to continuously check that there’s enough wood to keep your fire burning strong.
Adequate Ventilation
Proper ventilation is critical tothe safe operation of a wood-burning stove. It also supports better air quality indoors and helps you practice good fire safety. Wood stoves generally need a Class A chimney and fresh air intake. In an ideal scenario, place the stove where it can be vented vertically, allowing the smoke to properly exit the home.
Requires Wood Storage Space
To consistently use your wood stove for heat in the colder months, you’ll need an adequate firewood supply and a place to store it and keep it dry. In this way, it’s not always a good fit to use wood stoves for small houses with limited storage space.
Explore different methods to stack wood when you need more firewood storage.
Comparing Wood Stoves to Other Heating Options
Electric, wood, pellet and gas stoves are all popular alternative heating sources you might consider for your home. If you’re trying to determine if one of these other options is a better fit for your needs compared to a wood-burning stove, below is a brief comparison of the differences.
Pellet Stoves
Pellet stoves are fueled by biomass pellets made of compressed wood and sawdust, which come in large bags. Both wood and pellet stoves require consideration for fuel storage. However, there is less hands-on operation required with a pellet stove. You can pour pellets into the hopper and the stove will automatically feed them to the burn pot as needed to maintain the right level of heat. Pellet stoves also require electricity or a backup generator to use in case of a power outage which may not be ideal for your heating needs.
Gas Stoves
Gas stoves can be more convenient and cleaner to operate than a wood stove and require less ongoing maintenance. Rather than continuously feeding the stove with firewood, you can use a thermostat to set your desired temperature, then the stove will automatically shut on or off to produce steady heat.
Prices on wood stoves compared to gas stoves are relatively similar for the initial purchase and installation. However, if you have access to your firewood, a wood stove can be a more economical option.
Electric Stoves
Electric stoves are often the easiest and cheapest to install, as they don’t require any ventilation. This also means they’re more environmentally conscious and support better indoor air quality since they don’t put out any exhaust.
Electric stoves can have the lowest upfront costs. However, the energy costs of using the electric stove consistently can make it less cost-effective compared to wood-burning heaters for homes, and they also cannot be used in case of a power outage. The aesthetics and ambiance of a wood stove are also more authentic than what an electric stove provides.
Get to know Forge & Flame and how sustainable heat can bring comfort and peace of mind to your home.
Is a Wood-Burning Stove Right for You?
Weigh the pros and cons of buying and operating a wood stove to make sure it meets your specific heating needs, budget, aesthetic preferences and lifestyle, including:
- Initial Cost and Installation: You’ll need to cover the upfront cost of the wood burner and installation, which according to Angi.com is $2,498 on average.
- Fuel Supply and Storage: You must access adequate wood for fuel and enough storage space to keep it dry before use.
- Heating Capacity: Wood stoves are best suited for heating small rooms and spaces.
- Space and Placement Requirements: Wherever you’d like to place the stove, there needs to be proper clearance between it, the wall and any walkways to prevent accidents and damage. Furthermore, the stove must be placed on non-combustible flooring or have a hearthpad.
- Maintenance and Upkeep: Annual wood stove inspections can be costly, in addition to any other chimney or stove maintenance required.
- Aesthetic and Ambience: Wood stoves give off a more traditional and rustic aesthetic, creating a warm and welcoming ambiance.
- Operational Demands: You must regularly feed the log burner with additional wood to maintain consistent heat levels.
Enhance Your Home with Forge & Flame Wood-Burning Stoves
Wood stoves are a beautiful addition to any home and have many benefits for the right type of owner. If you’re ready to take the next step and install a wood-burning stove for cooking and heating, we are here for you. Forge & Flame has many options for homeowners that combine style, efficiency and responsible heating.
Browse our gallery to gather wood stove ideas or connect with your local dealer to help you weigh your many options to find the perfect wood stove.
