A wood stove is a really interesting heating system. In fact, it has an excellent heating power and makes any room in the home seem warmer and cozier. However, these are not the only benefits you can enjoy if you finally decide to buy one. In ParaTuReforma we are going to tell you all about them and, in addition, we will explain the most important aspects when choosing yours.
Wood stoves
Wood sto ves have a number of characteristics of their own. For example, to be considered as such, they must be made of steel or cast iron, they must be of a closed type and the smoke extraction pipe must be visible.
These are the elements that differentiate them from wood-burning fireplaces, with which they should not be confused. Generally, the latter have some constructive element, while stoves do not.
Benefits
That said, we can now focus on the benefits they can provide.
High thermal efficiency
Experts agree that a fireplace or stove is efficient when it has a thermal efficiency higher than 70%. Well, thanks to the fact that wood burning is carried out inside a closed chamber, it is not uncommon for the best wood stoves to reach 80%. Especially when they use a double combustion system.
Firewood is a very cheap fuel
Much more than other fuels considered environmentally friendly, such as pellets. pellet. In addition, stoves of this type also involve some electricity consumption. It cannot be ignored that they are the most suitable in certain occasions, but that does not imply that they are more economical than those that use firewood.
In any case, the price of firewood is quite stable and low. If you have a house or rural land and space in which to store it, you will not even need to buy it. You can get it by cutting the dry branches of the trees you have planted.
They are very environmentally friendly
Evidently, the aforementioned efficiency results in better fuel utilization and, therefore, in less waste of resources and lower emissions of polluting gases. This is especially true when compared to natural gas or diesel stoves.
However, there are other factors that influence this ecological character. For example, wood stoves can be connected to the domestic water circuit to provide the household with hot water in the shower and taps.
Long service life
Another benefit of a wood stove is that, if you provide it with the proper maintenance, which is very easy to carry out, it can last you a lifetime. That is, it will never fail to do its job effectively. This is something that no electric heating system or any other type of heating system can boast.
Easy installation
If we talk about wood stoves and the advantages they offer, this one cannot be avoided. The only thing you need to enjoy one is to have a smoke outlet to the outside. If you already have one, you can install it yourself without any difficulty.
Other benefits of a woodstove
In addition to the above, wood-burning stoves:
- They are usually equipped with fans that spread the heat evenly throughout the room.
- They incorporate small ovens that allow cooking and toasting of some foods.
- They are equipped with a practical ashtray that makes it very quick and clean to remove the combustion residues.
- They are compatible with pellets in many cases.
- They are safer than open fireplaces, as they have a cold-touch glass-ceramic screen on their outer face.
- They integrate systems that facilitate the ignition of firewood.
How to choose a wood stove
In previous occasions we provided some tips on how to choose the best wood stove according to your needs. Therefore, this time we want to focus on those aspects that you should pay attention to when buying one. Take note.
Types of wood stoves
In general terms, we can differentiate between three types, which are:
- Turbo stoves. They are so called because they quickly reach the desired temperature. In addition, they generate very little soot deposits and are generally available in a wide variety of designs.
- Radiation stoves. They are the most voluminous, but they also offer the greatest autonomy. In fact, for each load of wood, they can operate continuously for up to 20 hours. They are also the most modern and elegant in terms of aesthetics.
- Dual combustion stoves. The most efficient option of all. The reason? They have a double chamber system. In the first chamber the wood is burned, while in the second chamber the combustion of the gases generated in the first chamber takes place.
Another relevant aspect that will allow you to differentiate between different types of wood stoves is the material with which it has been manufactured:
- Steel wood stoves. It is a very light material. Therefore, stoves of this type are easier to install. They also reach the desired temperature more quickly and are cheaper, although they retain heat less well and are less efficient than cast iron stoves.
- Cast iron wood-burning stoves. The most robust of all. They have an excellent thermal inertia and allow heat to spread evenly.
What power do you need?
It depends on the insulation level of your home. If it is very low, you will need 100 W (0.1 kW) for each square meter of surface to be heated. On the other hand, if it is high, 60 W (0.6 kW) will suffice. Remember that oversizing the performance of the stove will affect consumption and that falling short can make it inefficient.
Have you decided to buy a wood stove after knowing all its benefits? If so, take a look at our catalog and contact ParaTuReforma if you have any questions. We will be happy to advise you on what you need and give you a quote.
