Wood Stove Heat
What All Homeowners Should Know
The stove radiates its heat into the room, while smoke and other waste products vent through a pipe to the outdoors.
Pros of a Wood-Burning Stove
- Can save money over a gas or oil system - Wood heat provides a way to decrease your reliance on the grid - It offers a connection to the land, and to human history
- It’s a lot of work to fell trees, saw them into logs, and split those logs into stove-length pieces - If you’re not willing to bank the stove at night (in essence keeping the fire going), you need to start a new fire every morning - There must always be someone at home to tend the fire
When you’re using a wood stove, it’s crucial to burn only seasoned wood, or wood that has been aged and dried.
1297174710
How to Circulate Heat From a Wood Stove
One way to disperse heat from a wood stove is to use a wood stove fan, which sits on top of the stove.
Like a romantic hearth, a wood stove offers something beautiful to gaze at, but unlike the typical fireplace, it’s a source of heat that doesn’t seriously compromise your home’s energy efficiency.
Wood Stove Installation: Cost and Other Considerations
The stove itself can run from about $400 at the very low end to $4,000 at the high end, depending on size, materials, style, quality, and special features.
More on
Get the Newsletter
Sign up to receive the best tips and tricks, the latest news and giveaways, and the most inspiring home improvement ideas from Bob Vila, America's Handyman since 1979.