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Using Stoves
by Lukas Rathswohl
Traditionally, wood-burning freestanding stoves were used in
ski cabins and lodges, but today thanks to new design concepts
they have become a welcome addition to any home.
Wood-burning stoves can be installed in any room of your house,
but most often they are placed in living or dining rooms, as
well as in patios. While traditional fireplaces generally work
as a piece of décor, free-standing wood-burning stoves are
generally used for more practical purposes, namely, for heating
and even cooking. Thanks to new designs, your wood-burning stove
will look attractive and still remain perfectly functional.
Because it isn’t attached to the wall, a wood-burning stove
will radiate more heat throughout a small or large room.
Most often, wood-burning stoves are usually built of stainless
steel, soapstone or ceramics study stone and brick but can
remain sleek and contemporary thanks to new materials such as
fireproof glass and stainless steel details. The shape of these
stoves is most commonly tall and cylindrical, with built-in wood
storage under the burning chamber.
When choosing a new wood-burning stove, keep in mind that the
size of your wood-burning stove is determined by the size of
the space that needs to be heated. The fire of the stove should
be substantial enough to please the eye as well as heat the
room, but too much fire can literally turn your place into an
oven.
When picking a place to put your new stove, avoid traffic areas
such as doors. A stove surrounded by windows may be a good
solution. The fire chamber door should face the room. Don’t
forget to take stovepipe requirements into the account, making
sure they are in compliance with your local building codes.
Since wood-burning stoves are not strictly fireplaces, they
don’t require any clearance between the fire chamber and
surrounding combustible materials, such as wood or fabric.
Conventional wood-burning stoves vary in heat efficiency
because their construction can be very different, too. The
efficiency of a wood-burning stove depends on how much of its
combustion energy turns to heat, which in its turn depends on
how well it burns wood. Even the best wood-burning stoves don’t
burn all wood completely. The smoke is actually composed of
unburned wood particles. Another factor that impacts the
wood-burning stove’s efficiency is how much heat escapes
through the chimney.
To improve the efficiency of your wood-burning stove, consider
a chimney sweep in the first place. This should be done by a
professional fireplace expert. If you noticed that a lot of
smoke is produced during the wood burning, you may need to
alter the size of your stove opening, or reconfigure the
existing fire chamber. If you notice that a lot of hot air
escapes through the chimney, you may consider replacing the
fire basket – the metal rack that supports the burning logs.
New designs of fire baskets can greatly improve air circulation
and heat efficiency.
Wood burning stoves today offer a great variety of looks and
designs to suit any home style, from a retro Victorian house to
a steel loft condo. Painted black, brushed steel or even red,
with stovepipe to match, wood burning stoves with generous
glass doors allow you admire the dancing flames during the cold
winter season.
Kathryn Whittaker writes articles on a number
of different topics. For more information on Wood Burning Stoves
please visit http://www.stove-ideas.com/wood-burning-stoves.html
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