4 Steps to Buying the Right Wood Stove
This cast iron stove from Napoleon is a nice blend of form and function.
With the wide variety in the modern wood stove market, actually buying stoves for your home can be intimidating. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be. Here are some steps to make the purchase as straightforward as possible.
1. Begin by choosing wood burning stoves that fit your home.
This primarily involves deciding what you want to accomplish with your stove, then identifying what size category is appropriate. (See How to Choose Wood Stoves.) The good news is that, on the technology level, any EPA-certified stove you look at will deliver clean, efficient heat-so you don’t need to sweat numbers like Btu output and square footage ratings (which aren’t standardized). Once you’ve identified the right size, buying a wood burning stove is nearly painless.
2. Identify preferred materials and designs.
For example, welded steel is durable and cheaper than cast iron–but if you’re looking for style, the graceful, molded lines of modern iron wood stoves will catch your eye. Ask yourself, “Am I shopping for function only, or function and class?” In terms of durability and performance, there’s really no difference between welded steel and iron wood stoves. Materials like soapstone and pewter provide additional options, but no heating drop-off. It’s your call.
3. Note any “extras” you want in your wood stove.
For example, will you only consider wood stoves with a cooking surface? Do you want a stove with ash pans or removable fire screens? Looking for special colors or textures? These options pertain to convenience and aesthetics–not crucial heating specs-so take your time and enjoy the search.
4. Finally, buy your wood stove from a reputable source.
In years past, brick and mortar stores were the only place to buy wood burning stoves–and there are still advantages to speaking to a dealer and examining floor models. However, buying online is also an option today, and this is especially true if you know what you’re looking for. Shopping around online may lead to additional savings, and online stores often have live reps to answer your questions, and reasonable return policies. Either way, if you’ve read the articles on this site, then you’re well on your way to an informed purchase.
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August 16th, 2011 @ 12:19 pm
[...] you exploring the contemporary stove market? You may also want to read: 4 Steps to Buying the Right Wood Stove. Category: Stove EfficiencyTags: environment > fuel efficiency > modern wood stoves > wood burning [...]