The Cleaning InstitutePeople count on their wood stoves to be a reliable source of heat. But they also need to be easy to use; no one wants to spend all day or all night fussing with their wood stove and refilling it frequently.
Based on our years of experience, we asked our testers to review wood stoves according to the following categories.
Effectiveness: The BTUs a wood stove can put out are often a reliable indicator of how much heat a homeowner can expect.
Installation: A wood stove needs to be properly installed to work effectively and safely. Our testers evaluated whether these wood stoves could be installed by homeowners or professionals.
Efficiency: A wood stove can require a lot of wood, but does it use that wood efficiently? We asked our testers to assess how long a fire would last in each wood stove.
This 95,000 BTU wood stove can accommodate logs almost 2’ in length and runs at 78% efficiency. The firebox is nearly 4 cubic feet. There’s an ash box for easy cleanup.
Most notable upside: We were surprised to find that the Vogelzang still produced a large amount of heat regardless of its petite size, even in rooms with cathedral ceilings. The glass door was a nice feature we liked to watch the flames as the fire burns. Lighting the wood stove was a bit of a struggle at first but once we did it a few times we got the hang of it. Installing the wood stove can be completed on your own if you have another person helping.
Biggest downsides: Although the ash tray makes this easy to clean, the structure of the stove does allow some ash to fall out when adding new logs.
This 68,000 BTU wood stove has adjustable legs and heats up to 1,200 square feet. It features a ceramic glass window with a cast iron door.
Most notable upside: We were surprised to find that the Vogelzang still produced a large amount of heat regardless of its petite size, even in rooms with cathedral ceilings. The glass door was a nice feature we liked to watch the flames as the fire burns. Lighting the wood stove was a bit of a struggle at first but once we did it a few times we got the hang of it. Installing the wood stove can be completed on your own if you have another person helping.
Biggest downsides: Although the ash tray makes this easy to clean, the structure of the stove does allow some ash to fall out when adding new logs.
This EPA-certified compact stove generates up to 65,000 BTU. It features an ash drawer, variable speed blower, and a ceramic glass window. An instructional DVD helps with assembly and operation.
Most notable upside: The heat generated from the Pleasant Hearth is perfect for smaller spaces in your home. We liked how simple the set-up can be with the help of the included instructional DVD. Starting the fire is a breeze in the wood stove while the fire continues for hours.
Biggest downsides: The firebox is a bit shallow, which limits the size of the logs that can be used. The connections of the stove can vary in size so knowing which size adaptor you have is important.
Wood stoves operate through combustion, and you have to learn how to properly operate your wood stove to avoid problems. One of the most common problems with operating wood stoves is incomplete combustion.
Combustion occurs as the result of a complex chemical reaction between oxygen, fire, and a fuel source. With wood stoves, of course, the fuel is wood. When the wood combusts, it results in heat, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. For proper combustion, your setup must meet several conditions:
When improper combustion occurs, there will be either insufficient heat, quick dying of heat, or even a buildup of dangerous by-products.
There are three basic stages to wood combustion. The first stage is the removal of water in the wood via evaporation. During this stage, the heat removes the water, but it does not warm the room. In the second stage, which occurs at around 500°F, the wood begins to break down and volatile gasses are formed through various chemical processes. As the temperature reaches 1,100°F, these gases will burn as they mix with oxygen. Once your wood stove reaches this temperature, you must maintain it by providing adequate oxygen and fuel supply. The last stage occurs after all the wood is consumed, and the remaining charcoal continues to burn until only ash remains.
In order to correctly start a fire in your wood stove, you need to have wood that’s cut and seasoned properly. Well-seasoned wood has a low moisture content, which leads to easy combustion and prevents creosote buildup.
To start your fire, you should read the manufacturer’s instructions completely and follow all the steps. You can also use this short guide:
You might find that starting the perfect fire will be a trial-and-error process, especially as you may experience different conditions each time you want to start a fire. You might be using different wood, or the outside temperature or conditions might affect your fire starting. Over time, you will learn how to quickly and efficiently start a fire in your wood stove.
Creosote is the residue left behind from wood burning. Over time, it collects and cools in your chimney flue, where it can cause problems with air flow, combustion, and cleaning. Creosote is produced when there is incomplete combustion or when you use wet/unseasoned wood. If there is too much creosote in your flue, it might cause a chimney fire.
The best way to prevent creosote production and buildup is by using dry, seasoned wood, and by maintaining the fire properly. You also need to make sure that the flue temperature exceeds 250°F to prevent creosote buildup.
There are several reasons for chimney fires, including too much creosote buildup as well as improper use of your wood stove. Too much creosote can catch fire in your chimney flue, especially if you are running a very hot flame. If a fire occurs, you should immediately throw baking soda onto the fire, or use a multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher. NEVER THROW WATER INTO YOUR WOOD STOVE.
You should also call your local fire control department to ensure that the fire is completely contained. Any fire in your chimney will damage the metal and masonry, and you will need to get your wood stove professionally inspected to ensure that it can still work and to see if you need to replace any parts. Make sure that you properly inspect, repair, and replace any damaged parts before you use your wood stove again.
