Every year people consider switching to an alternative source of heating to ensure their house stays up to temperature through the colder months. With prices of oil, gas and electric continuing to rise and energy providers also hiking their prices to boot, now is one of the best times to get into the stove market...
So, you're fed up with the regular electric or gas heating system in your house and want to warm your house with just a stove? Or maybe you just want a stove as a bit of eye-candy and a secondary source of heat for when things really chill off?
Whatever your reason for wanting a new woodburner is, there are some things you have to take into account before you purchase the first thing that catches your eye. A lot of people skip this part and end up with a stove that isn't optimal for their house or for their needs; but luckily you have this step by step plan which will guarantee you get the right stove!
Picking the perfect woodburning stove:
1. You'll first want to decide on what the purpose of the stove is; heating one particular room or the entire house? The outcome of this decision will largely affect the rest of the buying process, so make sure you know what you want.
2. Measure up the room or rooms that you want to be heated by the woodburner. Measure the height, length and width of the room to the nearest centimetre as this will give you an accurate idea of what size stove you'll need.
3) Now you have the measurements, use an online calculator to work out the KW output or BTUs that a stove will need to have to heat the room/rooms efficiently. Be aware that not all woodburners are listed with a specific kilowatt or British thermal unit rating, especially antique or traditional stoves which were made before this rating became a requirement.
4) Time to shop. Get yourself online or down to local showrooms and have a look at as many different woodburning stoves as you can to get a feel for what would go well in the room. There are a variety of models ranging from designer to contemporary stoves, as well as double-sided models and multi-fuel options. Remember that the output is critical to heating the space you require correctly; so if you find one that you have your heart set on without a rating, don't be scared to enquire and ask for more information. Most retailers will be more than happy to answer your question (if they know the answer!)
5) In some areas of the UK, there are 'smokeless areas' or 'smoke controlled zones' which limit the type of burning you can do in your house. To avoid complications with burning once you get your stove installed, it's wise to look for a DEFRA exempt appliance as this coupled with authorised fuel allows you to burn inside a smokeless zone without incurring the risk of a fine. If you're unsure on whether or not you're in a smoke controlled area, contact your local protection or environmental health department to seek further guidance.
Although this is not a fully comprehensive buying guide, it should hopefully give you an idea of what to look for when in search of your new woodburner and ensure you don't miss out on any critical information that many others do. To help you size up your room's heating requirement use an online stove calculator; there are also several other articles and guides on the website that should help in your decision making process.
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