If you’re considering getting a wood burning stove and want all of the information to make a decision, you’re in the right place! We’re here to discuss the pros and cons of wood-burning stoves to help you decide whether this is right for you and your home. There are plenty of things to consider when it comes to a wood-burning stove, balancing up the pros and cons, but for us personally, it’s a great addition to any home and can really help to make a house a home.
Pros Of A Wood Burning Stove
Energy-Efficient Heating Option
First up, wood-burning stoves are an energy-efficient heating option for your home. Burning wood is almost carbon neutral as it’s a regenerative source, so this is one of the most efficient options for your home. When you combine this with other energy-efficient solutions, like conservatory roof insulation, double glazing or loft insulation, it can make a significant difference to your overall energy consumption.
Not only does this help to protect the planet and reduce your energy usage, but it can also help to save you money.
Exceptional Amount Of Heat
Another benefit of a wood burning stove is that it lets off an exceptional amount of heat. When you light your stove and maintain it, the room it’s in and the surrounding rooms, both on the same floor and above, will feel really warm and cosy. So, if you want to make a particular area of your home really nice and warm, then getting a wood-burning stove is a great idea.
Ambience
Something else to consider is the ambience created by a wood-burning stove. Not only can they really compliment your home interior, but there isn’t anything quite like hearing the crackling of a fire when you’re having a cosy day or night. They can help lift your mood and bring a really calming effect to your home.
Reliable
As a heat source, a wood burning stove is also very reliable. There are some things in life we can’t control, including a power cut or boiler issue that results in us losing the heat in our home. So, having a wood-burning stove with a good stock of wood helps to mitigate this potential issue. When you have at least one electric shower in your home as well, you can avoid a lack of warm water or heating, which can be extremely valuable in the winter months.
No Chimney Is Required
While a chimney would be helpful, it usually isn’t essential to have a chimney for you to have a wood burner in your home. As long as the burner has a twin-skin insulated flue system, then it should be fine for you to have one in your home. Before purchasing anything, we’d definitely recommend that you have a qualified heating engineer visit. Whether you have a chimney or not, to make sure that you find the right solution for your home and also for the spot that you want to have it in.
Cons Of A Wood Burning Stove
Heat Distribution Isn’t Completely Even
One con of having a wood burning stove is that the heat distribution isn’t completely even. While the room itself and also those surrounding it to the side and above will benefit from the heat, the distribution throughout the house will be unbalanced. This can leave some rooms still feeling very cold in the winter.
So, you may still need to use a wood burning stove in conjunction with central heating or underfloor heating. Also, it’s worth considering that you can’t put a timer on a wood-burning stove and should always be in the house when it’s in use, so it will feel quite cold when you first get home.
Wood Storage Solution Needed
Another con is that you will need some kind of wood storage solution to both store the wood and keep it dry. For most people, having bags in their garage is sufficient. However, if you’re short on space or don’t have anywhere specific for your wood to be kept, then this is something to consider and look to add to your home.
Maintenance
You will also need to be aware that there is more maintenance involved with a wood-burning stove, ensuring that it works safely, burns cleanly and that you are prepared to clean it out regularly. This isn’t as difficult as it sounds and only has to be done around two to three times a year, depending on how much you use it, however, it is something to consider, especially if you have very light carpets in the space.
Dangerous For Children and Pets
If you have children or pets in your home, then a wood-burning stove can be dangerous. Of course, they get very hot, and so they can cause injuries to your children and pets. You can add a gate to the wall or fireplace to go around the wood burning stove to allow you to easily access it while still keeping your children and pets safe. However, this would ruin the aesthetic element, so if this is important to you, then considering other heating options would be advised. For the most part, animals won’t instinctively get too close to the wood-burning stove, and when your child is older, you can help them understand the danger, so you can still make it work for your family if it’s something you want for your home.
Final Thoughts
Wood burning stoves aren’t for everyone; however, they can be such a wonderful addition to your home, particularly in the winter months. Our best piece of advice would be to get a heating engineer to visit before you make any decisions and make recommendations on what is right for your home, specifically to get this heating solution right. We personally love wood-burning stoves and although there are a few cons, it’s easy to make them workable for your family.
