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Will a Wood Burner Heat an Entire House7th November 2022
Many homeowners purchase stoves for their elegance, beauty, and old-fashioned appeal, not realising that they will also be gaining an efficient and powerful heating source. Modern wood-burning stoves, if used correctly, have the ability to heat an entire house. In this article, we'll explain the three most effective ways to use a wood-burning stove and help you save on those ever-rising energy bills.
Choose the right stove for your home
First and foremost, you need to have the right-sized wood-burning stove for your home. It is essential to consult with a professional to ensure that you purchase a stove with a high-efficiency rating that will be able to heat the square footage of your home.
While your grandparents’ wood-burning stove was likely only about 40% efficient, today's models have come a long way. Some stoves are now upwards of 80% efficient, meaning that more of the heat generated by the fire is used to warm your home rather than escape up the chimney.
In January 2019, the government introduced a new Clean Air Strategy, which, among other things, will see a ban on selling the least efficient wood-burning stoves. All new stoves manufactured from this date must have an efficiency rating of at least 70% and meet strict emissions limits.
Popular eco models, including our 5kW Woodpecker WP5 Multi Fuel and 5KW Portway Arundel Multi Fuel, boast an efficiency rating of 82.5% with a 5kW heat output. Constructed from thick steel, all our stoves are designed for durability and maximum heat retention. By using an Ecodesign Ready stove, you can be sure you are doing your bit for the environment by reducing your carbon footprint whilst enjoying all the benefits of a real wood fire.
Ensure your fire is set up correctly
A wood stove is only as good as the fire that burns inside of it. If you do not have a hot enough or big enough fire, your wood stove will not be able to heat your home effectively, so it's essential to know how to build a good fire. Let's take a look at the steps you need to take:
To start, you need to use dry, well-seasoned wood with a moisture content of 20% or below. This type of wood will burn hot and produce less smoke. If you use wet or green wood, your fire will be much cooler, and you'll likely end up with more creosote buildup in your chimney.
Once you've selected your wood, it's time to get started. Begin by opening the damper all the way; this will help to ensure that your fire gets plenty of oxygen, resulting in a hot, efficient blaze. Don't worry if you have a slight build of ash from the previous use; this will help to insulate your fire and make it burn hotter. Although bear in mind too much ash can impede the airflow, so be sure to remove some if needed.
Place several split logs in the centre of your stove and build a small tepee out of some smaller pieces of kindling. Then, light the kindling using a long match or lighter. Once the flames start to catch, close the door (but not all the way) and give it some time to build up.
After about 15 minutes, add another log or two to the fire and close the door entirely. Keep your stove's air vents closed halfway to prevent your fire from burning out prematurely. The primary vent can help you regulate the size of the fire by adding oxygen and making it bigger. This comes in handy when you're trying to add a new log and need it to ignite quickly.
Depending on the size of your stove, you may need to repeat this process every 30 minutes to an hour. When you're ready to call it a night, close the vents so your fire will smoulder and go out on its own. By following these simple steps, you can be sure that you're getting the most out of your wood-burning stove and effectively heating your entire home.
Location is key
Positioning your wood-burning stove is just as important when trying to heat your home effectively. If your home has more than one level, placing a wood stove on the bottom floor will also help heat the upper levels. The rising heat will travel up through any open spaces and warm the rooms above. You can even use a fan to help circulate the heat from your wood stove throughout your home.
Floor vents can also help hot air rise to the floors above, so keep them clear of any furniture or other obstacles that could block airflow.
Here at UK Stoves, we have a wide range of stoves that are perfect for keeping your home toasty warm all winter. With a variety of sizes, styles, and heat outputs to choose from, we're confident you will find the perfect stove.
