Buyer's Guide: The Best Wood Stoves

Anyone who's paid winter home heating costs knows the feeling of sticker shock. Heating the home comes with a steep price tag—as much as 45% of the average household budget. That's why many happy homeowners have turned to one of the oldest, most reliable, and least expensive forms of heat: wood. Today's wood stoves have come a long way from the smelly, dirty, and often polluting pot-bellied monsters of the past. This new generation of wood stoves are more powerful, more efficient, and cleaner than old wood burners. When choosing a wood stove, it is important to select a model that fits the space. Over- or under-sized stoves are not as efficient, waste fuel, and contribute to air pollution. Heating power is measured in British Thermal Units (BTU), and will give you a good idea of how much juice you'll need to heat your home. For instance, 60,000 BTU can heat a 2,000-square-foot home, while a stove rated at 42,000 BTU can heat a 1,300-square-foot space. Wood stoves are available in styles ranging from traditional to contemporary, and are constructed of cast iron, plate steel, sheet metal, soapstone, tile, or a combination of these materials. Many newer models boast large, see-through, self-cleaning glass doors that allow you to enjoy the firelight, without spending too much time keeping the window clear. Other modern conveniences that come standard on many of today's models include removable ash pans, insulated door handles, thermostats, and air circulators or blowers. Another thing to consider when purchasing a wood stove is ventilation. If you have an existing chimney in your home, you may need to re-line the interior with stainless steel pipe to make the chimney compatible with a new high-efficiency stove. If you need to add a chimney, you may want to use a prefabricated metal chimney; make sure to match the flue size to the stove outlet. No matter what installation options you choose, you'll want to also install a fire extinguisher, smoke detector, and carbon monoxide detector in your home to stay fire-safety smart. Read on to see which top-performing wood stove reviewers and shoppers like best, and get your search off to the right start.

from Bob Vila : Trusted Home Renovation & Repair Expert http://ift.tt/1OeQWme