5 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN SWITCHING TO WOOD HEAT

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Wood heat is enchanting. It’s easy to fall in love with the sizzling crackle and aromatic scent of burning wood, especially when it heats your home so efficiently and affordably. Adding a wood stove to your home can be a great way to create a cozy, warm environment while also reducing costs and becoming energy independent. ENplus-A1 Grade Wood Pellets for sale

Plus, with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, EPA certified wood stoves produce little smoke, minimal ash, and require less firewood than non-certified models. Here at Higgins, we carry dozens of wood stoves that meet these criteria, so choosing to switch to wood heat is easier than ever!

If you’re considering the switch to wood heat, there can be a lot of information to process. To help you get started, we’ve gathered 5 things to consider when choosing a wood stove and switching to wood heat. Softwood Pellets Supplier.

1. Square Footage

Overview: The size of your space determines how much heat you will need.

One of the first things you’ll consider when switching to or adding any alternative heat source is the square footage of your desired heating area. A small stove may work fine to heat a single room or small house, but you’ll need a larger stove to heat a large house or several floors. However, other factors may influence your heating needs as well, such as the age, layout, and insulation of your home, and even your local climate.

If you’re willing to do a bit more math to determine the best size stove to purchase, it is helpful to look at the BTUs that the stove outputs. What is a BTU? A British Thermal Unit measures the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water by 1° Fahrenheit. For your home, a BTU measures how much heat it will take to warm your house to a set temperature. ENplus Grade A1 Pellets Bulk Sale

You can determine how many BTUs your space will need with the BTU Calculator from We Love Fire to find a stove that can meet your needs.

2. Chimney

Overview: A proper chimney is essential for keeping your home safe.

A chimney is an essential element that aids in the efficiency and safety of operating a wood stove. The chimney acts as a vehicle for the pressurized warm air created by the stove to transfer from inside the home to outside the home. It carries with it the byproducts of the wood fire, preventing smoke and debris from floating around inside your house and causing a house fire. As such, it must be vented from the wood stove to outside and above the home with proper clearance and lining. ENplus Grade A1 Pellets Bulk Sale

You should get your chimney and your wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist to ensure proper operation and safety standards. Our service team has nationally certified chimney sweeps and chimney liners who can help you determine and service all your chimney needs.

3. Stove Material

Overview: The material the stove is built from will determine the type of heat you get.

The material the stove is built from can influence its usage and heat. It’s important to find a stove material that will heat your home in a way that fits your lifestyle. There are 3 major materials wood stoves are built in: soapstone, cast iron, and steel. A fun technique to help distinguish these materials is comparing them to common kitchen appliances.

SOAPSTONE: SIMILAR TO A SLOW COOKER

A slow cooker can be set to cook on a low, slow temperature for hours without ever getting scorching hot. A soapstone stove acts this way as well. Once it is lit, it is a low, slow burn, so it will keep your home warm with little effort and less firewood. One thing to consider is that turning the stove on won’t heat your home up right away. Soapstone stoves takes some prior preparation, but the result can be a beautiful, mellow heat that keeps your home warm for hours on end.