What are the best wood burning stoves available on today’s market? Looking for a wood burning stove can be confusing with all the choices and styles, but finding a woodstove that saves money and burns efficiently doesn’t have to be difficult.
High efficiency wood burning stoves come in two basic types: masonry wood burning stoves, which are made with airtight construction for longer burn and more even heat and fit inside an existing fireplace; and freestanding non-airtight wood burning stoves, which are designed for maximum efficiency without creating toxic byproducts like creosote.
A masonry woodstove is constructed of heavy metal and is set inside a traditional fireplace. Masonry wood burning stoves usually require a reinforced floor below them because of their weight, but on the positive side, they are capable of burning a wide variety of natural materials at such intense temperatures that very few toxic fumes are produced and the burn is incredibly energy efficient. Masonry wood burning stoves are often used in places like Russia and the arctic north where bitter cold winters necessitate a fireplace insert capable of producing intense heat over long periods.
Unfortunately, since masonry wood burning stoves almost always have to be custom made and installed they can easily cost five thousand dollars or more for an average sized home. If cost is no obstacle and you like the look of a masonry fireplace more than the look of a freestanding woodstove, a masonry wood burning stove will provide you with a lifetime of efficient and beautiful wood heat. Non-airtight wood burning stoves (for examples and prices visit the C. Johnson woodstove website by clicking here) are engineered to create a high intensity burn without the need for an enclosed fire chamber. This means that the building codes governing their installation are far less stringent than for ordinary woodstoves, and it also means they produce no creosote and no corrosive toxic gases.
The non-airtight wood burning stoves manufactured by the C. Johnson Company produce so little smoke and are so efficient that the amount of ash byproduct is very small; comparable to a high-efficiency pellet stove.
Non-airtight wood burning stoves can also be used for cooking, and are capable of burning very large chunks of wood without any splitting. Since no corrosive exhaust is produced by a non-airtight wood burning stove, the chimney lasts indefinitely and the venting and clearance requirements are much more liberal than for traditional woodstoves.
Although non-airtight wood burning stoves cost a bit more than the kind of freestanding wood stove you might pick up at a home supply store, they cost far less than a masonry insert. When choosing a woodstove, it’s very important to factor in all the costs and all the labor involved over the course of coming years, as well as the aesthetics involved.
Once these elements are taken into consideration, many people find that spending a bit more on a non-airtight wood burning stove or masonry woodstove saves time and money for years to come. Either will provide a high efficiency, pleasant, and practical wood burning experience.
