What Are The Biggest Myths Told About Wood-Burning Stoves?

It is very difficult to conceive of a winter without a stove fuelled by sustainable firewood, and the innate feeling of comfort that it gives you, connecting you to family, friends and loved ones.

It is almost impossible to unpack why a wood-burning stove matters as much as it does, but winter is the time when anyone who has a way to burn firewood understands innately why it matters so much on a physical and psychological level, and also when a lot of myths end up being regurgitated about firewood.

It is important to correct the record, so with that in mind, here is the truth behind some common firewood myths.

Wood Burning Stoves Have Little Impact On Air Quality

Do wood stoves cause a lot of smoke to enter your home? Not really, and certainly no more than a lot of common household tasks.

The issue is that many studies that compare air quality assume old-style open fireplaces, which naturally will allow a lot of smoke to enter the home.

In practice, air frying sausages, lighting scented candles and cooking are likely to generate higher levels of particulate matter than a modern stove.

Wood Stoves Are Much Easier To Maintain Than You Expect

Alongside supplies of ethical firewood being easy to find, wood stoves are much easier to maintain than you think. If you know how to light them, why seasoning wood is so important, and how to stack a stove upside down, you can use a stove without any issues at all.

Closed Stoves Are More Efficient Than Open Fireplaces

Whilst there is an intuitive assumption that an open fire will deliver more heat than a closed wood-burning stove, the reality is that so much of that heat is wasted. In many cases, an open bonfire has an efficiency level of less than a third.

By contrast, modern stoves have efficiency ratings close to 85 per cent, which is up there with a lot of boilers.

• by Admin