Buying guide for energy stoves and fireplaces

Energy efficient stoves

Energy efficient stoves are those which by consuming the least fuel provide more heat output compared to a conventional stove. Those stoves are manufactured of cast iron, double firebrick walling, fire resistant glass and are designed to take full advantage of the energy produced during burning. Optionaly they can be connected with air supply ventilators or a water boiler and they can heat a whole house economically.

Wood stoves

Description: wood stoves are the easiest installation solution for heating our home, our workplace or our summer house. Wood stoves are quite economic to purchase and this is an additional reason that they become an ideal solution for all places.

The combustible material is firewood cut to 30-40 cm or depending to the stove combustion space size.

Wood stoves are split into categories according to their use:

Simple stoves

Are those stoves that will warm up only the space they have been installed into. They consist of a combustion chamber, an ash collection container and a chimney. They can be placed in any room, usually against a wall to make it easy to install the exhaust (chimney)

Stoves with an oven or kitchen stoves

The stoves with oven or kitchen stoves are usually installed in the kitchen area. Besides providing heating they are also used for baking or cooking at the same time.

Hot air tunnel stoves (fan)

Stoves in this category can provide hot air heating via a fan and airducts into additional areas than the primary installation area.

There also are stoves that have built-in pipes to convey additional hot air heating into the same area that the stove is installed.

Stoves with connection to central heating system

Boiler equiped stoves are those which incorporate a boiler and their main use is for providing hot water to a central heating circuit (pipes, pumps, radiators) to heat additional spaces than the installation area.

It is ideal for those who use the stove daily and require heating in more areas than the installation area.

Combined use

There are stoves covering a basic combination of uses as described above. For example there are stoves with an oven plus a built-in boiler for connection to central heating circuit, etc.

Pellet or biomass stoves.

Pellet or biomass stoves, are those stoves that burn derivatives of compressed sawdust, kernels or tree trimmings. Pellet stoves are much more economic compared to wood stoves, they have higher efficiency and far less environmental effect. Energy efficient pellet stoves have software that controls pellet feeder which supplies the combustion chamber automaticaly, turning on and off of the device is automatically programmed etc. Some models come with a remote control, battery in case of power failure, etc. It is worth noting that while wood stoves require a chimney, pellet stoves only have two holes on the back for bringing in air into the combustion chamber and exporting emitions. Pellets stoves may support connection with cental heating circuits for heating up other spaces than the installation space. High performance, functionality, automation and low environmental pollution, are making them the most advanced heating solution.

Selecting the right output power KW

There are many to consider when selecting the stoves output power. Our city, the area (seaside, mountainview), orientation. In other words the external temperature combined to humidity and the exposal to weather conditions are the factors we should take under consideration.

We should also consider the space insulation, structural materials used and overall cubic meters of the space. (There is difference in the heating demands of a high ceiling space and a low ceiling space).

Most commercial stoves have a name power in kW. A simple way to calculate our requirments is to divide the spaces area in square meters by 10.

For example, for a space of 60sq m we will need a 6kW stove

A more precise way is to calculate the spaces area and multiply by 0,050 then multiply by the height of the area and add a 10-20% for losses. For example, a space with an area of 60sq m and 2,2m height would require a 60 X 0,05 X 2,2=6,6 + 10% = 7,26kW stove

On this website we have roughly calculated the space each stove model can cover with the easy way of calculating but instead of dividing by 10 we devide by 8 to cover for losses.

These ways of calculation are only a directive for the right stove selection. The best and more accurate calculation should be done by an installation expert or an engineer.

Please note that a lower than required power stove will be unable to heat your space, will consume more wood than the right one, resulting in it overheating and or its destruction. On the other hand a high powered stove should be fed less wood in order not to overheat the room, resulting in having a weaker flame thus incomplete combustion, more residue (smoke - humidity) and will need require frequent maintenance of both the stove and the chimney.

Stoves / Energy efficient stoves / Pellet Stoves / Maintenance

To properly and safely operate your stove, it is necessary to maintain it regularly. In general the best time is spring, ie at the end of the season.

The combustion chamber should be cleaned of ashes residues etc., clean the glass and the chimney if necessary. These stoves due to their metal structure do not have water resistance and may corrode. Therefore the should be cleaned dry - without any water.

Always follow the manufacturers safety and maintenance precautions while in some cases as for example for pellet stoves maintenance should be carried out by a specialist.