Pros and Cons of Wood-Burning Stoves
You are looking for a new way to heat your home, and you would like to be more economical, environmentally-friendly, and energy-efficient in your choice.You may be surprised to learn exactly how environmentally-friendly wood-burning stoves have become. We at Clean Sweep of Anne Arundel County would like to give you the pros and cons of wood-burning stoves so you can make a more informed decision about if a wood stove is right for you.
Don’t wonder…ask! We are here to help you make the best decision for your family
WOOD-BURNING STOVES
PROS
- Newer EPA-certified wood-burning stoves burn much more cleanly than fireplaces and older non EPA-certified wood stoves.
- If wood is harvested and managed properly, it can be an entirely renewable heat resource.
- If you use wood that would have decomposed otherwise, you will have the added benefit of heat while the wood releases all the carbon dioxide it has kept during its growth.
- Cord wood is easier to find than pellets.
- Wood-burning stoves do not use electricity, so you will not have to worry about losing heat if the power is off.
CONS
- The most efficient wood stoves top out around the low end of pellet stove efficiency, so they are not as energy-efficient as pellet stoves. Also, wood-burning stoves provide 75 to 80% fewer BTUs per cubic foot of fuel.
- Well-seasoned cord wood has about two or three times more moisture than pellets.
- Wood-burning stoves use a lot of wood. A cord of wood is about 15 trees with a 10-inch diameter, and a wood-burning stove owner typically uses about three cords of wood per year.
If you have any more questions about the differences pros and cons of wood-burning stoves, contact Clean Sweep of Anne Arundel County today to speak to our experienced staff. We are happy to tell you more about this energy-efficient heating methods.