If you are thinking about buying a wood-burning stove, then you are certainly at the right place. A wood-burning stove can be a great addition to your home, especially during the winter season.
There is a sense of satisfaction that comes alive when witnessing the logs burn as they create a cozy winter night. However, you should first ascertain which type of antique wood-burning stove suits your home.
You should also know what type of options you have based on the regulations of your surroundings. That said, this guide is here to help you understand more about the wood-burning stove so that you make a well-informed decision before purchasing it.
Wood Burning Stove History
Before more efficient and modern ways of heating homes took over, you could find almost all the American houses with antique wood-burning stoves. So, what’s the history behind this cozy warm machine? Let us find out.
It is believed that the first wood-burning stove was invented in the 16th century in Europe. However, the appliance did not become popular until the Industrial Revolution, which happened 200 years later after its invention.
However, when a shortage of wood was witnessed in the 1740s, Benjamin Franklin was inspired by Philadelphia to improve the existing open hearth. This birthed the Franklin stove, which was a three-sided iron box.
The Franklin stove only used about a quarter of the fuel needed to light up the fireplace. However, that stove could significantly raise the temperature of the room within a short period.
However, the Franklin stove also didn’t get the much needed or required popularity to stick out on the market. Maybe it’s because the stove’s design wasn’t as clad as the product in question.
However, the Franklin stove did inspire more subsequent designs of the wood-burning stove that came out after it. The designs that came afterward had superiority in them and could work efficiently to keep homes warm.
But despite all that, more people were still reluctant to avoid using the wood gobbling open hearth. Nevertheless, the resilience towards this invention worn off, and by the 20th century, 40 million American homes were heated using wood-burning stoves.
And although they might be as popular as they were back then, more wood burning stove designs are coming up on the market. Therefore, you still have a chance to fill your home with a comfortable experience using a vintage appliance.
Types of Wood Burning Stoves
Before purchasing one for your home or as a gift for someone, you first need to know the different ranges of wood-burning stoves that exist. As you may know, the technology behind wood-burning stoves has evolved over the years.
However, not all the progress has been clean and efficient. For that and more reasons, let’s look at some of the different types of wood-burning stoves on the market.
1. Antique Wood Burning Stoves
Antique wood burning stoves add sufficient warmth in any home and can be very handy during the cold seasons. They exist with different styles and patent numbers, and there are various ways to identify an antique wood-burning stove.
For starters, antique wood-burning stoves are divided into different categories. These include:
- Pot-bellied stoves
- Parlor stoves
- Country stoves
- And the Ornately and fancy Victorian stove types
As you may know, most antique wood-burning stoves are seen as collectors’ items. Therefore, you may find them widely displayed in museums for viewing or in other private collection galleries.
It’s understood that antique wood-burning stoves were first manufactured in Germany in 1728. At that time, this heat appliance was initially known as a “Jamb stove” or a “Five plate”.
As time went by, antique wood-burning stoves became more popular and are now the classically sought after stoves. Most American families and the military troops at war used antique wood-burning stoves for staying warm.
As their popularity grew, antique wood-burning stoves moved around the country for a long time. Currently, there are different types of this wood burning stove, as mentioned above. They are great for cabin use or for keeping your modern home with a vintage look.
2. Modern Wood Burning Stoves
As explained earlier, 40 million American homes were fitted with an antique wood-burning stove. However, as time went by, this heat appliance became less available due to multiple reasons.
Currently, people can easily add warmth to their homes without even picking up a piece of wood. Technology has brought many advancements, and this has quickly replaced older traditions.
Nevertheless, if you are a modern person with a liking for vintage stuff, you can’t go wrong with modern wood-burning stoves. These heat appliances are as effective as their traditional brothers are but with a touch of modernity. Additionally, they come in different styles and sizes. You can choose one based on your preferences or the size of your home as well.
Once you have the stove home, installation isn’t too hard as well. In fact, most wood-burning stove sellers do provide installation services after buying their product. If not, you may need to hire a professional contractor for the best installation results.
3. Outdoor Wood Burning Stoves
As the name suggests, this type of wood-burning stove is perfect for the outdoor setting. An outdoor wood-burning stove is very useful if you don’t want to stay too cooped up inside during the cold seasons.
That’s because it allows you to get out and breathe that cold and fresh air, while providing you with optimal warmth. If you only live with your partner, you can use an outdoor wood burning stove for a romantic setting.
Also, outdoor wood stoves come in many styles and offer you the chance to create a warm area of your liking.
4. Tent Wood Burning Stoves
Camping is always a great experience for most people when the sun is high up with the clouds. However, only a few people know how to keep the fire burning during the night. You see, camping is all about creating a warm and cozy experience out with nature.
And the best way to do that at night is by using a tent wood burning stove. It’s obvious that no one wants to freeze, have chattering teeth, or their lips chapped with the cold at night.
Fortunately, tent wood-burning stoves offer the best solution to such problems. Moreover, tent wood stoves are also essential in different ways such as cooking, drying your clothes, and, of course, keeping you warm. If you frequently prefer camping during the winter season, I personally think a tent wood-burning stove would be a great tool to have by your side.
There are many tent wood stoves currently on the market, specifically for camping purposes. Choosing the best one for your trip is subjective to your preferences, luggage ability, and budget. However, carrying one on your next camping experience will do you more good than you might think.
5. Portable Wood Burning Stoves
Last on our list of types of wood-burning stoves is the portable wood burning stove. I don’t know about you, but I like a good camping fire. And that’s just what a portable wood-burning stove can deliver if you are out camping with it.
Besides that, a portable wood stove can be used almost anywhere, ranging from your backyard, inside your camping tent, and long road trips too. It’s a compact heating appliance that delivers optimal warmth while minimizing any space inconveniences.
How to Use a Wood Burning Stove Properly
Using a wood-burning stove isn’t a hassle as long as you apply the needed safety basics before using the stove. There are different ways one can employ to use a wood-burning stove appropriately.
However, observing the safety basics is mandatory regardless of how you intend to use this heating appliance. That said, below are some helpful tips on how to use a wood-burning stove.
How to Light a Wood Burning Stove
Starting a fire is the first step to using a wood stove or any other type of stove for that matter. So, ensure that you read the user manual first to get the manufacturer’s instructions concerning your stove. That’s because different brands may have different instructions on how to start a wood-burning stove properly.
After adequately going through the manual, you’ll then follow by choosing the right fuel for the job. This is where wood comes in and you have to choose the best type if you want a properly lit fire.
According to me, seasoned wood is the best type of wood to use for starting a fire. Unlike fresh wood that still contains water, seasoned wood of about six months old is dry enough to catch fire very quickly.
Afterward, you can place the wood, either soft or hardwood, inside the woodstove. Ensure that all the controls are open so that the oxygen necessary for burning can enter your stove. Once you have the wood inside the firebox and oxygen circulation, you can now add some kindling into the firebox, such as newspapers.
When they are all in place, light up the fire and distribute the kindling materials evenly inside the firebox. Additionally, ensure that you leave the stove’s door open for a few minutes for the fresh air to enhance the fire.
What remains now is to keep the fire burning by observing it periodically and adding wood, if necessary.
How to Use a Wood Burning Cook Stove
When used appropriately, a wood cooking stove can deliver the best cooking experiences. And if it’s your first time using this type of wood stove, then you need to read the owner’s manual to get familiar with it.
This will help you set up the stove properly and get it ready for use. Once that’s out of the way, the next step is starting the fire. You can use the detailed procedure above to start the fire in your wood cookstove.
With a wood cookstove, you’ll have to ensure that the damper, smoke bypass, and chimney are fully open. Additionally, the firebox also needs some air to flow inside, and you can open it using the air control (s).
After lighting the fire, you can use either the bottom part of the cookstove for baking or the top part just as if you would use a gas cooker. This stove features relevant control buttons or switches that you can easily use to adjust the cooking heat.
Similarly, you can also use the firebox on this appliance to roast some potatoes while wrapped in aluminum foil. Therefore, you can use a wood-burning stove as a three-way cooker.
How to Use a Wood Burning Stove for Heat
While wood-burning stoves might enhance your décor with a luxurious and excellent look, they are very useful appliances. This appliance cannot only heat up the surrounding area where it sits, but also your entire home.
All it takes is the right information and approach. So, how can you use a wood-burning stove for heat? For starters, you need to build a fire with long-lasting warmth for extended heat around your home.
I learned that adding dry wood to a bed of ash really helps it to burn consistently and provide its best heating potential. However, you have to use only a moderate amount of the ash because too much of it can generate problems.
The second thing that you can do to ensure that your wood stove provides optimal heat is by positioning it strategically. A well-positioned wood stove can distribute the right amount of heat for warmth around your home. And one of the best places to place one is downstairs because heat rises from below and can spread evenly around your home.
Lastly, you have to choose the right stove for you based on your preferences, surroundings, and budget as well.
How to Use Wood Burning Stove in a Tent
Hot tenting is the term used to describe the process of using a wood-burning stove in your tent. The practice is quite fulfilling and the right stove for your tent can provide the needed warmth during your camping experience.
However, there are safety basics that you need to observe before you put any wood stove in your tent. For instance, you must have either a polycotton or a canvas, and, of course, a chimney opening for the exhaust pull.
How to Use a Wood Stove Damper
The damper is one of the most essential inclusions in your wood stove. It helps you both start and regulate the fire burning within the firebox of your wood stove. So, how do you use a wood stove damper?
First, you need to open the damper fully, if you are starting a fire. This allows optimal airflow in the stove’s firebox and enhances the kindling materials to burn sufficiently for the fire to start. After the fire starts and the coals begin to form, you can leave the damper slightly opened for the airflow to continue.
Conclusion
There you have it, a comprehensive guide on a wood-burning stove. As you’ve seen, there are many different types of wood-burning stoves to consider buying. From an antique wood-burning stove to the modern types of this heat appliance.
Regardless of your taste, there is something for everyone when it comes to purchasing a wood-burning stove. Additionally, you have different options for different occasions.
And the best part is that all of the different types of wood stoves have one thing in common – to provide you with warmth and coziness. So, if you are looking for a wood-burning stove, then you are spoilt for choice. Moreover, this guide is also here to help you make informed decisions once you bring your new stove home for use.
