Wood stoves are basically freestanding fireplaces that are used to generate indoor heat. Operating on similar principles, wood stoves burn fuel to create heat and carry smoke outside a building using a flue system. They do not, however, require a full chimney and can be placed anywhere the flue can be properly installed for ventilation.
Types of Wood Stoves
There are a number of different types of wood stoves in operation today. There are two primary types of wood burning stoves sold that meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. Regulations on wood stoves call for a limiting on emissions to 7.5 grams of smoke per hour. The two main models of wood stoves meet these limits. They are:
- Catalytic wood stoves, which are known for offering even heat output over a long period of time. These woodburning stove models use a catalytic honeycomb in their design and have a catalyst bypass damper. This must be opened for starting these woodburning stoves.
- Non-catalytic wood stoves, which have a less even heat output, but do serve aesthetic purposes quite well.
Why Newer Woodburning Stoves are Better
Newer wood stoves are considered superior to older models for a number of reasons. Woodburning stove models made after the 1980s are known for greater efficiency and lower emissions. They also tend to operate much easier than older pot-bellied wood stoves.
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