Consumer Resources

Which Stove is Right for Me? 

When choosing a wood burning appliance, there are many questions you need to ask yourself. These questions here are intended to start you down that path, but will not replace research and discussions with a hearth-installing professional. All the stoves profiled here meet the stricter Washington State emission standards and can be installed in any state.  We profile specific models based on our own research and do not accept or receive any money from stove manufacturers to be mentioned or profiled here.  Nor do we provide any links that will take you to particular retailers.  Approximate prices are as of July 2009. For additional information, Consumer Reports has also put together a short buyers guide for pellet and wood-buring stoves.

1. If lowering my carbon footprint is my highest priority?
2. If emitting the least amount of smoke and particulates is my highest priority?
3. If saving money is my highest priority?
4. If I don’t care about price?
5. If I have very little available space?
6. If I don’t have a chimney? 
7. If I don’t want the noise of a fan?
8. If I live in an apartment?
9. If I live in a densely populated area – or have a neighbor with asthma or respiratory issues?
10. If I cut my own wood or get it for free?
11. If I have nowhere to store wood or pellets? 
12. If my stove is going to be important for emergency back up heat? 
13. If I also want to heat my water with the stove? 
14. If I love my fireplace and want the closest experience to a fireplace? 
15. If I am interested in an insert stove?
16. If I live in a manufactured or mobile home?
17. If I have very young kids in the house?
18. If I want to heat my entire house?
19. If I also want to cook and bake with my stove?
20. If I want to burn corn kernels?
21. If I don’t have much time or energy to devote to this?
22. If I want the convenience of a conventional fossil fuel furnace?

 
Q. If lowering my carbon footprint is my highest priority?

A. Pellets have a slightly higher carbon footprint than wood because they have to be manufactured, but both have to be transported, so the proximity of the fuel source to your home is a factor. Pellet and corn stoves also need electricity to run their blower fans – about 100 kwh per month and that electricity is mainly generated from fossil fuels – coal and gas. Pellet and corn stoves, however, are easier to keep burning 24 hours a day, so you are less likely to use your conventional furnace to heat up the house when you get home from work or wake up in the morning. Unless you have a larger wood stove and can keep it cranked up every day through the winter, you are likely to reduce your fossil fuel use more with a pellet or corn stove. Of course, installing a pellet or wood furnace to entirely replace your existing system is likely to reduce your carbon footprint the most, particularly in a larger house and in colder climates.

Q. If emitting the least amount of smoke and particulates is my highest priority?

A. You can get both wood and pellet stoves that emit under 1 gram per hour. Any stove that emits under 2 grams per hour is very clean, but keep in mind that pellet stoves are often twice as clean as wood stoves so you have more design choices within the pellet stove world. Every stove is required to list their emissions in grams of smoke per hour. The EPA maintains a list of all stoves they have certified and Oregon maintains a list of the premium efficiency stoves at the Oregon Department of Energy. There are separate lists kept for pellet and wood stoves, and they are updated regularly so check to see that you have the most recent list for the widest range of stoves to choose from.

The Thelin Little Gnome pellet stove has the lowest emissions of any stove we could find. This compact parlor-style stove produces only 0.3 grams of smoke per hour, while heating up to 750ft2. They generally sell for around $2,700.

Q. If saving money is my highest priority?

A. When buying the stove itself, wood stoves are generally cheaper thanks to their simpler and thus more affordable stove designs. Cord wood is often a more affordable fuel as well, depending on your region.Arborists in more southern states are often willing to give homeowners green wood for free or very low fees- you will need to split and season the wood before it is usable. However, if like most people, you keep the pellet or corn stove running 24 hours a day, you are much more likely not to need your conventional heat system – oil, gas, electric or propane. If that fuel is very expensive, you may save more by running a pellet or corn stove because it’s easier to keep running all the time. As a final consideration, pellet stoves can increase your electricity bills by $5 – $15 per month by drawing power to run the electric fan used to distribute warm air into the house.

The Vermont Castings Aspen 1920 wood stove sells for about $800 through hearth dealers and gets great reviews for performance. It is large enough for zone heating a great room or family room, but will not hold a fire overnight or while you are at work, so it has less capacity to offset your conventional fossil-fuel based system. Its emissions rate at 4.3 g/hr.

The England Stove Works Summers Heat50-SNC Golden Eagle wood stove is sold through chain hardware stores for around $800 and only emits 2.6 grams per hour. Unfortunately, a recent Consumer Reports review of pellet stoves found Summers Heat models difficult to clean.

 
Q. If I don’t care about price?

A. The majority of wood and pellet stoves cost between $2,000 and $3,500, but beyond that range there is an amazing array of innovative and spectacular stoves. Max Blank makes beautiful, clean-lined stoves that can start at $6,300 from US retailers. Masonry stoves also start around $6,000 and can go up to $30,000. If you have the space and can afford it, masonry stoves are incredibly efficient and low-emission whole house heaters.

The Max Blank Niagara stove features a remote controlled waterfall running down from the top of the stove. Scented oils can be added to the water reservoir as well. Meeting Washington State standards, this stove emits 4.5 grams of smoke per hour. It sells for around $15,000 from US retailers.

The Zefiro, made by Tulikevi Oyj is a uniquely shaped soapstone masonry stove. These stoves are manufactured in Finland, but many of their models have been tested to achieve EPA certification. These massive stoves sell for around $26,000

Q. If I have very little available space?

A. You have several options when it comes to space-saving designs. Many European-style stoves are designed to be taller and narrower than the models usually produced in the US, which allows them to fit more easily into a smaller home. You can also look for models which have been approved for use in mobile homes if you like a more traditional style. These stoves are specifically designed to have very short clearance requirements of only 1-6”, as opposed to the 15" average. Pellet stoves usually have much less restrictive clearance requirements. If installing a small stove in an existing fireplace, you need very little clearance thanks to the fire-safe lining. If you line walls around the stove with non-combustible material, you can reduce clearances by 2/3. With fireproofing, most certified wood stoves need 4-6 inches of clearance. For more info: http://www.woodheat.org/safety/safeinstallation.htm

The Bosca Spirit 500 pellet stove is only 25” deep and 23” wide, is approved for mobile homes, and needs only 1 inch in the back and 3 on the sides. In the US, these stoves sell for around $2,229.

Q. If I don’t have a chimney?

A. Wood stoves must be vented through an exterior wall or roof, but pellet stoves can be cheaper to install if you don’t have a chimney because they produce cooler flue gases. With cooler exhaust pipes, they can generally be vented through the wall like a dryer. Always have direct venting installed by a certified installer to reduce the risk of fire!

Q. If I don’t want the noise of a fan?

A. Some inserts and all pellet stoves have electric fans to distribute hot air. Even though it can be considered “white noise”, many people complain about fan noise from pellet stoves and manufacturers are working on reducing that problem. If you find that showroom models are too loud even on medium or low settings, you may want to consider a wood stove instead.

The Harman XXV consistently gets very good feedback in stove reviews for its quiet blower and incorporation of a thermostat- a recent Consumer Reports review of pellet stoves gave Harman stoves their highest overall score. The XXV can be vented directly through a wall. These models generally cost around $3,600.

Q. If I live in an apartment?

A. The first thing to do is to check with your building manager, then consult with local wood stove stores or certified installers to see if it’s allowed (it often is). Pellet fuel is generally easier to store if you do not have space for a wood pile, like in an apartment. Pellet stoves are also easier to vent and take up less space.

The Ecoteck Francesca is a fairly small pellet stove, with a narrow profile and a smallish 33lb hopper. This modern-styled stove would fit easily into an apartment and can be directly vented. The price tag on these models is around $4,255.

Q. If I live in a densely populated area – or have a neighbor with asthma or respiratory issues?

A. Look for stoves with the lowest grams of smoke per hour emissions ratings - these stoves are best for dense residential areas and pose minimum health issues for a neighbor with asthma. Some people say that no one should burn wood in densely populated areas, but there are still plenty of fireplaces in some of those areas- and they are the worst polluters of all (except for uncertified outdoor wood boilers). If you have a neighbor or family member with respiratory problems, definitely consider a pellet stove. It may help to vent the stove out the opposite side of your home than their property line. Many wood and pellet stoves are available which have been certified by the EPA or other certified labs to produce 2.5g/hr of smoke or less.

The Whitfield Profile 20-FS pellet stove is a Washington State approved, producing only 0.4 grams of smoke per hour but 32,000 BTU. Expect to pay around $3,000 for this model.

The Vermont Castings Encore NC-1450 has the lowest emissions of any wood stove. It emits only 0.7 grams of smoke per hour, despite being a non-catalytic stove. It could produce nearly five times as much smoke and still qualify for premium efficiency. You can usually buy these stoves for around $2,000.

Q. If I cut my own wood or get it for free?

A. In warmer regions, tree cutting services may be willing to drop wood off in your driveway for free- many still have to pay to dispose of their waste wood in landfills. If you are cutting and/or splitting your own wood, you may want to consider a stove that takes longer logs, to reduce your work-load. You may want to get a stove with the largest firebox that you can, to offset as much fossil fuel heating as possible. But make sure not to get one that is too large for the space that you are heating. You may also want to consider a wood furnace, which could provide hot water for your home as well as space heat.

The Dutchwest Cast Iron Medium-2478 is a good medium-small wood burning stove. It can be easily loaded through a side door and takes up to 30lbs of wood and accepts logs up to 22 inches long. These stoves sell for around $1,500 and emit 1.5 g/hr.

Q. If I have nowhere to store wood or pellets?

A. Pellets can usually be purchased in several grades at hardware and feed stores. If
you don’t have storage, you can buy only a few bags at a time (the bags are about
the size of a large dog food bag) rather than trying to store several pallets of pellet
fuel or a large stack of cordwood. Corn can also be burned in some pellet stoves.
Check to see if there is a local co-op with a grain bin that you can join. When storing fuel near the stove for quick refueling, old coal hods (buckets with pour spouts) are often a practical solution.

The QuadraFire Mt. Vernon AE is an attractive multifuel stove capable of burning pellets, corn and other fuels like wheat and sunflower seeds. It is rated at 0.9 grams of smoke per hour. Expect to pay around $3,900 for this stove.

Q. If my stove is going to be important for emergency back up heat?

A. Because pellet stoves rely on an electric-powered fan to distribute the heat they
produce, you may want to choose a wood stove if you would like it to be reliable
even when power availability is not. Some pellet stoves provide a battery backup
option, but for long-term self sufficiency a wood stove is a much safer bet.

The Pacific Energy Fusion incorporates European design, but is produced and sold affordably in the US. The lower storage area is useful for keeping a small store of wood indoors for reloading. It emits 3.4 g/hr of smoke. Expect to pay between $1,870 and $2,360 depending on the finish options you choose.

Q. If I also want to heat my water with the stove?

A. Beyond old-fashioned (and polluting) cookstoves, the only clean burning model that we could find available in the US that is specifically designed to heat water for home space-heating and household use is the Morso Squirrel.

The Morso Squirrel 1410 and 1440 models, also used on boats, can both be outfitted with an 8000BTU backboiler, capable of supplying hot water to radiators and a water system calorifier, a device that heats water for household needs by circulating water around it through heated coils. The units generally sell for only around $1,340 for both the stove and boiler. Emissions are 3.3 grams per hour.

Q. If I love my fireplace and want the closest experience to a fireplace?

A. Choose a wood-burning stove which has been designed to burn well even with
its doors open- Vermont Castings makes several models designed for this. Inserts are also an option- these are mounted in an existing fireplace and give the efficiency of a stove with the feel of a fireplace.

The Jotul C350 Winterport insert seals your fireplace and makes use of the existing chimney. Unlike fireplaces, which can have emissions over 50 grams of smoke per hour, this insert emits only 4.0 g/hr. They usually sell for around $2,200.

Q. If I am interested in an insert stove?

A. Inserts, due to the enclosure of all but one of their surfaces, require a blower system similar to those used in pellet stoves to distribute heated air through a room. They are recommended if you currently use your fireplace on a regular basis and enjoy the experience, but would like to reduce the high particulate emissions associated with your fireplace. An insert will heat a little better than a fireplace and can reduce your emissions by up to 90%. Inserts are available which burn either wood or pellets, so choose a model that burns whichever fuel is more suitable to your lifestyle.

The Osburn 1800 insert (#OB01801) burns cord wood up to 16” long and uses a 130 CFM blower to distribute heat into the room. Unlike a fireplace, this emits only 2.7 grams of smoke per hour. They sell for around $1,500, comparable to many small wood stoves.

The Enviro Meridian pellet insert uses a heat exchanger and a 160 CFM blower to distribute the heat it produces. It emits only 2 grams of smoke per hour- a traditional fireplace can produce around 50! This model sells for around $3,700.

Q. If I live in a manufactured or mobile home?

A. Look specifically for models which have been rated for use in manufactured homes. These stoves are generally smaller and have shorter clearance requirements than unrated models, and have met stricter safety requirements. Smaller stove models weigh less, putting less strain on the frame of a manufactured home. The clearance requirements allow the stoves to be safely installed closer to walls and other surfaces than allowed with other models, often a benefit in the more limited space of a manufactured home.

One mobile home-approved option is the 1.0g/hr Whitfield II-TC Advantage pellet stove, which has a back clearance of only an inch and side clearance of six inches. It sells for around $2,000 in the US.

Q. If I have very young kids in the house?

A. Get a good fence or screen- wood stoves heat a room by radiating heat from their surfaces, so they are not safe to touch when lit.Always teach your children about the danger of burns from the surface of the stove. Some pellet or corn stoves are not hot to the touch, but if a wood stove suits your other needs better, it can be less expensive in the long run to simply gate off the stove until your children are old enough to understand they should avoid touching the stove. You may want to read this blog article by Pradabyprada, which covers child wood stove safety in some detail.


Q. If I want to heat my entire house?

A. Many homes with less than 1,500 square feet of living space can be heated by a single wood or pellet stove as long as you have a relatively open floor plan. The stove can be centrally located in living quarters, although rooms further away will obviously be a bit colder. Otherwise, your options include installing two stoves (a combination of one wood and one pellet stove is often useful) or a wood/pellet furnace, which can be ducted just like a traditional fossil fuel furnace throughout the home. There is also a new pellet model on the market, the Ecoteck Elena Airplus, which can be ducted to distribute warm air to several rooms in the house from a single stove.

The Ecoteck Elena Airplus pellet stove features a built-in humidifier, remote control, and allows you to adjust the temperature and turn the stove on or off from anywhere using a cell phone. It also can be ducted to take warm air into several adjoining rooms. It emits 1.6 grams of smoke per hour and sells for around $6,680.

The Froling FGH Turbo2000 boiler uses cord wood to produce 70,000 BTU/hr, which can be distributed using hot water baseboard, radiant floor, or hot air systems. This furnace burns at 90% efficiency with very low emissions. In the US, these units sell for about $11,000.

Q. If I also want to cook and bake with my stove?

A. While there are often cook stoves available on auction sites or local listings, these old stoves have never been subject to any emissions regulation and are very polluting. Explore modern options which may be able to suit your needs. Many traditional-styled stoves like the Vermont Castings Defiant NC-1610 have flat tops which heat up significantly, allowing the surface of the stove to be used as a cooktop. Many modern European-styled stoves like the Max Blank Padua, Atalanta BF, and Florenz models incorporate a top baking unit. We aren’t aware of any pellet stoves that have ovens. Cook stoves are often exempt from EPA emissions requirements, and many beautifully designed foreign cook stoves are likely to be inefficient and polluting. Wittus stoves for example shows a misleading “EPA Certificate” under their cook stoves, which is the test showing that the stove is exempt from regulation (because it burns too much like a fireplace, letting lots of smoke and heat up the chimney).

The Vermont Castings Defiant NC-1610 produces 2.9 grams of smoke per hour and serves as a cook top. They generally sell for about $2,400 depending on the options you choose.

The Max Blank Atalanta BF wood stove/oven has an upper baking compartment capable of reaching temperatures up to 550° F while emitting only 3.1 grams of smoke per hour. In the US, they sell for around $6,300.

Q. If I want to burn corn kernels?

A. Corn can be a great fuel, particularly if you have an affordable and sustainably harvested source of corn nearby. Using corn for heat is also a much more efficient use of corn than making ethanol, because the kernels do not need to be processed into a liquid fuel. Although there are stoves built specifically for burning corn, most of these units do not meet or have not been tested for Washington State emission standards. Many pellet and multi-fuel models can burn corn just as easily as wood pellets and provide the peace of mind that you are using clean technology.

The St. Croix Auburn stove burns corn, distiller's grain pellets, cherry pits, wheat and rye standard, and can be adapted to burn wood pellets with an optional kit. This $1,850 stove emits 0.6 grams of smoke per hour.

Q. If I don’t have much time or energy to devote to this?

A. A pellet stove may be your best option. Pellet stoves can be fuelled less often than a wood stove, thanks to the hopper and auger-feed system they employ, and the fuel does not require the splitting or stacking associated with stocking a wood pile.

The Avalon Astoria pellet stove has a huge 115lb hopper, reducing the number of times you need to refuel. On low, the stove should be able to burn for 68 hours continuously without requiring refueling. These stoves sell for around $3,500-4,000 and emit 0.7 grams of smoke per hour.

Q. If I want the convenience of a conventional fossil fuel furnace?

A. There are wood and pellet-burning furnaces on the market which offer nearly the same convenience as a conventional furnace system. Pellet furnaces, hidden away in your basement, can work with same sort of thermostat that any furnace uses. Pellet fuel can be blown into a large storage bin and automatically fed into your furnace, while a wood furnace will need to be fed a few times a day. Unlike fossil fuel furnaces, wood and pellet furnaces will require ash removal about once a month.

The Harman PF100 pellet furnace can be installed as a stand-alone hot air heating system or incorporated into existing hot air systems. A chimney is not required for venting. The ash pan needs to be emptied after two to three tons of pellets. In a fairly temperate region, this could be the entire heating season. You can purchase the furnace and the basic 1000 CFM blower for around $5,000. There are higher CFM blower upgrades available for a few hundred dollars more, and installation and ducting would be additional.