Choose the Right Stove – What Size
Various websites will give you calculator to work out room size to kilowatt output required. These calculators and tables will give a very basic starting point. There are so many variables including, home insulation, calorific value of the logs and how you use the stove. I’m going to distil things down to the basics.
I’ll bear in mind here that you’ll want to heat your whole house because you’re being serious about saving money and the environment.
We heat our whole house through the day and evening with a 8KW rated wood burning multi fuel stove. (Victorian, 5 bed room, single glazed, no wall insulation, bit draughty ). In the early morning our central heating kicks in to bring the house up to comfortable temperature. Maybe if we got up early enough in the morning to get the fire going before the kids get up, we wouldn’t use any gas for heating. Could we keep the fire going all night? It’s not a good idea more about that later.
It’s best to run a wood burner at high outputs, for a normal sized room in a modern house you’ll be toasted if you keep the doors shut. (More about why it’s best to burn at high outputs.)
So my advice is a small stove (4-7kw) in a small house, and a medium to large stove (7-12kw) in a medium to large house.
Back Boiler Stoves - I have no experience of running a back boiler off a wood burning stove, I’m sorry but you’ll have to look else where for that. But before you go, have a look at Living with a Wood Burner and have a rethink before going down that route.
Next - Choosing the Right Stove – What Features
Living with a Wood Burner
Money Wise - Living with a Wood Burner
Choose the Right Stove – What Size
Choosing the Right Stove – What Features
Choosing the Right Stove – What Style
Choosing the Right Stove – What Price
Wood Burning Stove - Running Costs
Environment Wise - Living with a Wood Burner
Lifestyle Wise - Living with a Wood Burner
Conclusions. Is a Wood Burner Worth It?