| You are going to install an outdoor wood stove. | | | | handle? If you don't mind lugging huge logs, then |
| Now you need to figure out which stove is going | | | | you will want a wood stove that will handle large |
| to serve you the best. Of the many different | | | | long pieces. This will save time cutting the wood, |
| styles that are available, which one will be the | | | | but will make you pay later and also limit who can |
| best for you? | | | | load your stove. |
| Outdoor wood burning stoves can be very | | | | The upside is that these big logs will burn a long, |
| different. Do not assume that they are all the | | | | long, time. Smaller pieces may take more time to |
| same. The materials that they are made of can | | | | cut, be easier to load and burn up faster. You |
| vary greatly. Some are made of regular steel | | | | need to figure out what is the best trade off for |
| plate. Some are boiler steel. Some may be | | | | you. |
| stainless steel. Each of the different materials has | | | | How much water do you want the stove to hold? |
| its advantages. Each different material will affect | | | | More water may not always be better. If you |
| the cost of the stove and the longevity of the | | | | can use lower temperature, water than you may |
| stove. As with most anything, when you use a | | | | want to consider a large volume stove so that |
| cheaper material it will usually mean that the | | | | you may only have to fire it every couple of |
| longevity will also be less. | | | | days. If you need to have high temperature |
| What type of fuel do you want to use? Are you | | | | water all the time then the large volume may not |
| sure that you will only burn wood, or will you | | | | be beneficial to you. A larger stove may sound |
| want to burn coal at some point in time? If you | | | | better, but if your stove never burns hot, then |
| will need to bank a fire for a couple of days, then | | | | the creosote will continue to build up, possibly |
| you may want the coal option. Make sure that | | | | causing a flare up, and definitely insulating the |
| the stove that you purchase will also handle the | | | | firebox from the water and decreasing the |
| coal. Coal will usually require special grates and air | | | | efficiency of the stove. |
| intake. The grates need to handle the extra heat | | | | Give yourself the time to consider all the options |
| from the coal and the air must enter the | | | | that you have a weigh out which will serve you |
| combustion chamber differently to burn coal. | | | | the best before you make a commitment to buy |
| What size pieces of wood do you want to | | | | a new wood burning stove. |