Q:
Dear Paul,

My house has electric heat, is on a large wooded lot, and was previously vented for a whole-house wood stove in the basement. I’m thinking of getting a new stove to try and save money on heating. Efficiency is a big issue. I am also concerned about pollution from burning wood. Some stoves have catalytic converters so I think I need to buy a stove with one to curb emissions. Can you point me in the right direction?

—Pat, Woodstock A:
Hi Pat,

First determine how many BTUs you need to heat the space. A reputable stove dealer can help you size the stove after determining how many square feet you want to heat and how well insulated your house is.

The EPA regulates wood stove emissions, so make sure you buy one on the approved list (epa.gov). Some states have more stringent requirements than New York.

Some EPA-approved stoves have catalytic converters but many approved stoves do not. I have heard good things about some stoves with catalytic converters, like BlazeKing Cast Iron stoves. However, some converters are prone to break and need replacing. These stoves require electricity to run so if power goes down and you don’t have back-up power your stove won’t work.

Pellet stoves burn so clean they do not need EPA approval. But they also require electricity to run. And even though pellets are made from waste wood material, you can only burn manufactured pellets in pellet stoves, so you are locked into buying them forever. Since you have a large wooded property, you could probably get sufficient wood by harvesting trees that fall down naturally, albeit with some added manual labor.

For me, having a stove requiring electricity defeats the purpose of an alternative heating source (unless, of course, you have solar PV and backup power storage). That’s why I would choose an efficient stove that doesn’t require electricity.

Danish RAIS steel stoves are incredibly beautiful and burn super clean and efficiently. Although a bit pricey, they come in a variety of styles, some with cooking ovens.

Finnish soapstone stoves from Tulikivi are also gorgeous and make a dramatic statement. Expensive, they also have oven and stovetop options. Soapstone is heavy so you may have to take into account floor support. Be aware that soapstone stoves take a while to really heat up a space. And after the fire gets going the flames go down and the wood burns steadily, but without the romantic dance of a fire like one can enjoy in other stoves.

If you plan to put the stove in the basement, beauty might not be important. Consider something less expensive like a ThermoControl stove. Not as sexy as RAIS or Tulikivi, they can heat a whole house and even have options to heat hot water and radiant floors.

Remember to install the stove properly and keep your flue or chimney clean. Also be aware of local building or fire codes and installation requirements in your area.

Good luck.

—Paul

Have a question for Paul? E-mail him at greenadvocate@scheinmedia.com