Wood Burning Stove Dealers

Visiting wood burning stove dealers to buy your first wood stove is rather like having a child. You're commiting your time effort and hard earned cash to invest in a stove that you hope will meet your personal needs. If you get it wrong it could be an expensive and, if you heat your home solely with wood, chilly mistake. Not to mention the extra effort associated with having to split, stack and haul the extra wood that an inappropriate stove will need.

Before you start visiting local wood burning stove dealers it helps to really think about what you want to get out of your wood stove. If you know the answers to these questions in advance the wood burning stove dealers will be much better placed to both answer your questions and direct you to suitable products. Finding a local dealer who has an extensive range of different makes and models will give you a chance to see a bigger selection of stoves and find one that also suits the aesthetics you are after.

While the internet has a wealth of information on wood stoves nothing beats actually visiting your local wood burning stove dealers to really see the products. First hand experience of the size, style and construction of a wood burning stove invariably gives the best 'feel' of how well a stove will suit you. In addition you get a valuable opportunity to question the dealer one to one and he'll be able to give you personal recommendations based on your needs.

Remember when you start investigating stoves - there is no 'right answer'. No one stove will be the best in every situation and personal prefences play a big part in stove choice. Ask your wood burning stove dealers why they recommend one stove over another and work out if that reason applies to you. Our local dealer (who has supplied my parents with 4 different stoves in various buildings over the years) has two different guys running it and it isn't uncommon for both of these experts to disagree over stove choice - just make sure you ask lots of questions and make an informed choice.

Great, I've found a stove I like - should I buy it from the local merchant or buy it online?

Installing your own flue liner is likely not a job for a DIYer.

In addition to installing the flue liner and stove, a competent wood stove installer will also check for smoke leakage and chimney draft and can advise you one whether your room ventilation is adequate. Inadequate ventilation can restrict air to the fire and result in inefficient combustion.

All of these tasks are best performed by an expert.

Flue installation is an expensive job, sometimes as much as the cost of the stove itself depending on size and complexity, so remember to factor it in when considering prices.

What about second hand stoves?

Before considering buying a second hand stove you should ask yourself why that stove is coming on to the market. Remember that a cheap stove is not necessarily a good investment when you want a wood burning stove that is reliable, durable and efficient and still needs to be all these things in 10, 15 or even 20 years time.

Earlier models of stove which you may find on the second hand market are likely to be substantially inferior to products available from wood burning stove dealers today. EPA legislation has driven improvements in efficiency and modern steel stoves are substantially more durable than those of 20 years ago. Anyone upgrading an old stove is likely to be doing so for a specific reason which is precicely the reason you don't want that stove.

Exceptions may be made when price is the overwhelming issue (ie. when you may be fitting a stove for very occasional use in a holiday home) but for day to day use as a main source of heating a modern high efficiency stove will likely be the best solution.

What about a homemade stove?

If your heart is set on buiding your own you might like to look at thermal mass stoves or a commercially available barrel stove kit. Remember to do your homework - all fire is potentially dangerous.

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