How-To

-Ideas for Great Fireplaces, Sunset

Several types of appliances fall into the broad general category of stand-alone heaters. The most popular are freestanding stoves fueled by wood, pellets, coal, gas, or electricity. These heat sources use modern technology to meet all EPA standards for clean burning. European freestanding fireplaces (also called masonry heaters, heat-storing fireplaces, or high-mass thermal heaters) are big, heavy soapstone appliances that also meet EPA standards and provide long-term radiant heat. They may be fueled by wood, gas, or sometimes electricity. Prefab freestanding wood-burning metal fireplaces are simple fireboxes with metal chimneys that may not meet EPA standards.

Freestanding stoves
Today's freestanding stoves come in a variety of attractive designs, both traditional and contemporary. Made of cast iron or steel, they often feature soapstone cladding or porcelain enamel finishes available in a rainbow of colors. Most have glass doors for fire-viewing. Styles range from sleek drum-shaped or cylindrical models to more traditional square or pot-bellied ones, with or without decorative panels and trim. European wood stoves are distinctly contemporary in style; they are often tall and cylindrical, made of steel and soapstone.

Wood-burning and gas-fired stoves require venting through a metal chimney; requirements will vary with the stove itself and with the configuration of your space. Some manufacturers offer chimneys in colored enamel finishes to match their stoves.

Wood stoves
Among all wood-burning options, wood stoves offer the highest heating efficiency. New wood stoves must have the EPA-certified label, showing that they meet standards for clean burning. To achieve this they may use either catalytic or noncatalytic technology.

It's usually best to buy the highest-quality stove you can afford; look for good workmanship and solid construction. A firebrick lining can increase both the life of your stove and the amount of radiant heat it will produce. Also look for a stove with a special airflow system that keeps the glass doors clean.

Your dealer can help you determine what size stove you should choose, based on the area you want to heat. Keep in mind that the interior stove dimensions determine the size of wood you can burn.

Most wood stoves have features such as top or side loading, removable ash pans, insulated door handles, leg levelers, thermostats, and blower fans for increased heating. Optional extras may include spark screens that let you leave the stove doors open (when you're there) as well as stove-top steamers that you fill with water to humidify dry winter air. Other options are griddles and warming shelves for cooking on your stove and racks for drying wet mittens and socks.

Pellet stoves are highly efficient variations of wood-burning stoves that are neat and clean to operate. The pellets are fed into the stove automatically by an electrically powered auger system; most manufacturers offer battery backup operation.