You should carefully assess your needs before choosing a new wood stove. Consider the stove’s placement, your type of home, the area you want to heat, as well as style and design. Read all about it here.
Quality
It’s not just the design that differentiates one wood stove from another. The combustion technology and materials do as well. Sturdy materials, solid hinges, door construction, and good insulation materials are just a few of the things you should pay attention to.
Heating Power – Heating a Small or Large Area
The stove must have the right output for the area you want to heat. Always check the operating range and the manufacturer’s specifications. Remember that a small stove with a small firebox burns as cleanly as possible at low output.
If the stove is too large, you may have to reduce the output too much due to the heat, which prevents the stove from burning optimally. This results in incomplete combustion, and unburned gases accumulate as soot in the chimney.
The takeaway is: Better a small stove that’s allowed to “work” than a large one that underperforms. The heating effect is measured in kilowatts (kW). As a general rule, convection stoves heat 10–20 m² per kW, depending on your home’s insulation, ceiling height, etc. However, the output is usually given as a “nominal output.” This nominal output indicates the level at which the stove was tested and is the figure to use when calculating the real performance.
TermaTech offers stoves with an output ranging from 3–10 kW.
Eco Labels
When selecting a new wood stove, it’s important to check whether the stove is approved and certified. All new stoves on the market must at minimum be tested according to the current European CE norm/standard. This ensures, among other things, that the stove meets emission and efficiency requirements (i.e., how well the stove utilizes the fuel’s energy).
When purchasing a new stove, it’s crucial that a valid DOC (Declaration of Conformity) is included. This document must be shown to the chimney sweep and may need to be signed (depending on the country) before the stove can be used. Be especially aware of this if you’re considering a used wood stove. TermaTech stoves are tested in accordance with and comply with EU standards on emissions and efficiency.
Special Requirements in Germany and Austria
The new German standard, known as BImSchV 1+2, ensures stoves burn as cleanly and efficiently as possible and also mandates the replacement of old stoves. BImSchV stands for “Bundes-Immissionsschutzverordnung” and consists of two phases. Stoves approved under both Phase 1 and Phase 2 can be installed and used, as they meet all the requirements.
All old stoves must be replaced by 2024. For example:
- Stoves from before 1974 had to be replaced by 2014
- Stoves from before 1984 by 2018
- Stoves from before 1994 by the end of 2020
All TermaTech stoves already meet Phase 2 requirements, meaning they never need to be replaced. Another assurance that choosing a TermaTech stove is a great investment.
The Austrian standard – also known as §15 – has even stricter requirements for hydrocarbon emissions and efficiency than the Nordic Swan label.
Stove Type – Heat Distribution
When choosing your new stove, there are generally three principles to consider: radiant stoves, convection stoves, and heat-storage stoves.
Radiant Stoves
Radiant stoves have the downside of getting very hot on the surface, heavily heating the immediate surroundings. Very few stoves produced today are radiant stoves.
Convection Stoves
Convection stoves, which are the most common on the market today, have an outer shell that’s open at the top and bottom. Air between the stove and the outer shell is heated and released from the top, circulating throughout the room and distributing heat more effectively than radiant stoves.
Heat-Storage Stoves
Heat-storage stoves absorb heat from the fire and release it slowly over a longer period. These are beneficial in new, airtight, or well-insulated homes, as they provide even heat over time.
TermaTech offers both convection and heat-storage stoves.
Top or Rear Flue Outlet?
A rear outlet solution requires good draft from the chimney, as it creates more resistance for the smoke. Smoke naturally wants to rise, so top outlets typically offer better performance.
Sheet Steel vs. Cast Iron
There’s not a huge difference between choosing a cast iron stove or one made of sheet steel. The main difference lies in the appearance and style – though cast iron can play a functional role in certain stove components.
Cast iron tolerates extremely high temperatures better, which is why it’s a good idea to choose a stove where the most heat-stressed components, such as the bottom of the firebox and the inside of the door, are made from cast iron. The rest of the stove can be made from steel, as these parts never reach temperatures that would damage or degrade the material.
Sheet steel or steel stoves often have an advantage over traditional cast iron stoves when it comes to convection heat. Convection works best in steel stoves with a gap between the inner stove and the outer shell. The heated air rises and spreads much faster throughout the room than radiant heat from old-fashioned cast iron stoves.
TermaTech wood stoves are convection stoves. They are built using 3–5 mm thick high-quality steel. Cast iron parts are always used where temperatures are highest, such as the firebox bottom, inner door frame, and other components.
Many TermaTech stoves, including the TT30 series, also use cast iron for the top, outer door, and firewood compartment door. This gives the stove a more rustic look, complementing its elegant Scandinavian design. Most importantly, your stove is built to last for many years – and with a TermaTech stove, you’re assured of just that.
Chimney Draft
Even the best stove won’t perform properly if it’s not connected to a good chimney. The chimney is the stove’s “engine” or “lungs,” if you will. A poorly insulated or too-short chimney often leads to weak draft. Poor draft causes poor combustion and smoke spillage when the door is opened.
In many cases, it’s also necessary to renovate the chimney when installing a modern stove. This is because modern stoves are much more efficient than older models. Higher efficiency results in lower flue gas temperatures. Lower temperatures and increased resistance in the flue require better draft.
We recommend renovating the chimney with a stainless steel liner, as it heats up quickly and provides the necessary draft.
Cleaning
In general, wood stoves don’t require much cleaning. However, you should inspect all gaskets and moving parts before the heating season starts and clean the interior of the stove once the season is over. Ash should be emptied as needed – but be cautious: if there are still embers in the ash, you risk smoke or fire damage to your trash bin or elsewhere.
The glass is cleaned either with TermaTech’s glass cleaner or by dampening a piece of kitchen paper, dipping it in ash, and scrubbing the inside of the glass.
The stove’s exterior is cleaned with a dry cloth, a soft dry brush, or a tightly wrung damp cloth. Never use water or cleaning agents on painted surfaces.
Other Considerations Before Choosing a Stove
Soapstone
Soapstone is a natural stone known for its excellent heat retention properties. It’s often used in heat-storage stoves to provide a more even heat distribution. Each soapstone has millions of years of history and varies in appearance and texture.
Vermiculite
Vermiculite is an insulating material that affects the combustion temperature in the firebox, contributing to cleaner combustion.
External Air Supply
This is a connection that allows the stove to draw combustion air from outside. It’s often necessary in new, airtight homes, where negative pressure can prevent the stove from functioning properly.
Air Wash System
Preheated air is directed down over the inside of the glass to reduce soot buildup. All TermaTech stoves feature an air wash system.
