NOW THAT'S HOT!
Jeffrey Fisher on wood-burning stoves.
Hi Jeffrey, We have a small family cottage built in the 1960s that my brother and I share the financial and work responsibilities for. It’s not insulated for winter use, but we extend the seasons with the use of a wood-burning stove in the living area. When my parents were alive we didn’t make changes to the cottage out of respect to them but now that they’re gone we’ve been doing things bit by bit. That said, we would like a new wood stove, perhaps something a bit sleeker and efficient. Any suggestions?
Thank you, Beth
Hi Beth,
I think I appreciate a wood stove even more than a fireplace. I have great childhood memories of stoking my grandparents’ wood-burning stove in the kitchen of their farmhouse. Not only did the stove provide heat, it was the primary source for cooking. The wood burned in a side compartment and the top surface had ample room for pots, and there was an oven below. You don’t know the fine art of making biscuits until you’ve baked them in a woodburning stove. Grandmother McCully was a pro.
Considering you’ve grown up with a wood-burning stove at your cottage, you know well the rewards of lighting the stove to take the chill off a damp summer day or provide full-on heat in early May or late September.
As you are probably aware, wood-burning stoves have advanced both in design and technology since yours was originally installed. Today’s stoves have advanced combustion technology that allows less wood to heat the same square footage, thereby reducing the carbon dioxide associated with the harvesting, processing and transporting of wood.
All of my favourite stoves meet the emissions standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. When you start shopping for your new stove make sure to note whetherit’s been EPA approved (it means something here in Canada as well).
With clean lines and subtle curves, the Stuv stove is a favourite of mine. There are three models, depending on the size required, but all have three rotating doors: a glass door to view the flames, a solid closed door for secure wood burning and an open-door mode when it’s time to throw in another log or two. The best part is the turning plate located under the stove, allowing you to direct the heat in the desired direction by rotating the stove up to 360 degrees. Established in Belgium, Stuv has a factory in Montreal and is distributed throughout North America. stuvamerica.com
Not surprisingly, the stoves I am drawn to are primarily designed in Northern Europe, with winters similar to Canada’s — or worse. Wittus (wittus.com) imports some greatlooking stoves worthy of investigating; two of my top picks are the Shaker and Cosmos.
The Shaker pictured above combines both a classic and modern look. It’s made of black steel and the small size might suit your needs well. It comes with a short bench (as pictured) or a long bench that Wittus says enables you to “sit comfortably close to the fire.”
The Cosmo series, also from Wittus, is not only good looking but designed to burn pure and efficient at 81%, resulting in a cleaner, hotter fire with very little ash. Its naturally carbon dioxide neutral wood-burning system gives off the same amount of C02 as when trees are left to decay in the forest.
The body of the stove comes clad in black or grey steel or heat-retaining soapstone and the door features a cool-handle concept, which positions the handle below and away from the firebox (a feature I especially like).
And if that’s not enough, the Cosmos series comes equipped with both a built-in ash pan and a storage component. It basically does everything but chop the wood.
All of these stoves have North American distribution, but if you happen to live in the Toronto area they (along with other great options) are carried at Marsh’s Stoves & Fireplaces (marshsfireplaces.com).
Good luck and stay warm this fall.
Jeffrey