Choosing the Right Appliance to Warm Your Home
Choosing the right stove or fireplace will add beauty and comfort to your home for years to come. Our consultants have years of experience and are certified by the Northeast Hearth Products Association. Their strength lies in their ability to help you determine the right stove to satisfy your particular goals. The following information is designed to provide you with an understanding of the considerations involved in choosing the perfect hearth appliance for your home.
Fuel Choices
Understanding the benefits and characteristics of each type of fuel will help you choose the best one for your home. To compare fuels by cost, visit the Cost of Heating Calculator.
| Wood | Pellets | Gas | |
|---|---|---|---|
Heating Power |
Very powerful heater - can heat large areas Up to 3,000 SQ. FT. | Can heat small and medium sized areas Up to 2,000 SQ. FT. |
Up to 2,000 SQ. FT. |
| Electricity Requirement | Immune to power outages | Required | Immune to power outages |
| Thermostatic Control | No | Yes | Yes |
| Other Features | Wide range of stoves to choose from Warmth of real wood fire Opportunity to exercise |
Clean convenient fuel source Level heat output |
Clean convenient fuel source Simulates a wood fire |
| Wood | Pellets | Gas |
Efficiency
Today's homeowners are more aware than ever of the value of fuel, economically and environmentally.
Look for the appliance's "overall heater rating". This is a combination of burn efficiency, the efficiency of the stove to generate heat, and the efficiency with which the stove transmits heat to the room.
"BTU" stands for "British Thermal Unit". This is a measure of how much fuel will be burned.
Floor Space Heating Capacity
The heating capacity can be quoted based on normal operation or maximum output and is dependent on many other variables. To help us determine the right size of stove you need, fill in the Stove Sizing Worksheet. and talk to one of our knowledgable consultants about your situation.
Stove Materials
| Cast Iron | Steel | Stone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of heat | Radiant and Convection | Radiant and Convection | Radiant and Convection |
| Appearance | Various decorative features | Traditional and Functional | Enamel and natural stone finish |
| Heating Characteristics | Heats and cools at a moderate rate | Heats and cools quickly | Quickly heats. Cools slowly. |
| Cast Iron | Steel | Stone |
Measuring
Correct measurements are essential when purchasing a fireplace insert. To help you, we provide a worksheet with clear directions. Print the Fireplace Measuring Worksheet. To save time, fill it in with the measurements from your own home and bring it with you when you come to the store.
