Stove with fire burning and log store underneath

Heat Output: How to Choose a Wood-burning Stove

The first thing you need to consider when purchasing a wood-burning (or multi-fuel) stove is heat output vs. the size and type of room you wish to heat.

Most manufacturers quote a range of heat outputs, i.e. a 5 kW appliance will be quoted "range 2 - 7kW ", this is due to the 'intermittent' nature of the stove's operation. To obtain a heat output of 7kW you will need to top up your stove regularly, but if you let the wood die down, the heat will reduce until it finally goes out.

If you purchase a stove which has a heat capacity too large for the room in question, you will essentially create a ridiculously space. Ideally your stove should heat the space to 21°C regardless of the weather outside - to accomplish this, i.e 5kWs of heat are required on a cold winters day whereas a mild day will only require 2.5kW of heat.

There are two elements which drive heat output...

The volume of air in the room

The level of insulation and air flow in the room.

How to calculate the volume of air:

Measure the length, width and height of the room in metres multiply the three numbers to get the volume in cubic metres.

i.e. a room 5m long, 8 wide and 5 high would give you 400m3

Measure the level of insulation:

Rooms can be split into three broad categories.

Poorly Insulated - Old houses (pre-1950's) with a lot of draughts.

Moderately Insulated - Houses with double glazing, typically a 1990's house.

Well Insulated - Any home built after 2008 when compulsory heating standards were introduced.

Once you have determined which type of insulation your home has, you can mark it - 10 for poor insulation, 18 for moderate insulation and 25 for a well insulated home.

To calculate the heat output required divide the volume in m3 by the insulation factor. Simple.

Example stove heat outputs

ROOM VOLUME (M3) POOR INSULATION MODERATE INSULATION WELL INSULATED
25 cubic metres 2.5kW 1.4kW 1.0kW
50 cubic metres 5.0kW 2.8kW 2.0kW
75 cubic metres 7.5kW 4.2kW 3.0kW
100 cubic metres 10.0kW 5.6kW 4.0kW

The above is only an indication of the 'kw' required, these figures can vary. However, it is clear from the above table that for small well insulated rooms, it is not wise to install a wood-burning stove. This is due to the low kW needed, i.e. on a freezing day only 1kW will be required vs. on a mild day less than 0.5kW which is hardly a fire at all?

Likewise, for the above insulation indicators, they are only a guide. Your lifestyle can sometimes reduce the effectiveness of your insulation, i.e. your children leave the doors open, this is another factor which should be considered. If you are unsure, visit our store or call 01361 882277, we are open 7 days a week.

A stove makes a fantastic addition to any home and is a cost-effective way of heating your home. We have over 35 models on display, with the full range available from top manufacturers such as Charnwood, Aarrow, Stovax, Burley and Morso.

Choose from a wide range of wood-burning or multi-fuel models in stock and now with a working Biomass Boiler display in operation. (Independent biomass quotes available.)

Expert advice is available in a free, no hassle consultation with our highly trained Sales Team. For future peace of mind, genuine replacement parts are available.

Installation quotes available call 01361 882277 #3 or visit our store Open 7 Days