What kinds of stoves did they have in the 1800s? Wood stoves, of course! Wood-burning stoves have helped us warm our homes and cook our food for centuries, and they're becoming increasingly popular with homeowners looking to capture the modern farmhouse look. We're here to answer all your burning questions about these fascinating appliances.

What Is a Wood Stove?

Short answer — wood-burning stoves are basically contained fireplaces. Here's the nerdier answer — wood-burning stoves are simple heating appliances that rely on sustained combustion and air circulation to spread heat throughout your home. Need a more thorough explanation? Here's how it works:

1. You place wood in the firebox and ignite it.
2. Oxygen traveling through the air vents feeds the fire.
3. Combustion gases circulate within the firebox, raising the temperature through secondary combustion.
4. The stove's metal body radiates heat, warming the room.
5. Hot combustion gases rise and exit the building through the air vents.

High-end stoves often contain adjustable pipe dampers and baffles, which you can use to control the flow of exhaust gases. This lets you adjust how hot the stove gets, which controls the temperature of the room. Additionally, the type of wood you burn can have a big impact on stove performance. Hardwoods tend to burn hotter and cleaner than softwoods, which contain more natural oils.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Wood Stoves?

Why buy a wood stove? Here are some of the many benefits:

• Efficient: High-performing wood stoves can heat your home more effectively than venting systems.
• Eco-friendly: Although wood combustion emits carbon dioxide, the EPA considers wood to be a carbon-neutral fuel source. Additionally, many newer wood stoves provide a much cleaner burn than older models.
• Visually appealing: The unique, old-fashioned look of wood stoves adds a level of coziness to a room that other heating systems just can't match.
• Reliable: Wood stoves are an effective alternative to electrical heating, which can give you peace of mind when natural disasters strike.
• Cost-effective: Burning wood is less expensive than many other forms of heating, including electricity, oil and gas.

The main drawback to wood-burning stoves is the amount of wood they use. Typically, stove owners can expect to go through two to four cords per year, depending on stove size and home insulation.

What Is the History of Wood-Burning Stoves?

Humans have been burning wood to cook food and to stay warm for far longer than we have had written history. Archaeological records indicate humans have been using wood fires for literally hundreds of thousands of years. That said, it took a while for us to develop stoves that did a good job at efficiently heating our homes. Nineteenth-century wood stoves were basically cast iron boxes with a pipe running through the top that allowed the smoke to escape. Compared to today's stoves, these early versions were highly inefficient and harmful to the environment — but they were a big improvement over the even more inefficient open fire. Interestingly, people were hesitant to replace their open fireplaces with wood stoves for several decades. Maybe they weren't a fan of the new look, or perhaps they just liked being cold. Either way, it took a while for the wood stove to finally catch on in the early 20th century. Wood stoves fell out of fashion in the mid-20th century when maturing gas furnace technology spread across the globe. Fossil fuels were much easier to harvest and transport than wood, which had to be chopped down and carried into large cities to keep the burgeoning populace warm. At this time, it seemed clear that wood stoves were about to be confined to the dustbin of history. Today, though, wood fireplaces and stoves have made a comeback. What was once the sole device for all our cooking and heating is now an interior design choice.

Who Made the First Wood Stove?

While wood stoves had already been in use for centuries, one of our very own Founding Fathers found a way to upgrade the existing technology for a new era. The 1740 Franklin Stove, invented by none other than Benjamin Franklin, consisted of a three-sided iron box with a convection chamber and hollow baffle that directed airflow through a floor duct. His design improved ventilation and continued to provide radiant heat for hours after the fire was extinguished. It also significantly cut down on the amount of wood people had to use to heat their homes. The Franklin Stove used just a quarter of the wood a traditional fireplace did, which provided a great possible solution for the wood shortage Philadelphia had been experiencing. Surprisingly, the Franklin Stove never really caught on, but it influenced wood stove design for decades afterward. Though your great great grandfather might recognize them, modern wood stoves are much different from their predecessors. These sophisticated, clever machines are optimized to get the most heat and performance from their fuel source. Advanced steel and airtight construction ensures maximum safety, while ceramic polymers provide a magnificent view of the roaring fire. Most modern stoves are 75% efficient or higher — a significant upgrade from early stoves, which were only 30% efficient. They also include blower options for even more heating potential.

How Efficient Are Wood Stoves?

The fuel efficiency average on a modern gas furnace, the nation's most popular heater, is around 80%. Which means it turns 80% of its gas fuel into heat. The remaining 20% is waste that the unit must vent outside of the house. Wood stoves must be way more wasteful than that, right? Not really. The latest generation of wood stoves can reach similar efficiencies. Which is really impressive when you consider the fact that old wood stoves created 70% more pollution than even a basic modern model. So, yeah, the technology has really come a long way. And that's definitely a good thing. As the cost of heating oil has risen, more and more people have invested in wood stoves to heat their homes. The EPA estimates the number of households using a wood stove as their primary heater has grown by 39% since 2004. Wood stoves are even more popular in specific regions. Adoption rates reach almost 50% in states with large rural areas, like Vermont and Maine. So when it comes to choosing your next home heater, it's definitely worth your time to take a look at the latest generation of wood stove systems. While they may not be for everyone, today's high-performance models are far more versatile than previous generations.

Where Can You Install a Wood-Burning Stove?

You have to install a wood stove in an area where it will have access to the outside via a stove pipe or chimney. Unlike modern ventless gas logs, a wood-burning stove requires ventilation to burn. New stove designs and properly aged wood can greatly reduce smoke and ash waste, but they can never remove it entirely. Also consider what you're going to do with the wood-burning stove. There could be a significant difference in requirements for a wood stove intended purely for aesthetics and one that you want to use to heat your entire home.

Can You Keep a Wood Stove Burning All Night?

Of course you can. And you'll want to, since waking up to a freezing house is something nobody likes to experience. But how do you keep a fire burning for a long time? First, it is hard to build a long-burning fire on a cold start. The best way to keep the heat going all night is to begin with a healthy coal bed. They might not look like much, but there is a lot of powerful heat in those coals. Rake them all towards the front of the stove. Second, pack the stove with large pieces of wood. This seems obvious, right? The more wood, the longer the burn. One key thing to understand, though, is to pack that wood as tightly as you can. You want the first layer of wood to insulate those in the back. The idea is that the fire will spread slowly, so you get a more even burn over a longer period of time. Third, choose the right wood to fuel your fire. A seasoned hardwood, like oak or sugar maple, will provide the best heating performance. Otherwise, there isn't much else to do. Rake the coals, stack your logs, and you're ready to go. One more thing. It's always a good idea to build your all-night fire just before you go to bed. That way, you get maximum burn while you sleep.

Is it Possible to Heat Your Whole Home With a Wood Stove?

Yes, it is. Now, there are some caveats you should be aware of. Many people buy modern wood stoves solely for their aesthetic appeal. While the heating is a nice bonus, owners mostly just want something pretty to look at. An antique-style wood-burning stove works great as the centerpiece to a family room, and it helps keep everyone warm on cold winter nights. However, small wood-burning stoves are built for their looks, not their function. They're designed mainly for space heating. A pot belly stove without a blower and no connecting ductwork probably isn't going to heat your whole house. If you want whole-house heating, make sure you invest in a wood-burning stove designed to handle that kind of load. Many of these higher-end machines come equipped with powerful blowers that can push luxurious, rustic heat to every corner of your home.

Do I Have To Do Anything Special to Maintain a Wood-Burning Stove?

Yes, but only if you want the stove to last for decades. Folks who are fine with their new wood-burning stove corroding in only a few short years can stop reading now. First, the most important thing that you have to do for your wood-burning stove is to clean the ash tray regularly. Just like the filter on your air conditioner, you need to clean your wood stove's ashtray early and often. Thick ash buildup can cause all sorts of problems and reduce your stove's performance. Second, don't over-fire the stove. Over-firing occurs when the fire burns too hot, which can warp the metal of the stove's body. At its most extreme, over-firing can make your stove unusable. So be careful when burning a big fire, and don't leave the door open when the stove is working. Third, be selective about your fuel source. You want to burn seasoned hardwood. You don't want to burn trash, debris or green wood. Trash can produce harmful fumes, and green wood will create a lot of smoke and creosote. Fourth, read your owner's manual. Not every modern wood-burning stove is exactly alike. Yours may have some unique feature or characteristic that you need to know about. And don't procrastinate — your manual won't be nearly as painful as your high school-required reading. It'll have way fewer pages, and reading it will save you a lot of time and trouble in the future.

What Is the Comparative Cost of a Wood Stove?

On average, the total cost of buying and installing a wood-burning stove is around $3,000 to $3,500. However, this estimate will vary depending on several factors:

• Material
• Type and model
• Stove size
• Heating capacity
• Installation

Whether you choose to DIY your stove installation or hire a professional will have a big impact on your overall costs. While it may seem like a major investment upfront, bringing in a contractor can save you money in the long run. You're less likely to experience problems that could have been prevented during installation, which means you'll pay less for repairs over time. The cost of wood is another major consideration, though it can vary widely depending on the wood species you use.

Upgrade Your Heating System With Ingram's Water & Air

If you want to enjoy 19th-century charm without the smallpox, a wood-burning stove is the perfect investment for you. At Ingram's Water & Air, we carry high-quality modern wood stoves for any aesthetic and budget. You can trust our products to keep you and your family warm for many years to come.