Can a wood stove be your only source of heat?

While a wood stove can be a viable sole heating solution for some homes in some parts of the country, it more commonly serves as a valuable companion to an existing gas- or oil-fueled system. But there’s a third option, one that gives the average homeowner a compelling reason to consider the wood stove.

How much more expensive is aux heat?





50%

As we mentioned above, AUX heat usually costs up to 50% more than heat transfer, which means if your system is running on AUX heat when it shouldn’t be, your heating bill is likely going to be a lot higher than you’d like it to be. Our suggestion would be to reach out to a professional as soon as possible.

What is the difference between heat and AUX heat?

Aux heat comes from the same heat source as emergency heat, but aux heat works together with your heat pump, so it’s less expensive than emergency heat. Typically, your heat pump will energize the auxiliary heat strip inside your secondary heating source to help reach its set temperature more quickly.

Do I need a heat shield behind a wood stove?

If you are unable to place your stove with at least a 900mm clearance between it and other surfaces, then you’ll need to install a heat shield. Situated between the stove and the exposed surface, a heat shield will reduce the required distance for safety.

Can you heat a whole house with a wood stove?





Wood stoves aren’t typically designed to heat an entire house but sized to warm a particular room in a home. However, installing a wood stove in the right location in a home, along with helping to circulate air between rooms, or using a stove boiler, can help to raise temperatures across a whole house.

Is it cheaper to heat your home with a wood burning stove?

Wood burners can cut a home’s heating bill by 10pc, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Running costs for an average household are a third of electric heating bills and 13pc less than gas central heating, according to the Stove Industry Alliance.

Does auxiliary heat use more electricity?

Auxiliary heat uses electric resistance heating, which is much less efficient than your heat pump. Therefore, a heating system stuck in AUX heat will run up an energy bill. If you have a heat pump, it is best to increase your heat setting by only two degrees at a time to prevent your auxiliary heat from operating.

How long can auxiliary heat run?

By default, this time is set to five minutes. This means, if your aux heat is called upon and canceled immediately, it will still run for five minutes before shutting down. If you change the threshold settings, you can configure the minimum on time and save on electricity or heating oil.

How long does AUX heat stay on?



This shouldn’t take much longer than 30 minutes.

If you’re experiencing one of these scenarios, it’s time to a call pro out to take a look at your HVAC system: AUX heat on for more than 30 minutes. AUX heat on every time you turn your system on.

Can I use cement board behind my wood stove?

Safe wood stove installations require a heat shield that will prevent heat from the wood stove from creating a fire hazard in the building materials that form the exterior wall. Hardi cement board is an inexpensive solution that will form the foundation of an effective heat shield for any application.

What can you use as a heat shield for a wood stove?



A brick, stone or tile heat shield is equally effective but in a different way. These dense materials absorb lots of heat and gradually release it as air circulates around them. The simplest masonry heat shield is a cement board that is separated from the wall by one-inch ceramic spacers.

How far must a wood stove be from the wall?

36 inches

The standard clearance recommended by the National Fire Protection Agency is 36 inches. This means that the back of the stove should be 36 inches away from any combustible material, such as woodwork, unprotected walls, furniture and even firewood.

Does a wood stove pipe have to go straight up?

A wood stove pipe must be as short and straight as possible. At the least, 80% of it must be vertical. If it is so important, one or two 90˚ angles, at most, can be made part of the structure. The horizontal part should not rise more than a quarter from the linear foot.

How high does a stove pipe need to be?



3-2-10 Rule Explained

Explained, the chimney pipe must be a minimum of three feet above the roof but also two feet taller than anything within ten feet. The portion of the rule stating the pipe needs to be 2 feet above anything within 10 feet is where most people get confused.

How do you vent a wood stove without a chimney?

A twin wall flue system is the key to fitting a wood burner without a chimney. Simply speaking, it is a series of connectable stainless steel pipes that can carry your stove fumes outside. They comprise a stainless steel pipe wrapped in thick insulation and encased by a second outer tube.

What is the 2 10 rule?

A chimney must project at least 3 feet above the roof on its shortest side and also be at least 2 feet above any roof structure that is within a 10 foot radius of the chimney. That’s it. Following this simple rule helps to ensure other structures on the roof do not interfere with the exhaustion of combustion gases.

Can you vent a wood burning stove through a wall?



You see, stove venting varies by the type of fuel being burned in the stove. For instance, wood-burning stoves will always be vented through the roof of your house, but pellet-burning stoves can be vented vertically through the roof, or horizontally through the wall to the outdoors.

What is a flueless wood burner?

Having a flueless fire installed basically means that your fire will not have a flue. With no chimney or any pipes, the flueless fire will operate without both and the emissions from the fire will leave from the top or front. This type of fire burns fuel very cleanly and so the addition of a flue is just not necessary.

Can you have a wood burner without a flue?

Yes. You can install a wood burning stove in properties without a chimney. Stovax has designed a twin-wall flue pipe system – the Stovax Professional XQ™ range – which allows rooms without chimneys to enjoy the benefits of a wood burning stove.

How do flueless stoves work?

How do they work? Flueless gas stoves burn incredibly cleanly, using a catalytic converter to turn carbon monoxide into harmless carbon dioxide and water vapour. As these gasses are perfectly safe, they can be released back into your room without the need for a flue.