In the old days, in order to cook a meal, you had to do so over an open flame. Whether it was out in the wild or at home, the best way to grill your meats or boil water was with a roaring fire. These days, however, many homes use natural gas or electricity to cook on a stove, but that doesn’t mean wood burning stoves are completely obsolete. In Connecticut, a small minority of houses still have operational wood burning stoves that people still use, either out of necessity or nostalgia. If your house has a wood burning stove or you are thinking of using one, here are the primary benefits and disadvantages of burning wood.
Pros
- Wood is much cheaper overall than gas and electricity
- Fuel for wood burning stoves is easy to find
- Burning wood waste can help maintain forest health
- Over its lifespan, wood that is burned is carbon neutral
- Wood can be certified by the EPA to meet certain ecological standards
- In some cases, wood burning stoves produce less pollution than gas or electric units
- The price of wood is relatively stable while other fuel sources can increase in price
Cons
- Takes more time and energy to get fuel
- Heat generated cannot be controlled as much as with other fuel sources
- Requires constant upkeep and maintenance
- If fuel runs out, you can no longer use the stove until you get more
- Requires storage space for extra wood
- If wood is wet or damp, it will not burn as efficiently
If you are using a wood burning stove, it’s necessary to understand all the conditions that go into it. Safety is the most important thing to consider, so above all, make sure that you get your stove serviced and cleaned regularly, so nothing goes wrong.
