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Select and size a certified wood stove

A modern certified stove burns cleaner and uses less wood than an old or uncertified one. Sizing matters: an oversized stove gets run smouldering, which wastes fuel and builds creosote.

How

1. Choose a stove listed in the EPA certified wood heater database (US) or your country's equivalent clean-burn approval.
2. Compare efficiency: DOE lists catalytic stoves up to 83% and advanced non-catalytic stoves at 65 to 75% (higher heating value basis).
3. Match output to your design heat load from thermal-2, not to floor area alone. DOE gives rough examples (about 60,000 Btu/h, or 17.6 kW, for about 2,000 sq ft) but your insulation level changes this a lot.
4. Plan where the stove sits so heat can spread through open plan areas, and where firewood will be stored and carried in.
5. Use the firewood calculator below to check your woodlot or supply can meet a full season.

Safety: Never burn wet wood, rubbish or treated timber. Wet wood creates heavy smoke and creosote, which can cause chimney fires.

Sources

1. Wood and Pellet Heating. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver, accessed 2026-11
2. Choosing Wood-Burning Appliances. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, accessed 2026-11
3. Wood Heating. Utah State University Extension, accessed 2026-11

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