Heating Your Home in the Winter
As the weather gets colder and the night gets darker, you’re probably starting to think about the different ways to keep your home warm. In the UK, wood stoves, log fires and other wood-fueled heating sources have become increasingly popular. In this article, we’re going to talk about the different options for winter heating and the best type of wood to use.
Log Fireplace
The log fireplace is a great way to give your home a boost of heat in the winter, and when planned in advance can be fairly cost-effective. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but they are also able to quickly and efficiently circulate heat around your home. Additionally, wood tends to be cheaper than what you would spend on an electric or gas bill, especially if you’re willing to buy the wood in bulk.
The only downside to traditional fireplaces is they tend to release a lot of the heat through the chimney and can be more dangerous when left unattended.
Wood Stove
Finding the right type of wood stove for your home depends mainly on the size of your house and it’s level of insulation. Oftentimes in newer builds, fireplaces and wood stoves are less common, but they may be worth the investment depending on your heating needs.
Wood stoves produce a great fire that is lovely to look at, but the real magic comes from the material it’s made out of. The majority of wood stoves are made out of cast-iron which is a material known for holding and radiating heat.
Cast-iron wood stoves are more efficient than traditional fireplaces as they trap the thermal energy within the stove and emit the heat slowly.
Best Type of Wood?
If you’ve decided you want to invest in either a fireplace or wood stove, you’ll likely want to know about the best types of wood to use. Wood can be expensive, but there are ways to get the most out of what you buy. We highly suggest using kiln-fired wood rather than the typical seasoned log. With Kiln-dried logs, you’ll get a much longer, smoother burn and much better value for your money.
If you’d like to learn more about the difference between kiln-dried wood and seasoned logs, check out our article here.
If you’ve got any questions regarding wood stoves, fireplaces or the best type of wood for your home, give us a call. We’d be happy to have a chat!