If you’re like most people, you probably have a few different wood heaters in your home right now. Maybe you have a gas fireplace in one room and an electric one in another. Or perhaps you’ve got an electric wood heater in one room and a traditional wood fireplace in the next. Regardless of how many heaters you have, the fact remains that they each provide their own unique experience when it comes to keeping your home warm. While it can be nice to have multiple options when it comes to heating your home, having more than one kind of heater can get complicated very fast. That’s why we created this guide about how to shop for a insert wood heater online so that you won’t end up spending hours looking for the perfect model for your specific needs.
- Sizing/dimensions
This is probably the most important part of shopping for a insert wood heaters online. Luckily, they are pretty easy to determine. The first thing to look for when shopping for a wood heater is the size. The size of the heater will depend on how much heat you need in your house. Typically, you will want to get a heater that is between 25 and 50 inches in diameter. Additionally, you will want to make sure that the heater is between 15 and 40 inches in length. However, there is no hard rule when it comes to these dimensions. Manufacturers are generally pretty flexible when it comes to these variables so long as the heater is able to meet local building codes.
- Look & Aesthetics
Once you’ve determined the dimensions of your new heater, it’s time to check out the aesthetics of the model. There are a few factors you will want to take into consideration when it comes to the look and feel of your new heater. For example, many pellet stoves and fireplaces have handrails on the back of the fireplace or stove. These handrails add an authentic fireplace or wood-burning experience to the room they are located in. You will also want to make sure that your new heater is able to keep up with the decor in your home. You don’t want a large, ugly heater right in the middle of your living room.
- Check Efficient Wood Insert
After you’ve selected the right model for your needs and location, it’s time to start looking for efficiencies. First, you will want to check the efficiency rating on the heater. Most efficiency ratings are represented by three numbers between 20 and 90. A high efficiency rating means that the heater produces less heat than it spends. A low efficiency rating means that the heater burns more heat than it produces. Make sure the model you choose has a rating that is appropriate for your specific room.
- Look for Guaranteed Quality
Beyond the efficiency ratings, you will also want to make sure that the wood heater you choose has quality parts. There are a number of ways to go about this. One way is to purchase a wood heater from a company with a history of reliability and sustainability. You will want to make sure, once again, that the model you choose has a proven track record when it comes to sustainability and longevity.
- Look for Venting Options
Depending on your location and climate, you may not need a lot of ventilation between the outside and the inside of your home. In fact, some manufacturers offer heaters with “box-style” configurations where the chimney is located outside of the house. This is great if you’re living in a region with mild winters and you don’t want to deal with the cold air coming in from the outdoors. However, in other regions with cold winters or places with heavy snowfall, you will definitely want to consider adding some kind of air movement. This is the purpose of the ventilation options on your new wood heater.
Final Words
There are a lot of different types of heaters on the market. You may want a gas fireplace in one room and an electric one in another. Or maybe you’ve got an electric wood heater in one room and a traditional wood fireplace in the next. Regardless of how many heaters you have, the fact remains that they each provide their own unique experience when it comes to keeping your home warm.
