Ways to Use a Wood Burning Stove

Old wood heaters are only appropriate for outdoor use if they leak smoke.

Modern wood burning stoves are efficient heating devices that feature a number of safety devices and air pollution reducing elements. Most people are familiar with a wood stove as a source of heat, but these appliances can provide more than just a warm house. Depending on the model you buy and how you install it, you can use it for a variety of household tasks.

Heating

The most common use of a wood burning stove is home or workshop heating. The U.S. Department of Energy says that burning wood for heat is a good choice because wood is a renewable fuel, and it is also less expensive than oil or gas in many parts of the country. Homeowners with large properties and physical strength can harvest their own fuel wood at no cost. One drawback to heating with a wood burning stove is a lack of heat control. Once the fire is burning inside the stove, it will produce a specific amount of heat until it burns out, and you can't simply turn it off if you get too warm.

Cooking

Before electric ranges and other modern conveniences, cooking on the hot top of a wood burning stove was common. Some wood stoves are designed for cooking with special removable plates for direct heat, but Mother Earth News says any wood stove with a flat surface can be used for some form of cooking. Frying requires the high temperatures of direct flame, but heating water, cooking stews and slow roasting food in a dutch oven can be performed with lower temperatures. Cast iron and other thick metal cookware is recommended for use on a wood burning stove.

Hot Water

Your wood stove can produce hot water for bathing or washing clothes says Mother Earth News but must install a device that can handle the pressure of boiling water. Trying to make a homemade water heating attachment is dangerous due to the risk of burst pipes that spray super-heated steam and water everywhere. Many wood burning stove manufacturers produce safe, tested water heating attachments designed for use on a specific model. Using one of these devices will produce plenty of hot water without the safety risks.

Waste Wood Reduction

Although seasoned hard wood produces the cleanest and most efficient fire, waste wood can also be used in properly airtight wood burning stoves, says the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Program. If your property has an abundance of fallen branches, old logs and other wood waste, you can clear your yard while producing heat in the winter. Waste wood fires produce a lot more smoke, so homeowners in areas with emissions regulations and nearby neighbors should avoid this practice.

References

• U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Savers - Wood and Pellet Heating
• Mother Earth News; Wood Stove Cooking; Fred and Helen Brassel
• University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Program: Wood Stoves
• Mother Earth News: Build a Woodstove Water Heating Attachment