Choosing a wood stove for heat when the power is out
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Quick answer
A wood stove heats without electricity, which makes it one of the few heat sources that works through a long winter outage. Buy an EPA-certified stove. Since May 15, 2020, EPA's limit is 2.0 grams of smoke per hour, with an alternative cordwood method limit of 2.5 g/h. Check thermal efficiency separately from particulate emissions. Match the stove's rated heating area to the space you need to heat. Burn wood seasoned at least six months to under 20 percent moisture. Keep anything that can burn 3 feet away, and have the chimney inspected every year.
Why a wood stove for preparedness
Most central furnaces depend on electric blowers and controls, so a winter outage can leave a house cold even with fuel on hand. A wood stove needs only wood and a working chimney. Some small stoves also have a cooking surface on top. US Stove's 900 square foot cast iron model, for example, lists an integrated cooking surface. That gives you a way to heat water and food too.
EPA certification and what the numbers mean
The EPA's Burn Wise program says its mandatory smoke limit for wood stoves was 4.5 grams per hour (g/h) under Step 1. Step 2 took effect on May 15, 2020 and lowered the standard to 2.0 g/h, or 2.5 g/h for heaters tested with the optional cord wood method. EPA notes some newer stoves certify in the 1 to 4 g/h range. A lower g/h rating indicates lower particulate emissions under the certification conditions. Thermal efficiency is a separate figure.
To check a stove, look for the permanent metal EPA certification label on the back, or find the model on EPA's list of certified wood stoves. Also look for a safety listing from a testing body. The U.S. Fire Administration says to make sure your wood stove has been tested by a qualified testing laboratory.
Catalytic or non-catalytic
EPA says most stoves on the market are non-catalytic. They burn cleanly through firebox insulation, a large baffle that makes a longer, hotter gas path, and pre-heated combustion air. Some popular high-end stoves use a catalytic combustor instead. EPA says these are slightly more complicated to run, and suit owners who like technology and will maintain the stove properly.
Size the stove to the space
EPA's sizing guidance is practical:
- Small stoves: a family room or seasonal cottage.
- Medium stoves: small houses, medium-sized energy-efficient houses, and cottages used in winter.
- Large stoves: larger open-plan houses, or older, leakier houses in cold climates.
Makers publish a heating area range. Two examples:
| US Stove US1269E | Drolet HT-3000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Heating area | Up to 900 sq ft | 1,000 to 2,700 sq ft |
| Max heat output | Up to 54,000 BTU | 110,000 BTU/h |
| Firebox | 1.2 cu ft | 3.5 cu ft |
| Max log length | 19 in | 22 in |
| Emissions | Listed as EPA approved | EPA certified at 1.6 g/h |
| Weight | 144 lb | 525 lb shipping |
Pick the range that matches the rooms you will actually heat, and use EPA's small, medium and large guidance as a cross-check.
Current-source check: Drolet now marks the HT-3000 discontinued. Its figures above identify the legacy stove rather than establish a current buying offer. The cited page does not identify a successor, so do not assume another Drolet model is a direct replacement. US Stove still lists the US1269E as a smaller alternative, but its lower heating area does not replace the large-stove example. For a new large stove, confirm a currently available EPA-certified model and its own installation manual before buying.
Burn dry wood
EPA says wood burns best at a moisture content of less than 20 percent. Season wood for at least six months, and test it with a wood moisture meter before you burn it. EPA's do-not-burn list includes:
- Household trash, cardboard, plastics and foam.
- Coated, painted or pressure-treated wood.
- Plywood and particle board.
- Wet or moldy wood.
For preparedness, that means stocking wood a season ahead, not the week a storm is forecast.
Install and run it safely
The U.S. Fire Administration's wood stove safety card is short:
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from the stove.
- Keep the stove doors closed unless you are loading or stoking the fire.
- Have the chimney inspected and cleaned each year by a professional.
- Put ashes in a metal container with a lid, and set it outside at least 10 feet from the home.
- Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave home.
Maker manuals also list exact clearances to walls for each stove and chimney type. Follow them, and get a permit and inspection where your local code requires one.
What to look for when you buy
Large EPA-certified wood stove
Best for: A larger open-plan house, subject to heating-area and installation checks
EPA describes large stoves as suited to larger open-plan houses or older, leakier houses in cold climates. Select a currently listed certified model with an appropriate heating area.
Watch out: Drolet marks the former HT-3000 example discontinued and does not identify a successor on its cited page. Do not assume remaining listings establish maker availability; verify the exact model and chimney requirements.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Small cast iron wood stove with cooking surface (example: US Stove US1269E)
Best for: A family room, cabin or one zone, with a place to heat food
US Stove lists the US1269E as EPA approved for up to 900 sq ft, up to 54,000 BTUs, a 1.2 cu ft firebox, 19 inch logs and an integrated cooking surface.
Watch out: Too small for a whole house. It weighs 144 pounds and still needs a code-compliant chimney.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Wood moisture meter
Best for: Checking firewood before it goes in the stove
EPA says wood burns best under 20 percent moisture and recommends testing with a wood moisture meter.
Watch out: Test several pieces from each stack, not just one.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Metal ash can with lid
Best for: Removing ashes safely
The U.S. Fire Administration says to put ashes in a metal container with a lid and place it outside at least 10 feet from the home.
Watch out: Keep the can outside and well away from the house, as the safety card says, never indoors or in a garage.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Questions people ask
- What does EPA certified mean for a wood stove?
- It means the stove met EPA's smoke limit. Since May 15, 2020 that is 2.0 grams per hour, or 2.5 with the cord wood test. Look for the metal EPA label on the back.
- What size wood stove do I need?
- EPA says small stoves suit a family room, medium stoves suit small or efficient houses, and large stoves suit big open or leaky houses in cold climates. Compare each maker's heating area.
- How dry should firewood be?
- EPA says under 20 percent moisture, seasoned at least six months.
- How far should things be from a wood stove?
- The U.S. Fire Administration says at least 3 feet for anything that can burn. Wall clearances come from the stove's manual.
- How do I install a wood burning stove?
- Follow the maker's clearances and chimney requirements and your local code, with a permit and inspection where required. The U.S. Fire Administration says the stove should be tested by a qualified laboratory, and the chimney inspected yearly.
Sources
- Choosing the Right Wood-Burning Stove, U.S. EPA Burn Wise
- Best Wood-Burning Practices, U.S. EPA Burn Wise
- Fireplace and Wood Stove Safety, U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA)
- Wood Stove HT-3000, Drolet
- 900 Sq. Ft. Cast Iron Log Wood Stove (US1269E), US Stove Company