Let’s talk about how to safely heat with wood. I’ve been in the alternative heating business for more than 15 years. During that time, I’ve put heaters in remote tiny houses, large cabins, barns, and even a geodome!
Winter is Coming – Plan Now
Winter is coming. Please plan now, if you are not ready or if you need to make some revisions to your heating configuration. This year, most of the country was hammered with harsh winter storms. Make sure to plan now.
The Wood Stove
Just as the foundation of a home is what everything is built on, the same goes for the wood stove you are heating with. Choose a quality heater and the reward will be years of reliable off-grid heat with little maintenance.
Most freestanding heaters do not require electricity to heat a home sufficiently. Additionally, they can serve as your back up cooking surface as well. I highly recommend looking at a quality, used heater instead of buying an inexpensive one online, if you are needing to save money.
Purchase a stove with a long burn time. Most of the cheap, “made in China” heaters won’t be a good choice. You don’t want to be constantly tending to the firebox for reloading, and you certainly don’t need to waste firewood. The heater in my off grid cabin has a large firebox with more than an 8-hour burn time.
I made the mistake in the beginning of having a heater with a smaller firebox and it would not last through the night, which meant I woke up to a cold cabin a few too many nights. My new stove is a little larger than I need at the moment. However, I plan on adding to the overall footprint of the cabin soon, so keep that in mind if you plan on doing the same thing eventually.
Continue reading“How To Safely Heat With Wood, by W.S.”