Winter is coming and it's time to fill your oil tank. And if you would take the opportunity to think about investing in a wood heating? Whether primary or additional, it is the most sustainable and ecological means of heating. If it presents some constraints, it allows to make substantial savings. Here is our mini-guide!

Economical, ecological, design, warm: the advantages of wood heating are numerous and are attracting more and more French people, whether they want to reduce their electricity bill or their ecological footprint. Faced with this growing demand, various models of wood-burning stoves have appeared, both in terms of design and in terms of the fuels used. So how do you find your way around and choose the right wood stove for your needs? We guide you.

Firewood, an Economic Solution

One of the advantages, objectives, of heating with wood is its lower cost than electric heating, gas or fuel oil, and it is often this reason that prompts consumers to buy a wood stove.

And they are right. Wood, whether logs or pellets, is indeed the cheapest fuel.

Urban artist acquire a wood stove  makes eligible for the sustainable development tax credit, on condition that the stove is labeled "Green flame". This tax credit is 18% for the first purchase of a wood stove and amounts to 31% of the price of the new equipment in the case of a replacement of an old stove. Enough to encourage the French to change their heating habits.

Firewood, an ecological alternative

In addition to this economic aspect of wood heating, the latter is also very ecological. This is why we speak of “eco-friendly” fuel: economical and ecological.

Indeed, the combustion of wood, whether it is logs or pellets, has a so-called neutral carbon balance. That is to say that the quantity of CO2 released by it is compensated by the absorption of the same quantity of CO2 during the growth of the tree by photosynthesis. Be careful however with the origin of the wood, because this carbon balance only takes into account the combustion of wood and not the energy necessary for the exploitation of forests or the transport of wood.

Burning wood, on the other hand, emits very fine particles. In this regard, it is the pellet stove that stands out in that it emits 10 times less fine particles than wood logs and 450 times less than a traditional open fireplace.

This ecological assessment of the wood stove is the real reason for the sustainable development tax credit: to replace polluting and aging equipment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the objectives of the Grenelle Environment Forum.

Wood Stove Logs or Pellet Stove?

There are two main families of wood stoves on the market: the log stove and the pellet or pellet stove. The first, which consists of burning wooden logs, differs from the traditional fireplace only by a more efficient air circulation system. The second, on the other hand, is powered by wood pellets called pellets and has a tank that offers automatic operation.

If both types of stoves are both additional heaters, the log stove essentially allows one or more rooms to be heated quickly, while the pellet stove allows constant heat to be distributed over a longer period of time.

Another important difference concerns the maintenance of the wood stove. If the log stove, like the classic fireplace, only requires one to two sweeps per year, the pellet stove requires regular cleaning as well as professional cleaning every two years.

Also a pellet stove needs a permanent power supply.

On the other hand, the aesthetic dimension of the wood stove being important in the purchase decision, it should be known that, in addition to the design itself of the stove, which depends on individual tastes, the aesthetics of the flame differ according to the type of stove, the log generating more beautiful natural flames than the pellets. Designers today make stoves with a very modern look.

Finally, in terms of cost, the price of the log stove is generally lower than that of the pellet stove, as is the price of logs compared to that of pellets.

Conclusion: Which Wood Stove is Right for Me?

You will understand that choosing a wood stove is a very personal matter. A few leads, however:

• If your goal is purely economical, the log burner will be the best option.
• If your main concern is your ecological footprint, then the pellet stove may be more interesting.
• If the aesthetics of the flame and the crackle of the fire are paramount to you, then the log stove will be the best choice.
• If you are often away or do not want to reload the stove regularly, then the automatic side of the pellet stove will appeal to you more.

To learn more about wood heating, do not hesitate to read our complete file on wood heating, to seek advice from specialists on our forum dedicated to heating or to make a research