A wood stove in the 21st Century? Guidelines for proper design and maintenance

Installing a stove in a modern home can not only provide an economical source of heat, but also energy independence. Choosing the right stove, optimal positioning in the room and proper maintenance are essential factors to ensure long-term thermal efficiency.

Tudor Burac has been a stovemaker for many years and knows what it means to build a stove that not only provides warmth, but also long-term energy efficiency. From choosing the perfect place for the stove to its annual maintenance, every detail matters when it comes to enjoying comfort and economy during the cold season.

Tudor Burac, stovemaker: "When building a house, together with the architect or designer it's good to analyze where the stove will be placed. The strategic positioning of the stove can increase the thermal comfort of the home, especially when it is placed between the central areas of the house, such as the living room and kitchen. In this way the stove functions as a main heating point and can distribute heat efficiently."

Another important factor for a durable stove is the material from which it is built, the foundation and the chimney. If these elements are correctly determined, the specialist guarantees that the stove can provide years of thermal comfort. Tudor Burac also recommends annual maintenance to prevent slag deposits that can reduce the efficiency of the stove.

Tudor Burac, stovemaker: "Cleaning the interior walls of the stove contributes to better heat transmission and prevents increased wood consumption. Over time, slag deposits on the walls of the stove create a layer that prevents heat from transferring to the brick, acting as a thermal insulation layer, similar to mineral wool. So instead of the heat being absorbed by the brick, it is lost through the drains and goes straight up the chimney. Essentially, we end up wasting money down the chimney."

The stovemaker points out that the way the wood is arranged in the stove also matters to produce the necessary heat. Furthermore, he does not recommend that the fire in the stove should be kept going continuously because the brick from which the stove is built has a limited capacity to store heat.

Tudor Burac, stovemaker: "A well-made fire involves arranging the wood from bottom to top, with the thicker pieces at the bottom and lighting from the top, thus ensuring a clean burn and a constant temperature. For maximum efficiency, I recommend using well-dried wood stored for at least two years."

Whether you are a homeowner, a handyman or a local mayor, in the framework of the “MĂ IMPLIC” project, the “Energy Efficiency” component, dedicated experts and specialists have developed for you a series of free informational materials (guides, leaflets, brochures) with practical recommendations for the energy efficiency of houses. These resources are available to citizens, technicians and local public authorities, providing clear and affordable solutions to reduce the amount of resources consumed and increase thermal comfort in all seasons. All materials can be downloaded from this website – www.ma-implic.md/eneff/.

The informational campaign on the importance of energy efficiency in rural areas of the Republic of Moldova is implemented through the project “MĂ IMPLIC” by Skat Consulting and the National Center for Sustainable Energy (CNED), with the support of the Swiss Government.

A wood stove in the 21st Century? Guidelines for proper design and maintenance

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