In one of the least surprising statements of the year, at Direct Stoves we have a great range of boiler stoves, gas stoves and wood burning stoves. While this huge selection is great for our customers, it does mean we have to help them understand which category of stove is right for them based on their specific requirements.

In this post, we’ll take you through that journey to help you make the right choice when it comes to buying your stove. First, let’s start with the basics.

What is a boiler stove?

The simplest description of a boiler is that it is a metal cavity with water in it. The heat produced from burning your chosen fuel in the boiler stove will heat that water, which can then be used to heat baths, showers, taps and radiators in your home.

So, if we ‘boil’ (sorry) it down to the absolute basics, a boiler stove transfers heat from burning wood (or another fuel type) into the water. The water is then pumped into your central heating or domestic hot water supply, and used to keep your home warm.

What is a gas stove?

Gas stoves can be installed anywhere that there is a gas supply and they are a great choice if you don’t want to be spending as much time cleaning and maintaining a wood burner.

Conventional gas stoves require you to vent the exhaust through a flue system, though flueless gas stoves are also available when this isn’t an option.

What is a wood burning stove?

A stove that burns wood. Simple as that! Although it might seem logical that you’d need a chimney to install a wood burning stove in your home, this isn’t actually the case. Many stove manufacturers are now producing stoves with a flue pipe systems that negate the requirement for a chimney.

wood burning fire

With those basics established, let’s take a closer at the circumstances in which you’d be best advised to choose one type of stove over the other.

Why should I buy a boiler stove?

A boiler stove is the perfect solution if you’re looking for a new way of heating your home, or if you want to save some extra money on your energy bills. You also get to sit in front of a cosy fire at home, safe in the knowledge that it is heating your radiators and your water.

Because of the way it integrates with the plumbing system in your home, installing a boiler stove system (sometimes referred to as a ‘wet system’) can cause a fair amount of upheaval. It can potentially take one to two weeks to fit from start to finish, and the system ideally needs to be designed and installed by a professional.

This means that boiler stoves are brilliant if you’re willing to invest in a heating system for your home that is going to save you money in the long term, but will mean a greater upfront cost and more significant work to have it installed by an expert.

Why should I buy a gas stove?

If you have a gas supply coming into your home and don’t have access to a regular supply of wood (or anywhere to store it), then a gas stove is a great option. As warming and comforting as wood burning stoves are, it’s inescapable that they will require more maintenance and cleaning than a gas stove.

For some people that don’t have time to look after a wood burner, a gas stove is a sensible option. You get the visual impact and warmth of a traditional stove but without having to make the significant time investment.

We have to mention the energy efficiency as well - gas remains the cheapest form of fuel and therefore running a gas stove is likely to be cheaper than running a wood burner. The ability to adjust heat at the push of a button also makes gas stoves a great choice, but keep in mind it is always best to have it installed by a registered Gas Safe engineer.

Why should I buy a wood burning stove?

The crackle of the wood, the scent of the roaring flames, the comforting heat of the fire, pride in the knowledge that this is something you have created. There’s also the savings made on the heating bill. In a recent survey by Which?, 60% of wood burning stove owners said they believed it had saved them money.

One of the most common reasons that people are put off investing in a wood burning stove, however, is that they don’t have a chimney. Although it can make life easier if you do have a house with a chimney, not having one doesn’t mean you can’t have a wood burner. Twin wall chimneys can relatively easily be installed to extract the gases from your wood burning stove, without the need for a chimney.

The other key factor in your buying decision when it comes to a wood burning stove is whether or not you have access to wood, and if you have somewhere to store it and keep it dry. You also have to take into consideration whether or not you work in a Smoke Control area. If you do, then you’ll need to get a DEFRA approved stove.

The summary here is, that if you want to more efficiently heat a single room in your home where you spend the majority of your time, then a wood burning stove is a solid choice. Just remember that you’ll need to think about where you get your wood, how you store it and check whether or not your home is in a smoke control area.

So there you have it, a quick low down of the reasons why you might want to purchase a boiler stove, a gas stove or a wood burning stove. If you have any further question, then please get in touch with a member of our expert team today.

Still not sure? Try looking at our range of electric log burners.