Wood stoves for heating a private house: rating of popular models + benchmarks for the buyer

Alexey Dedyulin
Checked by a specialist: Alexey Dedyulin
Author: Tatyana Zakharova
Last update: November 2019

For autonomous heat supply of private estates, various methods are used: they install boilers and fireplaces, equip a "warm floor" system, lay brick stoves, and use modern solar systems. However, metal wood-burning stoves for heating a private house, presented on the Russian market, remain a traditional addition that creates coziness.

In small houses, they serve as the main heating device, and in spacious cottages serve as a backup source of heat. Among the products there are also stylized models that emphasize the retro interior. Consider the best models of different price segments, give their characteristics and features of operation.

We also focus on important criteria that it is advisable to consider when choosing a suitable wood stove for domestic use.

TOP-12 wood stoves for the home

A place
Product
Rating
Thermal power
Fire chamber material
Long burning system
Price
Budget price segment
#1
96
/ 100
15 kW
steel
-
Middle price segment
#1
96
/ 100
9 kW
cast iron
+
#2
94
/ 100
12 kW
cast iron
+
#3
93
/ 100
5 kW
steel
-
#4
91
/ 100
7 kW
cast iron
-
High price segment
#1
96
/ 100
12 kW
cast iron
+
#2
94
/ 100
14 kW
cast iron
+
#3
93
/ 100
6.7 kW
cast iron
-
#4
92
/ 100
14 kW
cast iron
+

Budget price segment

#1

Vesuvius B5

Compact, affordable and attractive stove for small spaces

Expert rating:
96
/ 100

New brand Vesuvius, an excellent option, taking into account the balance of price / quality.It is made of special structural steel, which explains its low cost. The manufacturer paid attention to the design of the wood-burning stove for heating the house: the sides are lined with ceramic inserts, the door is made of cast iron with a decorative pattern.

The grate, like the door, is cast iron. Under the furnace compartment is a sliding ash pan, which is convenient for cleaning. On the top panel there is one fixed burner. The chimney has a top location.

Technical information:

  • location - wall;
  • material - structural steel;
  • type - closed, door cast iron / glass;
  • volume of premises - 100 m³;
  • hob - yes, 1 burner;
  • power - 15 kW;
  • chimney - yes, ⌀ 115 mm;
  • height - 67 cm.

The heater is designed for small rooms of a household type, but is ideal for a summer house or summer kitchen. Steel products are less cast iron, so you do not have to rely on long operation.

B5 appeared on the market quite recently, so there are few reviews on the wood-burning stove for heating the house. However, sellers believe that this is a great option for seasonal use - compact, attractive in appearance and inexpensive.

Advantages
  • Quick room warming up
  • Compact dimensions and light weight
  • Attractive design
  • There is a hob
disadvantages
  • Fire door without glass
  • Fast cooling rate
  • At first, the smell of paint
#2

Breneran AOT-06/00

Sintered buleryan furnace - quick and uniform heating of the house

Expert rating:
95
/ 100

The Breneran furnace is produced in Russia according to Canadian technology. The model of the bezokolosny gas-generating type works efficiently due to the implementation of convection technology.

During heating, warm air goes up into the room, and cold flows are sucked in through the lower openings. Thanks to convection, the house warms up quickly and evenly.

There is no traditional grate in the model; firewood is burned directly on the ash left after the previous operation. The firebox itself consists of two chambers. The lower compartment is intended for burning wood, the upper - for burning gas. This principle of operation provides increased efficiency and economical consumption of firewood.

Technical information:

  • location - wall;
  • material - structural steel;
  • type - closed;
  • volume of premises - 100 m3;
  • hob - no;
  • power - 6 kW;
  • chimney - yes, ⌀ 120 mm;
  • height - 63 cm.

The stove is in demand among buyers due to good performance and affordability. Some do not like the appearance of the unit and the lack of a hob. The model does not have an ash box, so you will have to clean the stove often enough.

Advantages
  • Burning duration with proper laying of firewood
  • The speed of heating the room
  • Combustion rate adjustment
  • Compact dimensions
  • Light weight and easy to install
disadvantages
  • No hob
  • There is no ash box
  • Door without a glass window
#3

FIRE BATTERY 7 anthracite

Long burning stove with two options for connecting the chimney

Expert rating:
94
/ 100

Home stove manufactured by TMF (Thermofor) with a cast iron hob, universal chimney, and long burning function. The walls of the housing are a slot convector, which provides additional heating in the room. Volumetric firebox - 47 l. The location of the chimney with a gate is universal.

The surface of the device is painted with a special metal paint. In addition to the shade of anthracite, you can choose chocolate and anthracite-gray metallic.

Technical information:

  • location - wall;
  • material - cast iron / steel;
  • type - closed, steel / glass door;
  • volume of premises - 150 m³;
  • hob - yes, 1 burner;
  • power - 10 kW;
  • chimney - yes, ⌀ 120 mm;
  • height - 76 cm.

Firewood logs should have a length of not more than 42 cm.If the name of the modification indicates the letter B, the furnace is supplied with a built-in heat exchanger, which is located along the rear wall and has two outputs ¾.

The 7th model, according to reviews, is the most convenient to care for (compared to 9 or 11 models): you can easily get ash from the furnace even from the back wall.

Advantages
  • Stylish design
  • Two options for the outlet of the chimney: side and top
  • Heats quickly and keeps warm for a long time
  • Easy installation
  • Ring with rings of different diameters
disadvantages
  • The stove smokes when kindled
  • Window quickly covered with soot
#4

Convection Stavr 9H

Good value for money

Expert rating:
93
/ 100

The stove of the floor type looks more massive than previous models with elegant legs. The firebox is made of structural steel, but the grate, burner, case and door are made of cast iron. There are options when only a circle or only a cast-iron door. A seal is located around the door perimeter, which increases the burning time up to 8 hours. The pipe fitting is located on top.

The product is suitable for both home and industrial consumption. It will be appropriate in a garage, utility room, greenhouse or in the country kitchen. The recommended length of logs is 40 cm. The side walls are protected by a convection hood.

Technical information:

  • location - floor;
  • material - structural steel;
  • type - closed, cast iron door;
  • volume of premises - 150 m³;
  • hob - yes, 1 burner;
  • power - 9 kW;
  • chimney - yes, ⌀ 115 mm;
  • height - 71.2 cm.

Due to its low cost and compactness, the furnace was immediately appreciated by consumers. Owners of a heater like a wide surface with a hob for 1 burner. Warranty - 1 year.

Advantages
  • Long burning mode
  • High efficiency - 86%
  • Ring with two rings of different diameters
  • Durable cast iron housing
  • Small dimensions of the stove
disadvantages
  • Smell of burnt metal
  • There is no glass window in the door

Middle price segment

#1

Vesuvius Triumph 180

A popular stove for home or garden - a balance of price tag, functionality and power

Expert rating:
96
/ 100

An attractive fireplace stove can handle the heating of a small private house, cottage or garage. The Vesuvius Triumph 180 unit is completely made of cast iron, the thickness of the combustion chamber is at least 12 cm. The furnace door is equipped with heat-resistant glass.

Vesuvius Triumph 180 is able to maintain combustion for up to 8 hours - this is enough to maintain a comfortable temperature all night. The model is equipped with one burner and ash pan, unit maintenance does not cause difficulties.

Technical information:

  • location - wall;
  • material - cast iron;
  • type - closed;
  • volume of premises - 180 m3;
  • hob - yes, 1 burner;
  • power - 9 kW;
  • chimney - yes, ⌀ 115 mm;
  • height - 62 cm.

Users respond positively to the work of Vesuvius Triumph. They praise a good balance of build quality, power and cost. You can purchase a unit for 25-27 thousand rubles.

The stove after kindling quickly warms up the room, and thanks to a roomy firebox, it is not necessary to throw firewood.

Advantages
  • Burning time on one tab of firewood - up to 8 hours
  • Hob with hob
  • Glass door
  • The material of the furnace - cast iron
  • Combustion mode adjustment
disadvantages
  • No clear glass system
  • Door opening only 90 °
#2

MBS Olymp plus

Heating and cooking stove with natural stone trim, firewood drawer and protective railing

Expert rating:
94
/ 100

A vertically located Serbian stove equipped with a cast iron firebox and a long burning system. The side walls and the lower part of the facade are lined with decorative natural stone talcochlorite. Optionally, you can choose the color of the finish: red, cream, gray, brown, black, burgundy.

The stove is equipped with a cast iron burner. The door is made of the same material and glass. The chimney is connected at the rear.Efficiency is 80%, the burning time is about 5 hours. About 2.5 kg of firewood per hour is consumed in the combustion process.

Technical information:

  • location - wall;
  • material - steel / cast iron;
  • type - closed, door cast iron / glass;
  • volume of premises - 150 m³;
  • hob - yes, 1 burner;
  • power - 12 kW;
  • chimney - yes, ⌀ 120 mm;
  • height - 85 cm.

In addition to a convenient ash drawer, there is a small section for storing fuel. A railing is installed around the perimeter of the hob, designed to protect against accidental burns. You can dry towels on it.

Advantages
  • Beautiful design
  • Long burning system
  • Railing around the perimeter of the stove
  • Retractable ash pan and box for storing firewood
  • Glass door
disadvantages
  • Heavy weight due to stone finish
  • Firewood burning time - 3-4 hours
#3

THORMA Bozen

Vertically oriented stove with flame intensity control

Expert rating:
93
/ 100

The stove of the Slovak brand, made entirely of steel, but with a glass door, a rear connection to the chimney, an ash pan and a useful feature - the ability to adjust the flame level. This is a vertically oriented, tall product that has several color options: black, white, burgundy, beige (enamel).

The top surface does not have burners, but it is a hob - it is easy to brew coffee or fry steak on it. All elements are made of steel - this explains the inexpensive cost of the product. Thanks to the firebox stretched upwards, vertical logging is possible.

Technical information:

  • location - wall;
  • material - steel;
  • type - closed, steel / glass door;
  • volume of premises - 124 m³;
  • hob - yes, no burners;
  • power - 5 kW;
  • chimney - yes, ⌀ 120 mm;
  • height - 90.6 cm.

The “clean glass” system operates in the stove - if the wood does not burn out completely, there will be no soot left on the door. The efficiency of the heating unit is 72%.

According to reviews, this is an excellent option for a large hall in a private house or for heating the kitchen / living room in the country. The stove does not take up much space, does not clutter up the interior and is stable.

Advantages
  • Clear glass system
  • Attractive appearance
  • Possible vertical bookmark firewood
  • Light weight and easy to install
  • Flame adjustment
disadvantages
  • No burner
  • Low heat output
  • No long burning system
#4

Kratki Koza K7

Antique cast-iron fireplace stove - a functional complement to the classic interior

Expert rating:
91
/ 100

Compact, low, made in a restrained classical style, a Polish-made stove. The sides of the case are decorated with a pattern. For the manufacture of firebox, cast iron of the brand GGL-150 with a thickness of 8 mm was used.

Below is a narrow retractable ash pan. The chimney is connected to the top panel, manual control of the combustion process is possible.

Polish Koza (it is translated - “goat”) is an analogue of the Russian “potbelly stove”. A small fireplace stove saves space, and is suitable for giving, and for a large cottage. It can be installed in the hall, living room, bedroom or kitchen - as a spare stove.

Technical information:

  • location - wall;
  • material - cast iron;
  • type - closed, door cast iron / glass;
  • volume of premises - there is no data;
  • hob - yes, no burners;
  • power - 7 kW;
  • chimney - yes, ⌀ 130 mm;
  • height - 55.7 cm.

The manufacturer recommends laying firewood raw materials with a moisture content of not more than 20% for the furnace. Users note the excellent quality of cast iron, ease of maintenance, affordable price.

Advantages
  • Warranty - 5 years
  • Stylish performance
  • There is a system of "clean glass" and "cold handle"
  • Two options for connecting to the chimney
  • Compact dimensions and light weight
disadvantages
  • No long burning system
  • No burner
  • Low efficiency - 63%

High price segment

#1

MBS Olympia plus

Excellent wood-burning stove - there is a burner, an oven and a drawer

Expert rating:
96
/ 100

The model is a prototype of the MBS Olymp plus stove, presented in the middle price segment. Both units have structural and external similarities. The main difference is that the Olympia stove is equipped with a steel oven with a temperature sensor.

Technical information:

  • location - wall;
  • material - cast iron, steel;
  • type - closed;
  • volume of premises - 200 m3;
  • hob - yes, 1 burner;
  • power - 12 kW;
  • chimney - yes, ⌀ 120 mm;
  • height - 112 cm.

Chimney connection rear. A retractable ash pan is provided for maintenance. The stove with stone trim, glass doors and protective railing looks attractive and does not spoil the interior of the house. The unit shows good power and quickly warms up the room.

Of the disadvantages, users note insufficient heating of the hob. The burner is more suitable not for cooking, but for heating food.

Advantages
  • High efficiency - 87%
  • Oven with temperature sensor
  • Safety railing and sliding ash pan
  • Long burning mode
  • Attractive design
disadvantages
  • The hob does not heat well
  • Heavy weight due to stone finish
#2

Invicta chamane

French brand model - exclusive design, good rigging and performance

Expert rating:
94
/ 100

A cast iron fireplace stove that performs two functions: practical and aesthetic. Designed to heat a spacious living area, equipped with a large glass door so you can enjoy the flame. Suitable for the hall, living room or hall, rather than for the kitchen. Color - Anthracite.

The device is a long-burning, in normal mode it is heated for 10 hours. The “clean glass" system works. The chimney is connected from above, the loading of firewood is frontal, the recommended maximum length of logs is 33 cm.

Technical information:

  • location - wall;
  • material - cast iron;
  • type - closed, door cast iron / glass;
  • volume of premises - 400 m³;
  • hob - no;
  • power - 14 kW;
  • chimney - yes, ⌀ 180 mm;
  • height - 120 cm.

Efficiency - 78.8%. A productive and effective heat source is not available to everyone who wants to buy it - the cost of the product starts from 80 thousand rubles. However, those lucky ones who nevertheless become owners of a decorative product can enjoy both their appearance and their warmth warming in any weather.

Advantages
  • Beautiful design
  • Clear glass technology and dual-burn system
  • Long burning mode - up to 10 hours
  • Large service area
  • Combustion power adjustment
disadvantages
  • No hob
  • There are complaints of poor quality door hinges
#3

Harvia wu100

A two-burner compact fireplace stove is a good option for a country house or a hunting lodge

Expert rating:
93
/ 100

The Finnish brand has long been known for productive stoves for saunas and baths. However, the WU100 is an appliance designed for home heating. Structurally, it differs in that instead of a heater, a hob is integrated at the top. The product can be found under another name - Harvia 10.

The heat source is designed for a limited room volume, it is suitable for both a summer house and a permanent residence. The furnace body heats up quickly, and cools down and gives off heat slowly - this is the advantage of all cast iron products. If the model WU100 is installed in the room, it will always be warm and cozy.

Technical information:

  • location - wall;
  • material - cast iron;
  • type - closed, door cast iron / glass;
  • volume of premises - 200 m³;
  • hob - yes, 2 burners;
  • power - 6.7 kW;
  • chimney - yes, ⌀ 115 mm;
  • height - 75 cm.

There are 2 large burners on the upper surface, therefore, you can cook a full dinner on the stove. In the lower compartment there is a place for storing firewood, peat briquettes or kitchen utensils.

Advantages
  • There is a shelf for firewood
  • Compact dimensions and light weight
  • Door with heat resistant glass
  • Two cooking hobs
  • High efficiency - 80%
disadvantages
  • No continuous burning mode
  • No clear glass system
#4

MBS Thermo Magnum plus

Premium model - powerful and functional stove with the ability to connect a water circuit

Expert rating:
92
/ 100

The heating and cooking stove from the Serbian manufacturer MBS is equipped with a burner, oven, a drawer for ash and a spacious container for firewood or kitchen utensils. The unit's firebox is cast iron, the doors are equipped with German Schott Robax glass ceramics.

A feature of the Thermo Magnum plus model is the ability to connect to the water circuit of the heating system through a coil heat exchanger (19 l, power 12 kW). There are two options for connecting to the chimney - top or rear.

Technical information:

  • location - wall;
  • material - cast iron, steel;
  • type - closed;
  • volume of premises - 250 m3;
  • hob - yes, 1 burner;
  • power - 14 kW;
  • chimney - yes, ⌀ 150 mm;
  • height - 85 cm.

The weight of the stove is about 180 kg, so the floor must be strengthened before installation. The unit is installed on a steel sheet or on a podium with an area of ​​1 square. m

The model with a water circuit is well suited for heating a two-story house. The pipes are planted in rooms and connected to heating radiators. The temperature of the coolant shows the thermostat, which protects the fireplace stove from overheating.

Advantages
  • Water connection
  • Oven with thermometer
  • Hob with hob
  • There is a drawer for ash, a compartment for firewood and protective railing
  • High heat output
disadvantages
  • Heavy weight
  • No clear glass system
  • The difficulty of adjusting the intensity of combustion

What to consider when choosing a stove?

The characteristics indicated in the technical documentation will help determine the choice of a heating device. But a significant role is played by such a criterion as design. The stove is often installed in the living room or bedroom with a thoughtful interior, and the heater should not stand out from the general background in style, size or shape.

A few choices of wise choice:

But even the most beautiful and stylish stove will be useless if you do not correctly calculate the power and take into account the following, no less important criteria:

  • location;
  • volume of the room;
  • burning time;
  • case material;
  • the presence of a hob, a long burning system, an integrated or connected water circuit.

Power is easiest to calculate using an online calculator. Many manufacturing companies provide this feature on official sites.

To do this, you will first need to find out the data regarding the installation conditions:

  • area;
  • ceiling height;
  • number of external walls;
  • degree of thermal insulation of walls;
  • basement and attic heating;
  • number, size and type of windows.

If the information is entered correctly, you can get the exact parameters of the required heat output.

In standard rooms of medium size, the oven is usually installed either against the wall or in the corner, so you should choose from wall or corner appliances. For the center of the hall is more suitable floor or hanging option.

Spacious room oven
To heat a room of 20 m² with two plastic windows and a ceiling of no higher than 2.7 m, a 3.1 kW stove is required. This is taking into account that the house is insulated, and the attic and basement are heated
Built-in fireplace insert
An interesting solution is the built-in stoves, which are also called fireplace inserts. For their installation, it is necessary to build a fireplace with a chimney and provide maximum protection for walls, floors and other easily combustible surfaces

Burning time is important if the oven is used frequently or continuously. In a long-burning furnace, a special process occurs - the burning of pyrolysis gases, due to which the heat transfer of the device increases, and it is less necessary to throw firewood.

For summer cottages or houses for a weekend trip, you can buy an ordinary potbelly stove with a minimum of functions. The best options for wood stoves for giving we reviewed here.

The best and more expensive material is cast iron. Furnaces from cast iron or even with individual elements from this material look more solid.

Cast iron stove in the interior
Positive aspects of cast-iron furnaces: large heat transfer during the furnace and long inertial heat transfer, strength, durability. However, cast iron is much heavier than steel and requires careful handling - it can crack from impact

Devices made of structural steel “burn out” cheaper and faster, but it is budget stoves that are usually installed in summer cottages, in garages and workshops.

If you need to heat 1-2 adjacent rooms, it is better to purchase a powerful water circuit oven. It requires a careful connection to the heating system, the nuances and norms are usually spelled out in the installation and operation instructions.

Cooking oven
If the oven is necessary at the same time for cooking, suitable options with hobs or an oven. There are not so many models with an oven on the market, but there are enough appliances with 1-2 rings, there is plenty to choose from

In addition to the listed characteristics and design features, it is necessary to pay attention to the method connecting the chimney. Here, the diameter of the outlet pipe, the thickness of its walls, and the location are usually upper, rear, or universal.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

An example of using a wood stove in a country house:

Design features of cast iron products:

Comparative review of the Birch and Vesuvius furnaces:

Modern wood-burning stoves have excellent functionality and serve as an effective source of heat not only for cottages, but also for cottages.

However, for all their merits, one should not forget that wood is a renewable resource, and logging is detrimental to nature. In addition, wood heating has an efficiency of not more than 80% and quickly pollutes soot and soot chimney.

Choose a wood-burning stove for home use and want to consult other users with experience in operating such heating appliances? Ask your questions in the block under the article - our experts and other visitors to the site will try to help you.

If you use one of the furnace models mentioned in our rating, please write your opinion on it, indicate the minuses noticed during operation, as well as the main advantages, in your opinion.

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Visitors Comments
  1. Vlad Moroz

    Good recommendations for choosing a stove. I carefully read and understood what kind of stove I was ready to put in my summer kitchen, which I plan to make an all-season kitchen, so as not to cook in the house. I really liked the Harvia 10 model, the main advantage is the presence of two burners on the hob and high heat dissipation. Well and still attractive quality - cast iron, material, one might say, eternal.

  2. Anton

    Well I do not know. What is the point in modern times in a wood-burning stove? Now there is gas everywhere, highways are pulled even to the smallest villages. This is a much more economical option. There is not enough firewood for a long time, you will constantly need to replenish the supply, this is not even coal, which you brought once a season and drown. Is it easy to take such a stove as an interior item? Only as a backup source of heat will do.

    • Zhenya

      We do not have gas everywhere, and if we compare coal and firewood, then everything has pros and cons. Firewood for the winter should be harvested more in volume 3 times, to keep them in some room so as not to become damp. But if you know the places, then they will be cheaper than coal, and sometimes completely free 🙂

      • Masha

        Hello. It’s not even necessary that there is everywhere, it happens that it’s almost right up to the mark, but technical loading requires connecting to a point that is too expensive for many consumers to pay. You can not go far, on our site there are such messages from visitors.

        By the way, in our city, a KAMAZ loaded with already chopped firewood costs 10 thousand rubles. Kamaz, with a warm house, when heated only with wood, is enough for the entire cold season.

        For gas heating, people pay up to 3 thousand rubles per month. For 7 months, in cold regions, about 21 thousand are released. If we talk about gas prices in a neighboring country, then it’s better not to say anything at all 🙂

        Firewood is often offered by people for free when they break down old buildings and saw their trees. It remains only to get involved for the delivery, guided again, in their region - 1000 rubles.

        The savings are significant and for those who live in the forest belt, from this year they allowed to collect deadwood and dead wood.

        And when combined with gas heating, there is generally beauty comes out.

        So, there are really many advantages of stove heating.

    • Expert
      Alexey Dedyulin
      Expert

      Let me disagree with you. The fact that the Russian Federation is the main gas supplier in the world does not mean at all that gas is supplied to each house in our country. Do you think people just stoke wood like that? So to speak, to comply with traditions? Of course not.

      He has left 80 km from Moscow, I will not name the village, there is a gas pipeline nearby, but they have not been able to conduct gas in the village for several years. Many pensioners solely use wood and drown, which they procure personally. I think that in Siberia there are many villages where firewood is the main fuel for the stove in the winter.

      The stoves discussed in the article may not be suitable for most people, but there is still a demand for such equipment. Another thing is that many will give preference to solid fuel boilers and will be right, since they are much more practical and have higher efficiency when compared with wood stoves for heating a private house.

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