Choosing Wood-Burning Appliances

NOTE: When considering a new appliance, be sure to check the Clean Energy Tax Credits for Consumers. Homeowners and renters are eligible for tax credits for certain equipment and energy efficiency upgrades.

When choosing your wood burning appliance, consider efficiency, emissions, and the size of the space you'll be heating. The cleanest wood-burning appliances are marked with EPA-certified and EPA-qualified labels.

Your local hearth retailer can help you make the best choice and provide you with options to suit your needs and budget.

On this page:
Videos

The following links exit the site A Quick Guide on How to Select a New Stove for Home Heat from the State of Washington Department of Ecology

A Video Guide to Operating Your Wood Stove Efficiently from the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

Types of Wood-burning Appliances

If you choose to heat your home with wood, use the cleanest wood-burning appliance possible. People heat their homes with a variety of appliances – either as a primary source of heat, as supplemental heat, or for ambiance.

  • Wood stoves

    A wood stove is a type of wood heater that is usually made of cast iron or steel. Wood stoves that burn wood for fuel can be used as a primary or secondary source of heat. Most stoves in homes are not EPA-certified. EPA-certified stoves are cleaner burning and more energy efficient. Find out if your existing wood stove is EPA-certified.
    Learn about choosing the right wood stove.

  • Fireplace inserts

    Fireplace inserts are similar in function and performance to free-standing wood stoves but are designed to be installed within the firebox of an existing masonry or metal fireplace. A certified installer will make sure the flue liner in your masonry chimney is installed correctly. If your fireplace is factory built (or "zero-clearance"), you must use an insert that was specifically designed and tested for your unit to make it more efficient and less polluting. Find EPA-certified models.

  • Pellet stoves

    Pellet stoves are similar in appearance to wood stoves; however, instead of wood, pellet stoves burn a renewable fuel made of ground, dried wood and other biomass wastes compressed into pellets. Pellet stoves operate by pouring pellets into a hopper which feeds automatically into the stove. Unlike wood stoves and fireplaces, most pellet stoves need electricity to operate.
    Learn more about pellet stoves.

  • Fireplaces

    There are two major types of wood-burning fireplaces, traditional masonry fireplaces and pre-fabricated “low mass” fireplaces. Most fireplaces, whether masonry or low mass, are not used as a primary source of heat; their function is primarily for ambiance and secondary heating. Fireplaces are typically very inefficient heaters. Find EPA-qualified models.  Learn about choosing the right fireplace.

  • Fireplace retrofits

    A fireplace retrofit is a device that is installed into an existing wood-burning fireplace. The primary purpose of the retrofit is to reduce wood smoke pollution from existing fireplaces. A fireplace can be retrofitted with a more efficient gas stove or an EPA-qualified retrofit device. Check with the retrofit manufacturer to see what retrofits are appropriate for your fireplace. If installed and operated properly, fireplace retrofit devices can reduce pollution by approximately 70%. Learn more about fireplace retrofits.

  • Hydronic heaters

    Hydronic Heaters (also called wood boilers, pellet boilers, outdoor boilers, and outdoor water stoves) burn wood fuels such as cord wood, wood pellets, wood chips, or corn. Heat is transferred to either water or a water/anti-freeze solution, which is piped to the area being heated. Hydronic heaters are located either inside or outside the buildings they heat. These types of heaters are used for homes, barns, greenhouses, and garages.  Find EPA-certified hydronic heaters.  Learn about choosing the right hydronic heater.

  • Forced-air furnaces

    Forced-air furnaces (also known as warm-air furnaces) are designed to burn cordwood, wood pellets or wood chips to heat an entire residence. Heat from these furnaces, which are typically located indoors, is distributed through ducts using a blower fan. Stacks or chimneys for these furnaces are generally on the roof of the home they heat. Large forced-air furnaces are capable of outputting 65,000 BTU per hour or more while small forced-air furnaces output less than 65,000 BTU per hour. Find EPA-certified forced-air furnaces.

  • Masonry heaters

    A masonry heater is a site-built or site-assembled solid-fueled heating device, consisting of a firebox, a large masonry mass, and a maze of heat exchange channels. It stores heat from rapidly-burning fires within its masonry structure, and slowly releases the heat into the home throughout the day. Masonry heaters currently do not require EPA certification. The Masonry Heater Association of North America can provide you with more information on masonry heaters and installers near your area.

Alternatives to Wood-Heating

Rather than choosing a wood burning appliance as your primary source of heat, consider a cleaner appliance for your daily heating needs. If you have a wood heater, use it for supplemental heat or as a backup during power outages. Even the cleanest burning wood heating device emits significantly more smoke (particle pollution) than any of the following more efficient, cleaner options:

Gas stoves

Gas stoves burn either natural gas or propane. They emit very little pollution, require little maintenance, and can be installed almost anywhere in the home. Note that gas stoves can range in efficiency, so be sure to compare models before purchasing. Today’s gas stoves can be vented through an existing chimney, or directly vented through the roof or the wall behind the stove. For more information, see the U.S. Department of Energy webpage on gas furnaces and boilers.

While some models are manufactured in a way that do not require outside venting, EPA does not support their use due to indoor air quality concerns -- and in some jurisdictions it is illegal to install unvented gas stoves. See more on indoor air quality and sources of combustion products. 

Heat pumps

A heat pump is an energy efficient, cost-effective system that can both heat and cool your home, eliminating the need for separate systems. The system is installed outside your home and works by transferring heat energy and moving that energy either into (to heat) or out of (to cool) your home.  A heat pump maintains a comfortable temperature in your home year-round in an efficient, environmentally-friendly way. Learn more.

Decorative Fireplace Logs (gas or electric)

Decorative fireplace logs use electricity or burn natural gas or propane and can be installed in an existing fireplace. Although decorative logs provide an alternative to burning wood, they are not designed to be a significant source of heat. 

While some gas logs do not require outside venting, EPA does not support use of these models due to indoor air quality concerns. See more on indoor air quality and sources of combustion products.

Additional Resources

The following websites provide additional information to help you choose the best heating option for your home. The following links exit the site

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Last updated on March 5, 2024