You have bought the stove, you have your wood supply to hand and this new style of heat is deep-seated and extremely welcome. However, are you making the most of your wood-burning stove? Are you making life as simple as possible when collecting fuel? There are some interesting accessories for the modern day wood-burning stove enthusiast to consider.
Log carriers and log baskets
Whether you are carrying logs in from nearby or you are venturing into the woods to find natural fuel you will need to consider a log carrier and a log basket. There are many different types of log carrier and log basket made from different materials and different styles. One of the more popular types has to be the wicker basket which doubles up as a log carrier and a stylish log basket.
Heat powered stove fan
Have you ever heard of thermoelectric? Well, you can now buy heat powered stove fans which can be placed on top of your stove and use the heat to create an electric current which power the blades. There are many different styles and variations to the heat powered stove fan but some of the fans today can circulate up to 100 ft.³ of air per minute which can certainly make full use of the heat emitted from your stove. The fact there are no additional power sources needed for this type of fan make it not only cheap to run but also extremely environmentally friendly.
Stove thermometer
We have covered the value of stove thermometers in the past and while they are seen as an accessory, in many ways they are a necessity. This simple device can be placed on the top of the stove or more commonly on the stove pipe which joins with the flue pipe. There is such a thing as overheating with a wood-burning stove, which can cause irreparable damage, and while not a common occurrence it is very useful to know if it is occurring. There are a number of actions you can take to correct this and avoid long-term damage to your stove – predominately by adjusting the air intake and the type of fuel you are using.
Fire screens
Due to the way in which a wood-burning stove is designed, you will not experience the spitting which can occur with a traditional coal fire. All of the combustion is confined within the combustion chamber although where there are children, pets or you require further protection from accidental burning then a fire screen could be a godsend. These are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and while perhaps more associated with protecting children they offer an added layer of protection for everyone.
Stove gloves
While it is tempting to use any old pair of gloves to fill your wood-burning stove with the latest batch of logs, there are specific stove gloves on the market each offer added protection. Even if your stove is cooling down, the heat output once you open the door to add the logs can still be significant and potentially dangerous. The better styled stove gloves are particularly long so that they cover not only your hands and fingers but also part way up your arm. They are made from materials which are heat resistant and are much safer than a standard pair of gloves.
More accessories available
This is just a small selection of the array of stove accessories available today which make further use of the heat created by your wood-burning stove as well as making them safer to use.