As there can be many options when it comes to buying a backpacking stove so many backpackers get confused in choosing the best stove. It is an extremely useful item so making the correct choice is key so follow these great tips to realize the options that are available.
When it comes to choosing a backpacking stove the first thing you should consider is choosing a stove that actually satisfies your backpacking needs. A huge bulky stove is no good for backpacking but in contrast, a stove that is too small isn't much use either as it will be too small to prepare your food. Although you should consider your own requirements when you are choosing one, there are a few basic points to bear in mind that every backpacking stove should have.
A backpacking stove needs to be durable and sturdy. It is much safer to have a sturdy stove. Look for features like strong legs as you may not always have smooth ground to set up your stove. You should be able to stir a pot without it tipping over.
Choose a stove that is easy and simple to use. Look how easy it is to set up and fold up once you have finished using it. It should fold up to be very compact so it can fit in your backpack without taking up too much room. Observe how easy it is to connect up to your fuel and disconnect afterwards. Fully read the instructions and understand how to vary the heat. There are stoves available with built in wind screens - this is something you may want to consider as it is a brilliant help in windy weather so that your stove stays lit throughout your cooking.
Friday 30 October 2009
Wednesday 28 October 2009
Wood Burning Stoves - Which One is the Right One For You?
There are hundreds of different wood burning stoves available to you. How do you decide which on is the right one for you. Here are some of the very basic things that you need to consider before you buy.
The very first thing to figure out is whether you are going inside or outside. Which ever you choose there are distinct advantages to both.
If you go outside then you will be keeping the mess of the wood and smoke outside of the house. The down side is that you will have to run plumbing from the outside of the house to the inside. With many wood burning appliances the size and weight of the stove will make it almost impossible to get it inside the house.
If you go inside, then you have the mess of the wood and sometimes smoke when you load the stove in the house. The plumbing part will be made easier. If you are going with a hot air wood furnace then you will almost have to go inside, because there are not very many good options to get hot air into the house from the outside. Simply getting the wood furnace into the house can be very difficult because of the physical size and weight of the unit.
As you begin to think about which wood burner you are going to buy, you need to narrow the basics down first. Will you be using hot air or hot water? Are you going inside the house or outside the house? Are you hooking to a central heating system or just heating an area? And maybe, you need to question whether wood is the primary fuel that you want to burn? Wood pellets, corn, sawdust, or coal may also be viable options.
Searching for the right heating for your home can be a difficult process. Make sure that you explore all of the many options that you have to make sure that you purchase the right wood burning stove for you home.
The very first thing to figure out is whether you are going inside or outside. Which ever you choose there are distinct advantages to both.
If you go outside then you will be keeping the mess of the wood and smoke outside of the house. The down side is that you will have to run plumbing from the outside of the house to the inside. With many wood burning appliances the size and weight of the stove will make it almost impossible to get it inside the house.
If you go inside, then you have the mess of the wood and sometimes smoke when you load the stove in the house. The plumbing part will be made easier. If you are going with a hot air wood furnace then you will almost have to go inside, because there are not very many good options to get hot air into the house from the outside. Simply getting the wood furnace into the house can be very difficult because of the physical size and weight of the unit.
As you begin to think about which wood burner you are going to buy, you need to narrow the basics down first. Will you be using hot air or hot water? Are you going inside the house or outside the house? Are you hooking to a central heating system or just heating an area? And maybe, you need to question whether wood is the primary fuel that you want to burn? Wood pellets, corn, sawdust, or coal may also be viable options.
Searching for the right heating for your home can be a difficult process. Make sure that you explore all of the many options that you have to make sure that you purchase the right wood burning stove for you home.
Tuesday 20 October 2009
Shopping For a Woodstove: Features to Look For
If you're like millions, and are desperately searching for an alternative heating source to oil for this coming fall/winter, then you've probably considered investing in a wood stove. In my opinion, they're great! They're economical, energy-conscious, aesthetically charming, and most effective. But, if you are in the market for one for either, the first time or the first time in a long time; you'll need to know all the contemporary features that woodstoves now offer. Below, is a quick reference guide on the most important features to look for in a new wood burning stove for your home.
· Material
There are three basic materials that your new woodstove can be made from: welded steel, soapstone, and cast iron. Starting with the most basic, welded steel is the least aesthetic and consequently the cheapest of the three, so if you are looking for purely functional: this is your best bet. Cast iron is probably the most popular and prevalent among homeowners, because it is functional, beautiful, and moderately priced. Soapstone is what is regarded as the Cadillac model of woodstove. It has a very different, yet pleasing look to it; and offers the same top-notch efficiency and functionality as well.
· Catalytic or Non-Catalytic Combustion
Basically, catalytic combustion wood stoves use a technology where the exhaust gasses are developed through a filter of sorts, outside of the main firebox; to produce a long, steady heat output. Non-catalytic, on the other hand, produces its combustion or heat in the firebox and uses something called a baffle to divert gas; and pre-heated air to produce a more powerful, shorter-term (yet efficient) heat output. You'll find in shopping that the higher-end models typically use catalytic technology, but this is not necessarily the best choice; as manufacturers are swiftly switching to production of non-catalytic-most probably due to efficiency and emissions standards.
· Heat Output
If this is your first time shopping for woodstoves, you may have no idea what kind of heat power your house will need. Typically, an average-sized medium home needs 5,000-20,000 BTUs per hour to keep itself warm continuously; but of course this depends whether you have a catalytic or non-catalytic wood stove, and the more specific size of your home. It's always best to ask what the manufacturer or store recommends for your given square footage home.
· Heating Capacity
When it comes to how much home a given wood stove will heat, knowing your home's square footage can be helpful but should not be paramount when deciding what size woodstove you will buy. For example, perhaps you have a large home with a lot of square footage, but it's broken down into lots of small spaces. In this case, buying a large capacity woodstove will not necessarily serve you well. This being said, here is a general rule of thumb when it comes to choosing the size of your woodstove: small stoves will heat a large room or small house, medium wood stoves will heat a medium-sized home, and large woodstoves will best heat a larger home or one that isn't well insulated (an older home typically).
· Material
There are three basic materials that your new woodstove can be made from: welded steel, soapstone, and cast iron. Starting with the most basic, welded steel is the least aesthetic and consequently the cheapest of the three, so if you are looking for purely functional: this is your best bet. Cast iron is probably the most popular and prevalent among homeowners, because it is functional, beautiful, and moderately priced. Soapstone is what is regarded as the Cadillac model of woodstove. It has a very different, yet pleasing look to it; and offers the same top-notch efficiency and functionality as well.
· Catalytic or Non-Catalytic Combustion
Basically, catalytic combustion wood stoves use a technology where the exhaust gasses are developed through a filter of sorts, outside of the main firebox; to produce a long, steady heat output. Non-catalytic, on the other hand, produces its combustion or heat in the firebox and uses something called a baffle to divert gas; and pre-heated air to produce a more powerful, shorter-term (yet efficient) heat output. You'll find in shopping that the higher-end models typically use catalytic technology, but this is not necessarily the best choice; as manufacturers are swiftly switching to production of non-catalytic-most probably due to efficiency and emissions standards.
· Heat Output
If this is your first time shopping for woodstoves, you may have no idea what kind of heat power your house will need. Typically, an average-sized medium home needs 5,000-20,000 BTUs per hour to keep itself warm continuously; but of course this depends whether you have a catalytic or non-catalytic wood stove, and the more specific size of your home. It's always best to ask what the manufacturer or store recommends for your given square footage home.
· Heating Capacity
When it comes to how much home a given wood stove will heat, knowing your home's square footage can be helpful but should not be paramount when deciding what size woodstove you will buy. For example, perhaps you have a large home with a lot of square footage, but it's broken down into lots of small spaces. In this case, buying a large capacity woodstove will not necessarily serve you well. This being said, here is a general rule of thumb when it comes to choosing the size of your woodstove: small stoves will heat a large room or small house, medium wood stoves will heat a medium-sized home, and large woodstoves will best heat a larger home or one that isn't well insulated (an older home typically).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
RSS Feed (xml)
