https://morphomics.science/wiki/The_Three_Greatest_Moments_In_Wood_Burning_Stoves_History The Benefits of a Woodburner Stove Wood stoves use constant air flow to generate fire and heat. Fresh air is drawn in through adjustable dampers, which are typically located inside the door of the stove. Exhaust gases are then drawn upwards through a chimney, safely leaving your home. Modern wood stoves that do not have catalytic technology rely on secondary combustion to increase their efficiency. However, they will inevitably develop creosote when not used correctly. Energy Efficiency Modern woodburner stoves are engineered to maximize efficiency in heating and the combustion process being optimized to burn firewood in the most efficient way possible. This means that more of the fuel is converted to heat and less is wasted in the form of gasses that are not burned or smoke. The BTU per hour is the most important factor to take into account when choosing a woodburner. This number gives you an idea of the amount of heat the stove is capable of producing and is usually an accurate indicator of its ability to efficiently heat your home. It is important to evaluate wood stoves on the basis of their efficiency in combustion as well as heating efficiency. The efficiency of combustion is how much of the fuel is turned into useful heat, while the efficiency of heating transfer is how the stove is able to convert the heat into warm air inside your home. Stoves with a catalytic combustor can achieve very high levels of combustion efficiency because the combustor is able to re-burn some of the gasses that have escaped the initial combustion process. This helps to reduce the amount of creosote that is flammable in the chimney, and also cleans the exhaust gases. Modern non-catalytic stoves may be very efficient, however they tend to burn a little more hot and are less efficient at lower temperatures. It's worth bearing in mind that the energy efficiency of the stove is only dependent on th