Why Wood Stoves are a Top Choice for 2025 and Beyond!
The Hearthstone Manchester Cast Iron Wood Stove — 55,000 BTU
Colorado homeowners love the idea of a wood stove. However, older wood burners are outdated, inefficient and local environmental disasters. This begs the question, has anything changed in the industry recently to make wood stoves a more desirable option?
On the outside, wood stoves look pretty much the same as they always have. But appearances can be deceiving. So much has changed!
No More Fire-Breathing Dragons!
Wood stove manufacturers now have to meet much more stringent emissions requirements mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
New stoves often feature secondary air inputs which increase the supply of preheated air. This preheated air burns small particles and gases that would otherwise go up the chimney, which reduces emissions by up to 90%. That means you can use your wood stove without guilt even on Denver’s “no burn" days. Today’s wood stoves are actually recognized as carbon neutral by the Carbon Trust!
How can you tell your wood stove burns clean? There is very little smoke coming out of the chimney!
All-Night Heat (No Stoking)!
Modern wood stoves are super efficient. Conventional wood stoves lose a lot of heat through the chimney along with unburned particles that form a gunky layer of creosote that increases the risk of chimney fires and reduces efficiency.
Advanced combustion wood stoves tackle this problem in several ways. Also known as secondary burn stoves, advanced combustion stoves burn hotter than conventional stoves: hot enough to create a secondary burn that incinerates volatile gases and particulates before they escape through the chimney as smoke. Modern wood stoves also have better insulation and materials that reflect heat back into the stove to increase its inner temperature to radiate more heat into the home. And don’t worry - modern safety features and professional installation ensure that these stoves are safe to operate in a home!
How can you tell your wood stove is more efficient? You burn about 30% less wood and you won’t need to get up in the middle of the night to stoke the fire.
Style
Rustic. Ultra-modern. Cast iron. Soapstone. Chunky. Tall. Ornate. Simple. Slender Nordic-style cylindrical stoves. Space-age stoves with a Jetsons vibe. Dozens of sizes, colors, and finishes. There’s a wood stove for every aesthetic!
Have you ever wished that you could see the flames in your wood stove from wherever you are? Traditional wood stoves face forward which restricts the viewing area. Some stoves, like the Bari wood stove by Hearthstone, feature a cylindrical design with a larger viewing area and (wow factor!) a rotating base set on ball bearings that allows you to adjust the viewing area to wherever you are in your space.
Tax Credits
Everyone loves a tax break. Our EPA-certified stoves are eligible for a pretty hefty federal tax credit.
The Biomass Tax Credit applies to qualifying wood stoves through December 31, 2032. This tax credit takes 30% of your project cost up to $2,000. The “project cost” is based on the full cost of the wood stove, including installation. This is a big incentive to switch from an outdated wood stove to a highly efficient, environmentally friendly model!
We are happy to explain the details of this tax credit, which will help offset the cost of installing a new wood stove.
energy independence
Anyone who has lived in Colorado for more than a winter knows that power outages can mean no heat in the home. You don’t have to have an off-grid house to appreciate the on-demand heat that a wood stove can provide, even if the entire neighborhood is without power. Some models even feature a stepped top that can be used as a cook top when needed!
Heating your home with a wood stove also means you’re not at the mercy of ever-increasing utility prices. Firewood is often free, and if not free, very inexpensive compared to natural gas, propane, or electricity.
A modern take on a classic
Whether you’re replacing a wood stove or adding one to boost your home’s comfort, rest easy knowing that today’s wood stoves have come a long way since grandma’s day (or, to be frank, any stove that predates the 2015 EPA regulations). Expect a clean, efficient burn, with aesthetics that fit your Colorado lifestyle!
Cozy season is here — are you ready? Contact the experts at Mountain Hearth & Patio to help you choose and install the perfect wood stove!
