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Stove or fireplace: What to choose? Stove or fireplace: what to choose. What is better for heating a home: a stove or a fireplace.

When decorating a room with a heating device, the question of choosing a stove or fireplace can cause a lot of controversy. After all, the design must flawlessly fulfill its main purpose - to be safe and comfortable to use. Not the least important thing when determining which is better is a stove or a fireplace, is the appearance. Aesthetic properties and the ability to harmoniously combine with the overall interior are important selection parameters for the modern user.

What is the difference between a stove and a fireplace?

What is better, a stove or a fireplace? First, you need to clearly define what these devices are and what their significant differences are. Already in the definitions lies the approximate direction for choosing one or another design.

A heating stove is a device that, when burning fuel, accumulates heat, followed by a slow and long-term distribution of it in the room.

In the manufacture of heating stoves, heat-intensive materials such as thick-walled steel or cast iron are used. Possessing thermal inertia, they are able to accumulate more heat. Subsequently, the energy collected from the flame heats the air in the room. A feature of such structures is that when heat is released, the walls of the furnaces do not cool down immediately. Due to this, a gradual increase in air temperature is achieved and its comfortable level is maintained for a long time. Some stove models are lined with ceramics.

They do this for two reasons:

  • To improve the design: stoves with ceramic tiles look impressive;
  • To increase heating efficiency: ceramic tiles increase heat capacity and contribute to better and longer-lasting heating of the room.

Furnaces with ceramic lining are characterized by even greater thermal inertia. Such structures give off heat after the fire has died out much longer.

Fireplaces are decorative ventilation devices that distribute thermal energy locally and over a short distance.

One of the main functions of a fireplace is to provide an overview of the hearth. When designing a fireplace, more attention is paid to design and increasing the size of the portal. Such structures are less often made from thick-walled materials. Therefore, fireplaces are not equally capable of providing the process of long-term heat transfer into the room as a stove. Heating with such devices is carried out throughout the combustion of the fuel. After extinguishing the fire, heat transfer stops and the room begins to cool.

For what purposes do we choose a heating device?

The main difference between stoves and fireplaces dictates the choice of their scope of application. Since the devices are, one way or another, designed for heating, when choosing, you need to decide how often you want to use the structure.

Heating stoves are designed for long and constant burning. Such devices can be used not only as an additional, but also as the main source of heat. Long-burning and high-power stoves are available for sale. They provide many hours of operation of the device from one load. Such models are best suited for installation in permanent residences. For periodic use in dachas, country houses and private houses, you can choose stoves without a long-burning function

Most heating stoves are highly efficient devices that provide fuel efficiency (efficiency) up to 70 - 80%

Fireplaces are mainly chosen for occasional use. Most models are not designed to heat efficiently. Therefore, fireplaces will be an excellent addition to housing with an existing heating system. They are chosen for a country house or cottage with periodic visits. It’s always a pleasure to spend an evening near such a device.

What area are stoves and fireplaces designed for?

The power parameter of a heating device affects its ability to heat a specific area of ​​the room. An approximate calculation is 1 kW of device per 1 m2 of room. This characteristic is required for both stoves and fireplaces.

The heating power of fireplaces is usually small. Depending on the design of the firebox, chimney and model, such devices are designed to heat up to 40 - 80 m2. For heating a large house, it may be more rational to choose stoves. These devices can have a heating power of up to 22 - 25 kW. These values ​​are quite enough for high-quality heating of a house of 250 m2.

Recently, fireplace stoves have become very popular. Such hybrid appliances combine the properties of both designs: good power, decorative and elegant appearance, excellent visibility of the fireplace.

Fireplace stoves are a good compromise in deciding which is better. The device combines the necessary qualities of both a fireplace and a stove.

The choice of a fireplace or stove should be based on practicality and functionality, the size of the room and the frequency of use of the device. That is why a clear answer to the question: “What is better than stoves or fireplaces?” can only be given by everyone for themselves. After all, for some users it is important to enjoy burning with live fire. Others choose a full-fledged heating device.

Fireplace


A fireplace can decorate a country house and fit harmoniously into any interior. It will quickly heat the room, but not for long. Therefore, you will need a full heating system. The choice of fireplace is based on the purpose of its installation.


If you need heat in your home, and, therefore, you will often use the equipment, then the best option would be with a closed fireplace fireplace. You can buy it both for a dacha and (on the top floor) for a city house. The design of the closed firebox involves a self-cleaning and fireproof glass damper covering the hearth. This fireplace model is as safe as possible and has high efficiency, economically consuming firewood.


To install a fireplace for purely aesthetic purposes, use "interior" fireplaces. Such models provide an open firebox (without a glass damper). An important point here is the obligatory supervision of the burning fireplace. Special screens and grilles are required to protect against “shooting” coals or clumsily thrown firewood by children. However, such measures do not provide a complete guarantee. In addition, it is difficult to control the consumption of wood in an open fireplace. Therefore, if you want the mesmerizing flames and relaxing crackling of wood to delight your guests all evening, you will have to stock up on an impressive armful of dry firewood.


Another type of fireplace is the barbecue fireplace. These are open structures installed outdoors. They are also called outdoor grills. This model is relevant for people who often use their dacha for culinary feasts with kebabs, barbecues, etc. When choosing such a fireplace, it is important to remember to regularly clean it from residues and splashes of your cooking.


Attention!


  • The fireplace must be installed in a spacious room (at least 20 m), avoiding possible drafts.

  • The fireplace wall must be made of fireproof materials and be free of any communications passages.

  • If the fireplace is installed against an external wall, do not forget about its external (!) thermal insulation. To do this, you can use basalt wool covered with foil.

  • It is important to take care of the strength of the floor. A concrete screed or a platform made of a metal profile is required (in a wooden house).

Bake


The stove is good where, but it requires long-term maintenance of heat. And although it does not warm up the room quickly, the effect is quite long-lasting. Building a stove on your own, like our grandfathers and great-grandfathers had, is a complex and tricky task. A reliable master is needed here. In the absence of one, you can choose a simplified option - buy a stove (household, metal).


When choosing, you should consider the basic requirements:


1. The efficiency of the furnace should be 75-85%. You can learn about this from the instructions. Otherwise, the consumption of firewood can significantly hit your pocket.


2. Fire safety of the furnace is no less important. Find out if you have the appropriate certificate.


3. The selected stove must fit harmoniously into the room at an appropriate distance from the wall and the presence of a chimney.


Attention!


The weight of the stove is quite significant. Therefore, take care of the strength of the floor. Concrete floors or a foundation will help strengthen it.



Stove-fireplace


A stove-fireplace for a summer cottage is perhaps the most ideal option for those who find it difficult to make a choice. This design perfectly combines the advantages of a fireplace and stove. It quickly warms up the room and keeps it warm for a long time. An aesthetic effect can be achieved thanks to well-chosen cladding.


There are not many things that could look more comfortable and smell nicer than burning logs. That is why every owner of a private home is faced with the question of choice: fireplace or stove? Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is worth comparing them with each other and making the right decision.

Aesthetics

Let's start comparing the fireplace and stove from an aesthetic point of view. The authentic design of a real stone fireplace is incomparable to anything else. Mosaic tiles, brickwork, carefully laid stone, marble cladding, all this will become the central element of any living space. The dancing flames, the incredible appearance of the stone vault, and the smell of wood burning in the fireplace make it extremely popular with homeowners.

On the other hand, although wood-burning stoves can be made in different styles: from modern smooth and glossy to traditional old Russian ones, they are not so easy to fit into the overall interior. Due to the fact that all wood-burning stoves are necessarily equipped with glass doors, you will not be able to enjoy the sight of a live fire.

Safety

Any structure that has a focal device may encounter inherent safety issues. Unlike gas fuel, byproducts and creosote from wood burning can accumulate in the chimney and create a serious fire hazard. Certified freestanding stoves offer a more complete combustion process than open fireplaces. And they are not as susceptible to creosote buildup as open burning fireplace mantels.

Sparks are another dangerous cause of fire. They can easily fly out of open fireplaces, causing personal injury or property damage. Of course, installing screens and doors on fireplaces can help ensure fire safety. But on the other hand, ovens are already pre-equipped with these safety mechanisms, and you won't have to put in any extra effort.

Also, an open burning fireplace can become a potential safety issue for children and pets. Wood stoves are again safer in this regard. Although there is a possibility of burns in case of contact directly with the oven or door.

Select by function

It's no secret that wood is generally the least expensive type of fuel among gas, oil and coal. However, wood fireplaces are not the most efficient way to heat rooms. Their thermal efficiency is about 10%. Most of the heat simply leaves the chimney. On the other hand, wood stoves can provide 3 times more heat with 1/3 wood, which means they are more efficient and provide more heating power than open fireplaces. When it comes to heating efficiency, wood stoves take the cake.

Environmental friendliness

Burning wood fires does not emit more CO2 than wood that naturally decomposes in a forest. Therefore, certified wood stoves produce very few harmful emissions due to their closed combustion system. According to reviews, they are more efficient, heat better and provide warmth. They can also complement your current heating system and help lower your utility bills during the cold winter months.

Design features

Unlike stoves, fireplaces can be open or closed. Open ones are those that cannot be left and gone, because the slightest draft or factor such as children or pets can affect the fire situation. What manufacturers constantly warn about.

From a practical point of view, open fireplaces also have some nuances:

  • inability to control the combustion process. Oxygen is constantly supplied to the open firebox, and the fire is in an intense stage of combustion. Thus, firewood burns out very quickly, which is uneconomical.
  • even if the fireplace is brick, the heating process will still take quite a long time. Since first the brick will absorb heat into itself, and only then release it into the room.
  • due to the intensity of an open fireplace, there is a chance to overheat the room, since there is no way to shut off the oxygen supply to the open combustion chamber.

Closed fireplaces can be found much more often. A closed firebox is safe, modern and practical. It has a long burning function. It is also possible to control the intensity of the flame, that is, we can reduce or increase the supply of oxygen to the combustion chamber, and this will save wood resources. In addition, you can always turn a closed fireplace into an open one by simply lifting the door.

Where to install?

The flame has powerful energy. Fire has united people since ancient times. When there is fire in the house, whether in the fireplace or candles, it attracts the whole family.

If you want to place a fireplace/stove according to Feng Shui, then the best place for them is in the living room. They must always be cleaned, that is, without burnt ash and with a clean chimney. Firewood must be constantly stored and the fireplace must not remain empty.

The fireplace/stove and the fire that comes from it are elements of nature. It is inappropriate when they are placed in the power center of the house, creating the "burning heart" phenomenon. Therefore, they should be installed along the walls, mainly on the south side. Conversely, a mirror placed above the fireplace can enhance the positives and prevent the negatives. It is appropriate if there are leafy flowers in a pot on the sides of the heating structure, because the wooden element feeds the fire, which in turn feeds the earth element.

Hybrid stove and fireplace

This hybrid is also called “fireplace stoves”. This design is now gaining unprecedented popularity. Their main advantage lies, naturally, in combining the basic ideas of a fireplace and stove. The fireplace stove has a large firebox with a closed heat-resistant door, the glass of which allows you to observe the flame. The presence of smoke circulation ensures heat accumulation even better than that of a stove. Its firebox makes it possible to place a large number of logs at a time. One fireplace stove can heat a space of about 80 sq.m.

The hybrid stove and fireplace can be lit in different modes:

  1. The first method is similar to the open fireplace method. The gases immediately escape into the ceiling and the frame of the oven itself does not heat up.
  2. Gases follow and exit through controlled smoke circuits.
  3. Due to its versatility, a hybrid stove and fireplace is considered the best heating product.

Installation methods

Standard fireplace/stove design: fireplace insert connected to the chimney using a stainless steel wall pipe. The chimney must have a base - this is a condensate collector; inspection hole and connection point. Previously, a mandatory element of the stove was a coarse stove, but now such a design is almost never seen. When we burn wood in a fireplace insert, combustion products are removed through a chimney and a boiler operated by a built-in hood. Immediately after the wood starts burning, heat begins to flow into the room through the glass of the firebox.

Everyone wants the house to be warm and cozy in any, even the harshest winter, to use as little firewood as possible, and also to be beautiful and pleasing to the eye. Some people immediately go shopping, while others start collecting information on the Internet. In any store, both stoves and stove-fireplaces are now widely represented, and this is where a fair question arises, which is better and what will be more effective. And most importantly, what is the difference?

Stoves, fireplaces or fireplace stoves, which is better for heating a country house?

Bake, heating device, in this case we will consider options that run on wood. Based on the type of heating and functionality, stoves can be divided into four large groups: conventional heating stoves, convection heating stoves, stoves for connection to a water heating system, and heating and cooking stoves. Stoves can be either cast iron or steel. Nowadays, stoves with cast iron fireboxes and steel bodies are also widely represented. There are many models that have a door with fireproof glass, but unlike a fireplace, the glass in stoves is not so large and is usually flat in shape.

Stoves, unlike fireplaces, are smaller in size, but this in no way means that there will be less heat. Furnaces not only take up little space, but most of them are lightweight, which very often is also important. In terms of heating, the stove can heat both the room in which it is installed and the entire house. After all, there are models that allow you to distribute heat throughout the house. And in this case, you will have one single stove to heat your entire house. There are two types of heat distribution throughout the house: a water heating system is designed and radiators are installed in all rooms. The second option is the distribution of air heating from convection ovens. In this case, your home will be heated by hot air flows.

Heating and cooking stoves very convenient for small houses or studios. After all, such stoves combine two functions at once: an efficient heating stove and a full-fledged wood-burning stove. There are also now a large number of heating and cooking stoves with the ability to connect water heating radiators. In terms of finishing, stoves can be covered with heat-resistant paint, usually black, or covered with enamel, the enamel can be of different colors, the most popular are glossy black, burgundy or beige enamel.

Stove-fireplace, As the name itself suggests, it is a heating device that combines all the functions of a heating stove and the design of a fireplace. The main difference between a fireplace stove and a stove is the door with a large viewing glass. The glass in such fireplaces can have different shapes; there are fireplaces with two or three panoramic glasses. Also, a fireplace stove has larger dimensions than a stove; according to the installation option, fireplaces can be wall-mounted, corner-mounted or universal wall-corner. Like a stove, a fireplace stove can only heat the room in which it is installed, or you can distribute water throughout the house, not air, but water. In appearance, this is a full-fledged fireplace, the difference from a classic fireplace is that a classic fireplace consists of a fireplace insert and decorative cladding, while a fireplace stove is a solid structure that does not require additional refining. The exterior finish of the fireplace stove can be covered with heat-resistant enamel or lined with ceramic tiles. Moreover, there is a very wide selection of ceramic colors.

Classic fireplace. As mentioned above, such fireplaces consist of a fireplace insert and decorative cladding. The fireplace, this is already a fundamental structure, has large dimensions and is installed in spacious rooms; a foundation for the fireplace is required. Moreover, the foundation must be poured separately from the main foundation of the house. And this is a very important question; people often ask why it is not recommended to pour a foundation for a fireplace at the same time as the foundation for a house. Any house shrinks, and the foundation under the house can “walk,” which will lead to misalignment of your fireplace.

Fireplace mantels are sold unassembled, and to install the fireplace, you will need the services of a professional in any case. As for heating, heating can be diverted from any fireplace insert to the neighboring rooms of your home. Based on the material used, fireplace inserts can be made of cast iron or steel. Steel fireboxes must be lined with fireproof material inside to protect the firebox from burnout. For lining, fireclay, vermiculite, or refractory ceramics are most often used. Fireplace linings can be made of artificial or natural stone. Many fireplace mantel models are decorated with natural wood beams.

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When choosing between a stove and a fireplace, it is important to first decide what is most important for you - decorative or heating function.

In a country house or dacha it is necessary to provide heating and a stove for cooking. And any developer will be faced with a choice - after all, you can lay out a fireplace or a brick stove, install a potbelly stove, buy electrical appliances, etc. So, what to choose - a stove or a fireplace? Or maybe both at once?

Fireplace or stove

  • Let's start with the fireplace
  • Why a stove and not a fireplace?
  • Heating stoves
  • Firewood for the fireplace
  • We design in advance
  • Hard case
  • Look for a master

This is not an idle question, and a mistake can be costly. You should proceed from the principle of expediency, taking into account the pros and cons of various options, and clearly understand what you want to get in the end. First, let's look at several heating devices and evaluate their advantages and disadvantages.

Let's start with the fireplace

The fireplace in the form in which we are accustomed to imagine it appeared in Western Europe in the Middle Ages and has remained virtually unchanged since then. Essentially, it is a stone hearth with an open portal and a straight chimney. Undoubtedly, it is very beautiful when you have a live fire in your house, allowing you to enjoy the warmth and contemplate the bizarre play of flames. But the wood burned out, and very soon the warmth began to disappear somewhere.

This is explained by the fact that only the fire emits heat, and due to the large volume of air passing through the portal, little of it accumulates in the walls of the fireplace. That's why poor Europeans warmed their sheets with irons and slept in nightcaps. Therefore, remembering that we live in Russia, we will not consider the fireplace as the main source of heat. However, given its special aesthetic qualities, we will return to it later. For now, let's talk about stoves.

Why a stove and not a fireplace?

The art of laying stoves in Russia has been at a high level since ancient times. But modern type stoves began to appear only in the Peter the Great era. The decree of Peter 1 of 1718 banning the construction in St. Petersburg of houses with smoking stoves and wooden chimneys gave impetus to the development of brick production, as well as cast iron for stoves and ceramic tiles.

By the way, due to the use of smooth painted tiles of the Dutch type in the decoration of stoves, our heating stoves mistakenly began to be called Dutch. However, it has been documented that in the 18th-19th centuries Russian stove art occupied a leading position in Europe. History has even preserved the names of some outstanding stove makers of the past: Martyn Vasiliev, Ermolai Ivanov, Ivan Stepanov. So we have something to be proud of and someone to look up to.

Let's now figure out how Russian stove art differs from Western “Kaminny” art. Or simpler: why a stove and not a fireplace? It's all about the principle of work. Stoves compared to fireplaces are more complex heating devices. They accumulate the thermal energy of the burned fuel and then radiate it evenly over a long period of time.

At the same time, the heat given off by the stove will be soft, cozy and life-giving. And a properly built stove is very economical, provided that it is heated correctly. The efficiency of various types of stoves is approximately 80%, and fireplaces with an open portal barely reach 20%. Thus, the furnaces win with a score of 4:1. Well, the “stove-fireplace” option wins unconditionally.

So, if you decide to install a stove in your house, then you just have to choose which one - a heating stove, a heating-cooking stove, or a stove combined with a fireplace. Each of the proposed options is good in its own way; the choice depends only on the task at hand, your personal preferences and the possibilities of practical implementation of your plans.

Heating stoves

These units are designed to heat, as a rule, one or two rooms. Their sizes vary depending on the heated area. For example, for a room with an area of ​​20 m2, a stove with dimensions of 500 x 750 x 2000 mm is quite sufficient, provided that the house is well insulated.

Such a stove, stacked in the corner of the room, takes up very little space, and lined with ceramic tiles, and even with a glass fire door, can become a real interior decoration. For two rooms, the heated surface of the oven is doubled. Such a stove is placed on the border of adjacent rooms, and in this case it makes sense to think about making it a heating and cooking stove. These are the so-called “Swedish women”.

Being multifunctional, they are ideal for summer residents who like to make preparations, dry mushrooms and berries, etc. Some stoves have two operating modes: summer and winter. Summer mode allows you to use the hob without heating the entire oven. This often comes in handy during long power outages. And now we move on to the fun part.

These are combined stoves and fireplaces - universal heating devices that combine the practicality of stoves and the aesthetics of fireplaces. The inclusion of a fireplace in the stove design is almost always associated with the need to develop a project. The increased cross-section of the chimney pipe of the stove-fireplace allows you to connect additional heating devices to it on the top floor of the house (metal stoves and factory-made fireplaces).

Firewood for the fireplace

Returning to the topic of fireplaces, you should pay attention to the fact that fireplaces with an open portal are quite capricious and sometimes unsafe. Not all firewood is suitable for them. Aspen and conifers tend to shoot off burning sparks, and logs that are not dry enough will simply smoke. However, you can avoid the above troubles if you close the portal with glass doors. At the same time, the fireplace works as a direct-flow stove, increasing the heat transfer of the entire structure.

We design in advance

Now let’s talk about how to bring your planned project to life. The ideal option is when, already at the stage of designing a house, you know what kind of stove you will have and where it should be located. Taking this into account, the furnace foundation is laid. Joists, floor beams and rafters are mounted in such a way as to ensure a through passage of the chimney. But this doesn't always happen. Often, a stove foundation is made with the future in mind. The option is acceptable, but costs are usually inevitable.

In this case, the choice of stove design may be limited by the area of ​​the foundation, the location of the ceilings of the house and other factors, which are not always possible to overcome. But there is no need to despair. There will definitely be a compromise option. In some cases, if the foundation area is insufficient, small remote consoles are acceptable. The ceiling beam that interferes with the passage of the pipe can be cut, and its remaining parts can be firmly tied to the neighboring ones. It is also possible to make changes to the design of the furnace by moving the pipe in the desired direction. It all depends on the specific situation.

Hard case

Finally, let’s consider the most difficult case: there is a house, but there is no stove foundation, but a stove is needed. First, you need to select the type and approximate location of the future furnace, then, using drawings or indirect evidence, study the structures of floors and trusses and calculate the optimal path of the chimney. Taking this into account, you can draw the outline of the future stove on the floor and make a cutout in the flooring along it with a slight indentation.

After this, a decision is made: either additionally fasten the floor joists that need to be trimmed, or, if there is only one joist and does not interfere much, go around it during the construction of the foundation, leaving gaps on all sides. The type of foundation (monolithic, columnar or other) is chosen depending on the specific conditions and mass of the furnace. It must be remembered that there must be waterproofing between the foundation and the base of the furnace.

Selection of materials

A stove is a structure designed for long-term use (at least 25-30 years) without major repairs. Therefore, it will not be superfluous for you to be present when purchasing materials and products for it. Pay special attention to the quality of the brick. A well-fired kiln brick has a uniform, rich terracotta color and makes a ringing sound when struck with a hammer.

A stove made of such bricks will last a long time. On the contrary, a pale, uneven color and a dull sound indicate poor quality of the material. It is necessary to very carefully select the stove cast iron casting, especially the fire door. While it is quite easy to replace a cracked grate or hob, installing a new fire door is fraught with certain difficulties.

You should also know that the steel wire used to install the doors should not be thinner than 3 mm. The reliability of the fastening, especially the fire door, depends on this. It is worth considering that the specifications of consumables in booklets and magazines by which you choose a stove often indicate the required number of bricks without taking into account the pipe. Calculating their additional quantity is very simple.

For a stove with a cross-section of 4 bricks, you need 60 pieces per linear meter, and for a fireplace with a cross-section of 5 bricks - 75. Multiplying these numbers by the length of the pipe, we get the required number of bricks. For example, for a medium-sized “Swede”, 460 bricks are needed for the stove itself and 240 for a 4 m long pipe. In the end, you get 700 pieces.

Look for a master

The stove is installed according to the design. Who should I entrust this work to? You. It should only be noted that laying a stove is a rather complex but interesting creative process. And you may well become a participant in it, discussing the design, materials and decorative elements of your future stove. And for this, make the right choice. The earth is full of rumors - look for a master. Do not trust the work to inexperienced builders - it can be expensive! Don't repeat these mistakes and you will succeed.published

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