How to choose a wood cooker

Winter is coming, so you need to get a heating system that can provide the comfort you are looking for without incurring high costs. The Brycus advice we bring you today is on how to choose a wood cooker.

Different types of wood cookers

The main characteristic of the wood cooker is the use of renewable energy sources such as wood. This is always possible as long as the wood is obtained under specific sustainability conditions, in controlled forests.

The active system of a wood-burning cooker is simple: the combustion of the wood in the brazier produces heat which, depending on the type of cooker, is distributed in the room to be heated.

When referring to the types of wood cookers we are not only talking about their rustic style, design or whether they are modern or old; we will focus on the material of manufacture, their heating capacity and their installation process.

Depending on the material

- Cast Iron

Cookers made of this material are robust and heavy, their installation requires greater effort. In contrast, their efficiency in heat conservation and irradiation is excellent, which translates into further energy savings and, therefore, less consumption of wood.

- Steel

This material is lighter than cast iron and therefore easier to install. Another unobjectionable advantage is its economic price and the temperature is reached quickly. However, it is deficient in heat radiation and tends to consume more wood than other systems.

Heating capacity

When choosing a wood cooker, it is necessary to define how powerful you want it. If you already have a central heating system, for some unfavourable rooms this type of equipment is ideal.

Brycus advises you to measure the square meters (length by width) of the room you want to heat and see our heating section to get the one that best suits your needs.

However, if you want your wood cooker to become the general heating system, you should increase the power according to the heating capacity. Thus, this type of cooker can be chosen according to

- Convection heat transfer

Also known as turbo cookers, they diffuse heat energy through the natural movement of the air produced by heat generation. The cold air is returned to the combustion chamber by absorption where it is reheated and sent back into the room to be reheated.

An advantage of this type of wood cooker is its surface that is not so hot to the touch, and the heated air can feed other adjacent rooms evenly, as long as its heating capacity allows it.

- Transfer by radiation

This type of wood cooker is lined internally with refractory materials. The heat emitted is not uniform and, as you move away from it, you can feel the temperature getting cold.

The atmosphere next to the cooker heats up quickly and directly. The heat from its surface is very high because of the radiant temperature that is generated, and flammable objects must be conveniently separated from it.

Installation process

Depending on the type of wood cooker that our heating section offers you, you can choose between insulated cookers or those that can be inserted into the walls.

Regardless of which one you choose, it is essential to connect the cooker to a fireplace that complies with official regulations. You should know that the chimney is the element that guarantees the efficiency of the heating system, it could be said that it is the motor that drives the movement and exchange of air.

Brycus tips for choosing a wood cooker

1. Choose the material according to your budget and needs

2. Consciously calculating the heating yield is essential so as not to underestimate or overheat the surface of the rooms

3. Program the location of the cooker according to the ease of having a good smoke removal system