Rising Energy Prices: Why a Wood Burning Stove Could Help

Autumn’s officially here and with the nights slowly drawing in and cooler evenings on the way, there’s something comforting about knowing you have another way to keep your home warm.

The latest energy price cap announcement is another reminder that having a little more choice over how you heat your home is becoming increasingly valuable. Ofgem announced the energy price cap will increase by 4 percent from October 1. For a typical household paying by Direct Debit for gas and electricity, prices will rise from £1,663 to £1,723 – an increase of £60 a year. The energy bill rise is largely being driven by higher wholesale gas prices, underlining just how closely household energy costs remain tied to the wider energy market. So, as we look towards another winter, could a wood burning stove offer homeowners a little more flexibility?

A different way to heat your home A wood burning stove isn’t necessarily about replacing your central heating, it’s about having another option. The right wood burning stove can provide a generous, cosy source of warmth in the room you’re actually using without necessarily turning up the heating throughout the whole house.

And, of course, there’s the atmosphere. A real fire creates a cosy atmosphere, bringing a feeling of comfort and wellbeing – something the Danes call hygge. Then there’s the glow of the flames, the gentle crackle of the fire and a wonderfully warm feeling that comes with settling down beside a stove on a cold night.

Of course, it isn’t just about hygge. Having an additional way to heat your home can provide a degree of energy resilience. A wood burning stove offers an alternative heating source which isn’t directly dependent on international gas markets. Responsibly sourced wood can also provide a renewable heating option when managed properly.

In England, wood sold in quantities of less than two cubic metres for domestic heating must be certified as Ready to Burn, meaning it has a moisture content of 20 percent or less. Using properly dried wood helps your stove burn efficiently and avoids the problems associated with wet or unseasoned wood.

At Salamander Stoves we understand not every home has space for a large stove, which is why we have always advocated for small stoves – designing and manufacturing our own range of wood burning stoves, multi-fuel stoves and accessories for places where space is limited. Our Hobbit Stove is a compact cast iron multi-fuel stove designed with small spaces in mind. Its diminutive footprint makes it a popular choice for everything from smaller homes and garden rooms to cabins, sheds and other compact buildings. It’s a small stove with a heart-warming presence! The Little Range Cookstove takes things a step further by combining heating and cooking in one neat package. With a 4.3kW nominal heat output, stainless steel cooktop and oven, the Little Range is designed for compact spaces including tiny homes, small kitchens, shepherd’s huts, cabins and boats. It’s a particularly appealing option for anyone who likes the idea of keeping things simple – one appliance providing both warmth and somewhere to cook.

With an energy price rise around the corner, having more control over how you heat your home can be an increasingly appealing option. A wood burning stove won’t remove all the pressures of rising household costs, but it can provide an alternative source of heat and a little more flexibility when the colder months arrive.

As winter approaches, a Salamander stove can offer warmth, comfort and a little more choice over how you heat your home.