Wood stove / Discussions

What kind of fireplace can I install in a BC step code 4 house ?

Step code four is one step below passive. We are building a house in Whistler and want to install a fireplace that will not emit too much heat. What kind of fireplace can we use? We prefer gas ...

Posted by Dominique Arnoldi May 23, 2025 Building codes

What heating system to use in my new detached garage/shop?

...wood stove to heat up the space when working in there. My goal is to use as low electricity as I can because I won't use it everyday and it is detached to the house. I like electric radiant floor because it is cheaper but I also like hydronic because I could try to retrofit other system with it in the future, like pass...

Posted by David Perreault Dec. 4, 2020 Delivery: radiant, forced-air and decentralized 1 response

Can you put a fireplace in a very airtight home?

...wood stoves or exhaust fans that depressurize the home. We can’t advise you too much on anything related to rocket stoves for safety reasons, but I would propose you look into having a direct air feed from outside. If you have a sealed air feed to a woodstove that provides air from the outside then it will not depressu...

Posted by Kerry Forides Sept. 24, 2020 Wood stove and biomass heat 2 responses

What type and how to install an insulated metal flue pipe ,through a tiled roof?

...wood stove or fireplace through the roof is a job that should be done by professionals only. I say this for two reasons – safety of course, to make sure there is no fire risk if the wrong materials is choosen or if it isn’t installed properly, but also for insurance purposes. If you speak with a licensed local fireplac...

Posted by david joseph July 25, 2020 Roof assemblies - renovation 1 response

What is the best way to heat an old farm house with no water source and only minimal electricity?

...stoves that don't need power to operate  Choosing the best and most efficient wood burning stove  For a carbon-negative solution, consider hempcrete retrofits for traditional stone walls which provide both insulation and mass.

Posted by Harry Dec. 28, 2021 Heating and cooling 1 response

Do we need a cold air vent to safely operate a wood burning stove?

...wood stove also increases the ability to evacuate the flue gases; otherwise they will not work properly. See here about choosing and using a wood stove properly -  Choosing the Best Wood-Burning Stove or Fireplace A wood burner is unable to light without an air supply, and so then smoke will pour out into the room it i...

Posted by Regina Vigil Feb. 15, 2021 Wood stove and biomass heat 2 responses

Which are the best wood burning fireplace inserts for Canada?

...wood burning stove includes finding the highest rated wood stove, or at least an EPA certified wood stove. An efficient wood burning stove saves wood as it burns wood more completely, and there are less emissions. That means less splitting and stacking of firewood, and less time loading the fire. You  may also find tha...

Posted by Les Poldark March 28, 2022 Wood stove and biomass heat 1 response

Can you install a wood stove in an airtight, super-insulated house?

...wood stove in an airtight high performance home, even a home that meets the airtight standards of Passive House, you just need to be sure to provide makeup air to avoid depressurizing the home. This page here covers all you need to know - How to install wood burning stoves and fireplaces in airtight homes such as Passi...

Posted by rick seward Dec. 23, 2018 Wood stove and biomass heat 1 response

How do you stop wood stove smoke from entering a home?

...wood stove for winter heat. Just the small amount of smoke from opening the stove door causes throat irritation. The stove itself does not leak. Using an air purifier, but wondering if air exchange would help. Home is pretty air tight, built in Maine in 1986. Humidity is 50 per cent or less. Don't want to give up the w...

Posted by Don Leaver March 24, 2020 Wood stove and biomass heat 4 responses

We want to build a solarium in Ontario, what do you think of heating it with a radiant floor and wood stove?

...wood stove would for sure improve the winter comfort, but please go into this with eyes wide open knowing that building an 800-1000 square foot glass box in a Canadian winter if going to need an awful lot of heat. So back to your original question – yes a radiant floor is a great idea. Have a look here at our air heate...

Posted by Deanna Zavattin-Tortolo Feb. 18, 2020 Greenhouses and Sunrooms / Solariums 1 response

How do you seal up an old fireplace chimney?

...wood, which can then be covered to match the rest of the house. Installing wood stoves with existing fireplace chimneys: By installing batt insulation in the chimney and not using spray foam, it is easily disassembled if needed so you may be able to use the existing chimney for a wood stove or a gas or wood fireplace...

Posted by Gord Nov. 2, 2017 Wood stove and biomass heat 3 responses