Factors that should be considered when choosing a wood fuelled stove include the fuel type to be burnt and the size of the stove. These and other factors are briefly discussed here: 

Fuel type

In general, most stoves are designed for one particular fuel type. However, multi-wood fuel stoves are available which are designed to burn a variety of solid fuels and therefore have a grate to keep the fuel above the ash, a riddling device to clear the ash and the air supply from below (in addition to the side vents required to efficiently burn logs).

• Logs
• Logs are the most easily available and common form of wood fuel in the UK.
• Log fired heating systems require the fuel to be provided in a solid or 'roundwood' form (as opposed to wood-chips) at a moisture content of less than about 30% (the drier the better). To ensure that the moisture content limits are met, logs should be stored outside over the summer before they are required so that they air-dry (known as 'seasoning'). They must then be kept dry and should be stored under cover or in a building from the autumn onwards. If possible, the logs should be stacked next to the wood burning appliance for one week prior to use to dry them out further.
• They are often used in wood burning stoves for direct room heating but can also heat water for central heating systems - either in a stove with a back boiler or a log burning boiler designed for burning this fuel – see wood fuelled boilers.
• Log stoves have an efficiency of around 65%
• Wood Pellets 
• Wood pellets can be used to fuel stoves (with or without back boilers) and pellet burning boilers especially designed for the purpose.
• Pellet stoves require less attention compared to log appliances and are the most convenient wood fuel to use in a domestic setting.
• Integral fuel hoppers store enough pellets for 1 to 3 days operation and the ash pan only needs emptying between once a month and once a year. 
• Pellet stoves operate at high efficiencies of around 90%. 
• Being a very dense fuel pellets require less storage space than logs.

Fuel consumption

Fuel usage will depend on the type of building to be heated, its age and amount of insulation. The figures presented in the following table assume average insulation, a domestic occupancy profile (heating for 10 hours/day, 7days/week, 30 weeks/year - 2100 hours per year) and burning beech logs at 25% moisture content. Better insulation will lead to less fuel consumption. Some approximate heat loads and associated fuel usage figures for various types of building are as follows:

Typically any building larger or with a higher expected heat load than the figures shown should consider an automatic wood chip or wood pellet system although larger log systems are available.

Fuel Supply

There is currently a severe lack of supply and distribution networks for wood logs, chips and pellets within the area, creating a barrier to the establishment of a market for wood-fired heating appliances.

Stove Sizing

The efficiency of any stove can be maximised by careful sizing the unit. Avoiding over-sizing will allow a high rate of combustion to be maintained while the unit is operated, thereby avoiding or minimising damping. Many such units are now carefully designed so that the provision of combustion air gives a high degree of efficiency when operating undamped.

 For sites with a relatively small heating requirement, such as a single house, a manually fired log system often offers the most appropriate option for wood heating, particularly when some of the practical and cost implications associated with automatic systems are considered. In addition, when deciding on a wood pellet stove it is best to base the decision on the smallest fire box sufficient for the calculated heat requirement. Stoves with fans blowing secondary air and ducted hot air and/or pumps with thermostats for water circulation provide improved control at a lower cost. Stoves with doors open provide extra radiant heat but are less efficient.

Other factors to consider when choosing a stove are:

1. Self – Igniting
2. Outside temperature control system that monitors the outside temperature, thus moderates the heat output. 
3. Ultra-Sonic tube carbon residue cleaning system. 
4. Hopper Size from 200ltr to 5m3 (and above) in either mechanical or hydraulic feed