What is the difference between radiant & convection heat?
Radiant heat is the direct transfer of heat from the hot stove surfaces to walls, furniture and people that are in a direct line of sight from the stove. Radiant heat will make you feel warm, even though the air around you is cool. Great for high ceilings or drafty homes. Convection is the transfer of heat through the motion of air. This type of woodstove has an outer casing around the body of the stove, usually made of sheet metal. Heat from the stove creates a current of air and the heat is delivered to the room as warmed air. Should I operate my stove differently in cold versus warm weather? Yes. During warmer weather, spring & fall, control your heat by limiting the amount of wood you put in the firebox. Make short, hot fires using softwood or finely split hardwood and let the fire burn out. Avoid the temptation of building a big fire and then starving it for air. You do not want a smoldering fire. In cold winter weather just add more hardwood for more heat. Hardwood provides a lon
