Pellet and Wood Stoves: Reviews

A wood stove can be a homey addition to your living area, or it can serve as the only heat source for a small home or cabin. Our buyer's guide compares stoves themselves, but also the pros and cons of the various fuel types.

Harman XXV

Best wood-pellet stove

*Est. $3,000

Estimated Price

Reviews say this 50,000-BTU pellet stove, made by one of the top brands, is rated for heating an area up to 1,700 square feet. It can handle wood pellets of any grade, and the 65-pound hopper and large ash tray minimize maintenance. The stove works automatically -- self-igniting and with a superior computerized temperature control for consistent heat. An optional battery backup keeps it running if the electricity fails. The attractive classic design includes a large viewing window. The stove is extremely efficient, with minimal emissions, and carries a six-year warranty that covers the whole stove.

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Summers Heat 55-SHP10L

Budget wood-pellet stove

*Est. $1,300

Estimated Price

Like most budget pellet stoves, this model is noisier, requires higher-quality (and more expensive) pellets and is less convenient that other stoves. There's no ash pan to make cleanup easy, and the 40-pound hopper needs refilling more often than others. The five-year warranty covers fewer parts, and some owners report early breakdowns. However, this basic stove does heat well, and owners say it saves money over traditional heating fuels. It comes ready to hook up to burn only outside air (to minimize indoor air pollution and drafts). It's rated for 1,500 square feet. Larger models are available for heating bigger areas, and the equivalent Englander pellet stoves are made by the same company.

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Quadra-Fire Mt. Vernon AE

Large-capacity multi-fuel pellet stove

*Est. $3,700

Estimated Price

This 60,200-BTU stove automatically adjusts to burn a wide range of biomass fuels, including sunflower seeds, wheat, corn and various grades of pellets. This lets you hedge your bets when it comes to fuel prices and supplies. It's rated for heating up to 3,800 square feet, and the 81-pound hopper and programmable thermostat minimize the attention it needs. You can use an optional cord to hook it to a 12-volt car battery to keep the stove going during a power outage. Smaller Quadra-Fire multi-fuel stoves are also available, all with lifetime warranties.

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Hearthstone Heritage

Best wood stove

*Est. $2,825

Estimated Price

Soapstone adds mass to this stove, so it keeps radiating heat for as long as 12 hours after you load it with firewood. Experts recommend this type if you keep the stove going all season long, and Hearthstone is one of the top brands. The glass window is extra large, and the stove is easily adapted to burn only outside air (to minimize indoor pollution). The 55,000-BTU Heritage wood stove is rated for up to 1,900 square feet, and a larger Mansfield model is also available. Both carry a lifetime warranty and are EPA-certified for low emissions.

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Vermont Castings DutchWest 2478

Small wood-burning stove

*Est. $1,550

Estimated Price

This is the mid-sized model from one of the most recommended EPA-certified woodstove brands. With a maximum output of 40,000 BTU, this cast-iron woodstove is recommended for heating areas from 800 to 1,400 square feet. It can hold a fire as long as 10 hours, so you can load it before leaving for work and again at bedtime. It comes ready to burn outside air to minimize indoor pollution. The Everburner noncatalytic design is easy to use and has been refined so it rivals catalytic wood stoves for low emissions. The warranty is for three years on the cast iron, one year for other parts and lifetime on the Everburner system.

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Vogelzang Defender TR001

Budget wood stove for occasional use

*Est. $600

Estimated Price

This small EPA-certified woodstove (for up to 1,200 square feet) emits more pollutants than the other stoves ConsumerSearch recommends, and it isn't as fuel-efficient, but it still meets Washington state's strict environmental standards. Its steel body radiates heat quickly, and the cast-iron door has a glass window for viewing the fire. The main drawbacks are that it's front-loading only and holds a fire only for about eight hours -- not enough if you work away from home -- and the warranty is for only one year.

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