Below you will find the 4+1 effective heating methods with appliances that use combustible materials, without requiring central oil or natural gas installations. 

What you should consider before making such a purchase:

• They do not consume electricity
• They provide effective heating
• They are considered more economical options
• Usually, however, they have a high purchase and installation cost
• The heating appliances are bulkier - additional space is required for the fuel (e.g. wood)

Let’s take a look at our options

Wood stove

Price range: €150 - €4,400

Back to the old days. As you have understood from its name, the wood stove uses as fuel perhaps the most ancient means of heating: burning wood!

Why choose it?

• It has a lower consumption cost*, compared to heating systems that use oil or natural gas.
• It uses biomass (wood) as fuel, a renewable energy source.
• It offers independence from electricity. Even during a power outage, there can still be warmth in the home and an oven for cooking.

* According to energy price forecasts for winter 2023/24.

Disadvantages

• The cost of the piping, depending on its length and material, is high
• It is a fire source and therefore requires great caution.

Which type is right for you?

There are 3 types of wood stove:

• with oven, so you can combine warmth with delicious flavors,

• air-heating wood stove, which has a fan for faster distribution of warm air throughout the space

• wood stove with boiler, which is connected to radiators to heat water!

Find the right size wood stove

Depending on the square meters you want to cover, you can choose a wood stove with the corresponding kW.

Tip: If there are significant heat losses (e.g. a high-ceilinged house, old window frames), you should increase the kW.

Size matters! Why? If it is too small, there will not be sufficient heating for the space. If it is too large and you use a smaller amount of wood, relative to its size, tar will form.

Gas Stove

Price range: 40€ - 690€

The easy choice!

All you need to do is get a gas cylinder, place it at the back of the stove, and turn it on by pressing the button!

Why choose it?

• It operates completely independently from electricity and is relatively economical in use.
• It has control for each power level, so you can choose the heat you need each time. + If you choose a stove with wheels, you will be able to move it from one room to another.

Disadvantages

• Care and inspection are required when connecting the cylinder for any gas leak - The space must be well ventilated so that the smell of gas is not noticeable/annoying (mainly when you light it or when the cylinder runs out).

Does it suit your space?

A gas stove is mainly recommended for small, well-ventilated spaces, but without air drafts that affect its flame.

How fast do you want it?

For faster heat output in the space, prefer a ceramic gas stove.

Take care of the room atmosphere

Prefer a gas stove with a special safety system for atmosphere analysis, so that when the carbon dioxide level reaches 1.5%, it shuts off automatically.

Watch out for tipping!

Since safety is always the number one priority, choose a stove with a tip-over sensor.

 Attention! Do not place the stove on carpets, and make sure it is at least 1 meter away from wooden furniture and curtains.

Oil & Kerosene Stoves

Price range: 65 - 700€

The main difference

The oil stoves & kerosene (heating oil) stoves have one key difference between them: the fuel. The first uses heating oil as fuel, while the other uses kerosene. 

Why choose them? 

• They are an economical heating option with a low purchase cost and zero installation cost + No electricity is required for their operation 
• They have low maintenance costs. 
• They provide immediate output and efficient heating, 
• With their special handle, you can move them from room to room.

Disadvantages

• They are suitable for localized heating and not for large open spaces or the whole house. 
• They have a strong odor emitted from the combustion of heating oil/kerosene, so frequent ventilation of the room is necessary. 
• All basic safety precautions must be taken during use.

Pay attention!

Proper storage of the kerosene or heating oil is required, as well as of the stove itself during the period when it is not in use.

To minimize the smell, you can light it outside, let it run for 10' and then bring it into the space you want to heat. 

Exactly the same when you want to turn it off: take it out to the balcony/outdoor area and extinguish it gradually.

If you choose an oil stove, you can also look at a fan heater with a fan, for faster distribution of warm air in the room.

Energy Fireplace

Price range: 200-9,400€

What is the main difference from a classic fireplace? 

Quite simply, it makes greater and better use of firewood!

Why choose it? 

• The efficiency of wood in an energy fireplace reaches 75%, which means it can heat the space much more effectively with much less firewood.

• It is an economical heating solution 

Disadvantages

• Installation is required and a fireplace must already exist 

What is different compared to a wood stove?

The very basic difference is that to install an energy fireplace, you need to already have a fireplace. 

Want to learn more about all types of fireplaces? Read the detailed buying guide for fireplaces! 

Pellet stoves

Price range: 900-4,200€ 

Combustion or electricity?

These stoves use pellets, which are a compressed biomass, a renewable fuel, that are burned to produce heat. 

Why choose a pellet stove? 

• It is environmentally friendly 
• It is an economical alternative to heating oil, with lower consumption costs than oil and natural gas.  

Disadvantages 

• It needs electricity to operate. There are also battery-powered models that could continue operating in the event of a power outage

• It takes up space 

Does it suit your space's needs?

Its use is usually recommended in homes located outside the city/urban area, so that there is sufficient storage space inside the house, where the pellets must be stored. (fuel)

How does it work? 

Externally it looks like classic stoves, but inside it is quite different: it has a tank for the fuel, while both the supply and the air circulation are mechanical and it does not need manual feeding, as in wood stoves. Also, pellet stoves are 4-5 times more efficient than wood stoves

Do you know the use? We know which stove suits best!

• Do you want complete independence from electricity and don't have a fireplace? Your options are: wood stove, oil-kerosene stove & gas stove 
• Do you have a fireplace and want to make it more efficient? Choose an energy fireplace!
• Do you want a stove that does not use electricity, but does not smell as much? Wood stove! 
• Don't mind using electricity and want it to be environmentally friendly? Pellet stove! 
• Do you want something for outdoor space? Gas stove!

If you want to learn about the best ways to heat with electricity, we have written about that too, here. 

From us, wishes for a warm winter!