Efficiency of Old vs. New Stoves: Why Not All Heaters Are the Same
When evaluating wood heating, it's important to distinguish between different types of heating appliances, their technical condition, and their method of operation. Older appliances, open fireplaces, and modern wood stoves cannot be judged by the same standard. They differ in construction, combustion efficiency, fuel consumption, and the amount of emissions. The difference between old and new heaters is therefore crucial to understanding how [...]
Myth: Wood smokes more than coal. How to reduce smoke from heating
The color of smoke from a chimney often determines how people perceive wood heating. When thick gray smoke billows from a house, the neighbors quickly make up their minds: „Someone's burning wood again.“ However, the problem is usually not the wood itself. The problem is wet fuel and log size, poor kindling, lack of air, improper refueling, or a neglected chimney. The claim that wood smokes [...]
Myth: Burning wood destroys forests
When talking about wood heating, there's often concern that forests are disappearing because of stoves. It sounds simple: we burn wood, so we cut down trees. But the reality is more complex. Forests are not destroyed by the burning of wood itself, but rather by poor management, resource waste, and inefficient fuel utilization. Wood is a renewable resource, but not an unlimited one. For its use to make sense, the fundamental [principle] must apply [...]
Myth: Wood is worse than gas. Is it really that simple?
Heating with wood is often discussed in a very simplified way. One common claim is that wood is worse for the environment than gas. But it's not that simple. It depends on what kind of wood we are burning, in what heating appliance, in what way, and in what condition the flue is. Gas is a fossil fuel. When it is burned, into the air […]
Chimney and heating appliance fires have increased. Safe heating starts with inspection, proper installation, and dry wood.
The heating season has ended, but now is a suitable time to prepare stoves, heaters, and chimneys for the next winter. In 2025, firefighters recorded more chimney and heater fires than in previous years. The most common causes were the ignition of soot, technical defects, or errors during the installation and operation of heaters. Chimney fires were the highest in the last four years, according to [...]
New Green Savings changes the rules. Wood stoves remain supported, but under stricter conditions.
The New Green Savings Program is entering a new phase starting in 2026. For typical households, the main innovation will be the shift from direct subsidies to interest-free loans. Direct subsidies will be intended only for vulnerable households. Support also covers the replacement of old heating sources with modern biomass devices, including selected stoves. The new rules of the New Green Savings Program apply [...]
How to minimize emissions when heating with wood
When heating with wood, it's not just the choice of fuel that matters, but the entire way it's burned. Emissions are affected by the technical condition of the stove, the moisture content of the wood, and whether you're heating correctly. While modern appliances burn wood significantly cleaner when operated properly, improper handling and poor-quality fuel unnecessarily pollute the air. The basis is dry and clean wood The first rule is simple, but essential: […]
The Environmental Impact of Wood Burning: How We Burn Matters Most
Wood itself is not an environmental problem. What is much more important for the environment is the quality of the appliance in which we burn it, the quality of the fuel we use, and whether we are heating correctly. While old and poorly maintained heaters can significantly pollute the air, modern stoves and fireplaces, when used correctly, operate with significantly lower emissions and higher efficiency. From an environmental perspective, [...]
We heat differently, breathe differently - CHMI data show
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) has been monitoring air pollution sources in various parts of the Czech Republic for a long time using receptor models. The results of the investigation, which has been ongoing since 2018, show significant regional differences and long-term trends in household heating. While in the northern regions of the Czech Republic coal combustion still contributes significantly to air pollution from domestic heating, in the southern [...]
The end of wood heating? Already in the 1930s it was said that its time was slowly coming to an end
„Wood heating is obsolete.“ Sound familiar? That view didn't come about yesterday or five years ago. That's exactly what the Chimney Sweep wrote in 1936. But even after nearly a century, wood has not disappeared from the stove. Even then it was clear that a well-designed fireplace, quality wood and the right heating method can ensure a high [...]
