For many people it can be a jump too far from not having a stove to investing potentially thousands of pounds into installing a machine. This has led to a significant expansion of the budget stove market with particular emphasis on wood-burning machines. The term “budget stove” is perhaps a little unfair to the machines available today which may be relatively cheap compared to their counterparts but this in no way reflects on their performance and value for money.
Budget stove brands
There are many types of budget stove available today including the likes of the Tiger stoves, Firefox stoves and Hamlet stove range. There are some “starter machines” available for less than £500 although there is also the cost of installing on top of that. Historically, the UK market was flooded with a range of substandard budget stoves which were effectively not fit for purpose. While many people still look for budget stoves today, the experience of some in years gone by has, how should we put it, not cast a positive light on the industry.
Value for money
The likes of Tiger, Firefox and Hamlet offer an exceptional range of relatively cheap stoves covering an array of different room sizes. Obviously, you would not expect to get all of the bells and whistles associated with multi-thousand pound traditional and contemporary stoves, but that does not mean you should expect a stove which does not work and is not durable!
In many ways it is the increasing popularity of wood-burning stoves, and ever rising cost of electric and gas, which has led to increased quality within the budget market. The ability to mass-produce the stoves overseas, import into the UK and still ensure that they abide by UK stove regulations should not be underestimated. Many budget stoves still come with the standard stove body warranty which in itself is a sign of confidence.
Using your wood-burning stove correctly
Just because the budget entry stove you acquired was relatively cheap, this does not mean you should use just any old fuel. Ensure that you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to the letter, regularly maintain your machine and where replacement parts are required, act promptly to avoid any additional damage. Unfortunately, as budget stoves are relatively cheap and often a stepping stone to more expensive machines, some people tend to miss use them and issue critical comments as a consequence.
If you use your budget wood-burning stove in the correct manner there is no reason why it should not last many years. Avoiding excess burn, replacing worn parts as soon as practical and using the correct fuel will all lead to a better experience and in many cases exceptional value for money.
Customer feedback does not lie
If you’re looking towards the likes of the Tiger, Firefox or Hamlet range of “entry-level” wood-burning stoves, where do you start? There are many reviews on the Internet, detailed observations and guidance for those looking at budget stoves. Manufacturers and retailers can wax lyrical about the benefits of various machines but the proof is in the pudding and the pudding is in the hands of customers.
Whatever machine you choose there will be more than enough reviews on the Internet to give you an idea of the pros and cons. While you should not expect an all singing all dancing stove akin to a multi-thousand pound machine, you should not expect a flimsy and inefficient machine. We guarantee you will be very pleasantly surprised!