Why You Should Pick a Cast Iron Stove
Wood burning and multi-fuel stoves come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and designs to make sure that homeowners can find a stove that suits their home and their tastes. But did you know that the material your stove is made from is just as important as the design and the size?
In the UK we have a long history of using cast iron for household appliances, from cookers to cook wear, heating appliances and more. So it’s no surprise that this is a popular choice for wood burning stoves as well.
Typically, wood burning and multi-fuel stoves tend to be built from either cast iron or steel. Each of these materials has its own advantages and disadvantages, but both can drastically change the stove that you purchase for your home.
In this blog, we take a deeper look into the advantages of purchasing a cast iron wood burning stove and recommend some of our favourite models that we stock here at Stove Supermarket.
What makes cast iron different?
Cast iron is well known as being an extremely durable and reliable material across a number of industries and is traditionally well known for its long lasting properties as well as its classic style.
One of the key unique properties of cast iron is that it is incredibly well suited for extreme temperature conditions and it does not twist lose shape when exposed to high temperatures for a long period of time. When a stove body is made from cast iron heat is transferred slowly and evenly, which makes it well suited to sudden changes in temperature.
The ability to withstand extreme temperatures also means that your stove will have a longer lifespan. Some cheaper stoves, made from less robust materials, may need replacing and repairing quickly, whereas many cast iron stoves come with long warranties and guarantees as manufacturers are confident in materials durability.
Typically, cast iron stoves are not welded together. Instead, they are bonded with ceramic string and bolted together with screws. If the parts were welded together, this would weaken the stove body. By assembling the stove this way this helps to create a perfect seal to prevent heat from escaping.
When it comes to style cast iron also had a number of benefits over alternative materials. Not only does it have a sleek and modern finish, many cast iron stoves have beautiful and intricate motifs moulded into the metalwork adding an interesting additional piece of decoration for your room!
Which stoves do we recommend?
While there are many cast iron wood burning stoves available on the market, it’s important to buy them from a trusted brand or manufacturer as cheap models can easily be found on the market that will not perform as well as good quality cast iron stoves.
The Morso Squirrel 1410 multi-fuel/wood burning stove is a great contender for an affordable yet reliable stove. It is the perfect choice for small homes and small spaces, and despite being made from cast iron it is lightweight enough to make itself at home on a narrowboat! It also has a stylish squirrel motif on the side of the stove body, which is almost as iconic as the Morso brand itself.
The ACR Larchdale is a slightly larger alternative cast iron stove, offering a 9Kw heat output and a large viewing window so you can enjoy the roaring flames no matter where you are in the room. It has also been DEFRA approved and offers a 10-year warranty, making it perfect for those looking for a long-term investment.
The AGA Little Wenlock Classic SE wood burning stove is another fine example of a stylish cast iron stove body that fits right into a traditional or contemporary home. This stove packs a lot of power into a small body and includes intricate hand finished cast iron detailing across the full stove body.
A final mention goes to the Jotul F3 TD wood burning stove, a traditionally designed cast iron stove that features all the best parts of home heating past and present. This elegant stove has an effective air wash system and a large arched viewing window, meaning you can see your fire reaching its full potential.
- Stove Reviews
