Why I Was Carrying Firewood: The Truth Is… We Have a Wood Stove
In my previous post, I mentioned gathering firewood. The truth is, I actually got this wood from a carpenter working at a construction site in my neighborhood. I mustered up a bit of courage and asked if I could take any leftover wood.
“If you have any extra wood, could I have it for firewood?”
“Oh, sure! We’ve got quite a lot of solid wood today, so take as much as you want!”
These days, plywood (composite wood) is more common, so solid wood is actually valuable. Getting solid wood is extremely lucky—it lights easily and is perfect for kindling.
But composite wood needs caution.
It contains glue, which is bad for the stove itself, so whenever I receive composite wood, I cut it into small pieces and save it for summer BBQs.
There are little tricks like this for gathering firewood.
But all of that is part of the charm of “life with a wood stove,” and honestly, it’s kind of fun.
My decision to install a wood stove started when I visited a friend’s house and saw theirs.
The crackling sound of the fire and the soft, gentle warmth that filled the whole room completely stole my heart.
“Wait… you can install this in a regular house, not just a mountain cabin?”
“Of course. Modern stoves have great performance, so it works fine in normal homes.”
Hearing that suddenly made a wood stove feel like a very realistic option.
From there, my desire for a wood stove caught fire (pun intended), and after a lot of research, I finally decided to install an Encore model when we built our house.
Life With a Fireplace Is Wonderful — But It Has Its Challenges
This time of year, a wood stove is unbelievably comfortable.
You can cook on the top plate, bake pizza inside, and if you roast sweet potatoes at the bottom… that’s a winter treat you can’t beat.
The Encore is truly excellent when it comes to cooking.
But of course, it’s not all sunshine and roses.
The Real Challenges of Owning a Wood Stove
- The house doesn’t warm up immediately after you get home
- Gathering, splitting, and drying firewood is hard work
- Restacking firewood each season
- Chimney cleaning at the end of the season
- Cleaning and inspecting the firebox
Even so, there are many moments when I think, “I’m glad we installed this.”
Especially winter mornings—the gentle warmth spreading through the room is something no air conditioner can replicate.
Before Installing, I Visited Everywhere From Home Centers to Specialty Shops
Before making the final decision, I went to the fireplace section of home centers, talked to staff, compared Japanese-made stoves, and eventually visited three specialty wood stove shops to compare.
What I learned along the way was this:
- The stove unit, construction costs, and chimney are all quite expensive
- Estimates don’t vary that much between companies
- Only the brands and areas of expertise differ
- In the end, choosing based on compatibility with the installer is the right move
What surprised me most was that going through a house builder makes the price jump significantly.
We ended up going directly through a specialty shop. I’ll write more about the “middleman fee issue” and cost breakdown in a separate post.
There are many types of wood stoves—and also many types of fireplaces beyond wood burning.
👉 Comparison & Basics of Wood Stoves
👉Important Points & Costs When Installing a Wood Stove
👉Wood Stove Beginner Q&A
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A real firsthand story about choosing a wood stove and installing an Encore model. Learn about how to source firewood, key points from specialty shops, and both the joys and challenges of living with a fireplace.
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