Cast Iron v Steel?
We are always asked by clients “which stove offers the best value”, well this is a very difficult question as most stoves these days have good and bad points. Steel or cast iron? Well, again this is very much down to the individual and their budget. The most important part of choosing a stove for your home is to get the correct advice, always consult a HETAS registered engineer who will be able to point you in the right direction.
Plus points of cast iron stoves
Cast iron wood stoves are a popular choice of wood stove for many reasons, among them its ability to hold up to high heat and temperature changes. Iron is a durable yet workable material that allows for panels of it to be drilled into larger, complex assemblies, like stoves.
It disperses heat nicely, conducting heat well from one part of the stove to the others.
The downside of cast iron stoves
Cast iron wood stoves can be costly. As they are put together with bolts and caulking they tend to require some degree of maintenance or repair over time, with replacement parts also costly as each individual model of cast iron stove must have its own master patterns for casting new panels and parts.
Many manufacturers of cast iron wood stoves today focus more on form, or decorative appeal than function. Read more