Buying a new fireplace or wood burning stove? How to choose the right one

Are you dreaming of a new oven or modern fireplace? Warming, crackling and crackling flames that you can sit and enjoy. But there are a few things to consider when choosing the perfect fireplace, and it pays to have some prior knowledge before you go to the store.
Here you will find everything you need to know.

What wood stove or fireplace should I choose?

The first thing is to think about what kind of fireplace you want.

There are several options:

  • Wood stove, log burner, stove, or are umbrella terms for the same kind of fireplace; a freestanding stove made of steel, connected to a chimney with a flue pipe.
  • Wall-mounted fireplaces are a variation of wood stoves that are made to hang directly onto fire safe walls.
  • Fireplace inserts, fireplace cassettes or inbuilt fireplaces are complete combustion chambers that can be installed in a fireplace installation that you or your dealer can design especially for your home, or which can be installed in an existing open hearth.

You’re welcome to visit our stores to browse our selection and get advice from our experts while you’re at it.

Wood burning stoves with smart optional extras

Scan stoves has many different product collections that you can see in the product overview. All our products can be adapted with various optional extras tailored to the product; several colours of moldings, various handles, sides or tops clad in heat retaining natural stone, different base solutions and much more. Most of our products come both with and without side glass. This allows you to assemble the wood stove that perfectly suits your home, based on your own taste and interior design.

Black fireplace with soapstone top in bright room with wood on the left
Various top plates
Black fireplace that can be rotated, placed on light herringbone patterned floor
Rotating base
drawing of the function of the heat-storing stone in the top chamber of the black fireplace
Heat storage
Close-up of black wood-burning stove with black handle and built-in option for other types of wood
Different handles
White wood-burning stove with form-fitting floor plate
Floor plate that follows the shape of the fireplace

Do you already have a fireplace?

Do you have an old wood stove installed, or a large or outdated fireplace that you want to dismantle and start again? Our dealers can help you take down or dismantle your old fireplace or wood stove – or you can do it yourself. It's a good idea to take some photos of your old stove or fireplace when you visit our store so you can quickly get an overview of how much it will cost to remove the old one.

Demolition of a large brick fireplace from the 80s in a living room

Remember that both steel and cast iron can be recycled and should be taken to your local recycling center. Simply by upgrading to a new fireplace with modern heating technology, you save money because new fireplaces use far less wood and clean-burning wood stoves provide more health-friendly heating (FHI, The Norwegian Institute of Public Health).

How much heat do you use?

In order to get a really good experience from your fireplace, it is important that its size is tailored to your living space and your heating needs. Fireplaces from Scan stoves are designed to burn well at a certain output. If the fireplace is too large, you will either overheat the room or constantly burn it at too lower power and end up with soot on the glass and in the chimney. Too smaller stove will be overloaded and you risk shortening its longevity.

Think about your heating needs and how much of your home needs to be heated.
What is more important to you – heat or a cosy fire?

Floor plan of a home

Heat, living space and floor

When your dealer asks you what kind of house you live in and how old it is, this is not him being nosy. What kind of fireplace they recommended to you depends on your specific home.

If you live in an apartment or terraced house, your available space and heating needs are reduced. Older houses are draftier, may have worse insulation, and need significantly more heating than homes with good insulation and triple glazing. If you live in a fairly new house or a low energy home, it is important to choose a fireplace that works well at low power.

Find the technical details

Where should a wood burning stove be placed?

For some there is an easy answer to this: in front of the fireproof wall. But perhaps your home has changed its floorplan over the years, you want to upgrade to a larger fireplace, or simply want to move your wood stove slightly - then the alternative is to set up an external fire wall. This is quick to install and only takes up 5-10 centimeters.

Different wood stoves and fireplaces have different specifications, and many modern fireplaces and wood stoves are designed to be able to be placed close to flammable materials. This means that you may not need a fireproof wall at all – while others require a fireproof wall in order to be placed close to the wall. Remember that your wood stove must be located so that it is possible to clean the stove, flue pipe and chimney.

It is also possible to install a fireplace in the middle of a room using a steel chimney – for example having a fireplace as a room divider, or a wood stove that can be rotated 360 degrees (or a certain radius).

Bringing photos or a sketch showing where your fireplace should be placed in relation to the chimney outlet, fireproof wall and furniture will be a great help when seeking advice from our experts.

White fireplace in modern living room with blue sofa and black cupboard

If you want a fireplace insert specially made for your home, we have gathered some good advice here:

How to come well prepared to your dealer

If you do some preparation at home before visiting the store, you’ll make the dealer’s job easier so they can help you best.

Image of checklist for buying a fireplace lying on a table next to computer pen and paper clips

Installation and fitting of wood stoves or fireplaces

In Norway, you are allowed to fit a fireplace or wood stove yourself. But it is also easy and safe to outsource the entire installation to an expert in the field, as we have lots of experience, special tools and careful installers. We also take care of all the paperwork linked to the installation for you.

The UK has different regulations so its best to ask the experts in one of our showrooms for their advice on what’s possible in your specific region.