Certifications
Our Dwarf stoves are designed specifically for small recreational or temporary spaces less than 500 square feet like tents, RVs, boats, and tiny homes on wheels. The Dwarf stove is not certified (UL/CSA) or approved (EPA) for residential heating and is offered for recreational, portable, or temporary use only. In some cases, local codes may …
Value vs. Price
It is definitely not cheap to install a wood stove properly! The parts required for a safe and proper installation are a big investment. Here’s why we think investing the money in the right wood stove and flue parts is so worth it. Freedom and Resilience of Wood Heat There’s a reason people feel an …
Dwarf 3kW: Standard vs. LITE Comparison
The Dwarf 3kW Standard and Dwarf 3kW LITE are the two smaller stoves we offer in the Dwarf line. Both offer the same dimensions but have a few key differences. Bottom line, the LITE is a great option for small spaces where 20 pounds of weight savings is a big deal and you’re planning on …
Radiant vs. Convection Heat
There’s actually a physical, scientific reason why few people rave about their furnaces the way people fall in love with their wood stoves. Radiant or Convection Heating The difference in the “feel” of a heat source comes down to the way it distributes heat into the room. Convection heaters are designed to heat air that …
Small Wood Stove Thermal Mass
We’re still building this one. Check back with us later!
Wood Stove Efficiency
Efficiency in a wood stove is important because it allows you to conserve fuel while getting the most heat into your space and producing the least amount of smoke and creosote. Installing the most efficient wood stove for your space can give you many years of clean-burning, trouble-free warmth. Download our Free Wood Stove Efficiency …
Wood Heat vs. Propane Heat
Comparing wood and propane heat for small spaces The ideal heat source comes down to long-term cost and how involved you want to be in the process of heating your home. Do you want to be independent of fossil fuels and don’t mind some extra chores? Then a wood stove is right for you! Or …
Pros & Cons of Wood Heat
Pros Ambiance – need we say more? Intense dry heat Not reliant on the grid (electricity, propane, natural gas) Inexpensive or free fuel Cons Fires require tending, sometimes during the night The smell of wood fires can bother some Bringing in wood and taking out ashes can be messy Regulations Why choose wood heat? Ambiance …
Building a Hearth or Wood Storage Stand
Building a Hearth or Stand for a Wood Stove A good hearth or stand will protect your floor from falling embers and safely reduce heat transfer from your wood stove to your floor. It can also offer space to store wood, organize your fire tools, and can highlight the wood stove as the centerpiece of …
Heat Shields to Reduce Clearance Requirements
How to Calculate Clearances with a Heat Shield Clearances are calculated from the heat source to the combustible surface. So, 18″ clearance reduced to 6″ with a shield that stands 1″ away from the wall would need at least 5″ from the shield to the heat source. How Big Should Heat Shields Be? Clearances are …
Clearances: Protecting Surrounding Materials
Adequate clearances are one of the two most important safety features of any wood stove installation. (The other is proper materials.) A properly installed and maintained wood stove can be one of the safest appliances in your home. But cheating on clearances can create a very dangerous situation. Clearance Requirements Without Shielding 18” from back …
Stove Placement
The best location for the stove is as centrally located in the space as possible. Wood stoves heat with radiant heat so the further away from the stove you are, the cooler the temperature will be. Having the stove centrally located will offer the highest potential for even heating throughout the space. Fans can help …
Stove Manuals & Other Tech Stuff
You’ve come to the right place for tech specs, manuals, and downloads. Dwarf Wood Stove Manual Dwarf Wood Stove Manual (a print version will come with your wood stove) Dwarf Wood Stove Dimensions Drawings Dwarf 3kw Wood Stove (LITE and Standard) Dwarf 4kw Wood Stove Dwarf 5kw Wood Stove Installation Guides Tiny House Roof Exit …
General Stove Components
Dwarf Wood Stove This diagram and descriptions of the function of each Dwarf Wood Stove component should help you more fully understand the function and assembly of your stove. Many of these components contribute directly to the performance and heating efficiency of the Dwarf wood stoves. Read more about the keys to wood stove efficiency …
Other Fuels
Most wood stoves can be used to burn a variety of solid fuels aside from wood or coal. Charcoal is generally acceptable to use in a small stove, though it can be one of the more expensive options available. Hardwood pellets or other solid fuels like corn or soybeans can be burned in a wood …
Coal
In some parts of the United States, especially in Appalachia, coal is abundant and cheap. Anthracite coal is best, since it is much cleaner, though bituminous coal could also be used if necessary. The Dwarf 3kW Standard, Dwarf 4kW, and Dwarf 5kW are all capable of burning coal when connected to a well-designed flue system. …
Foraged Wood
Downed wood that you found in the forest is not usually the ideal fuel for immediate use in your wood stove, but it can be used if necessary. If no other fuel source is available, having the ability to heat your home and cook your food with found wood can be a literal lifesaver. Tools …
Pressed Logs
Commercially manufactured pressed sawdust logs, a.k.a. “Presto” logs or “fire logs,” can be a great source of fuel for your small stove. Manufactured logs tend to have relatively high BTU content, require no curing, and are safe to transport across long distances. There are three general types of pressed logs available on the market. Wax …
Kiln Dried Firewood
Hardware stores and grocery stores often sell packs of kiln dried firewood for around 6 per 0.75 cubic foot. It is more expensive than cordwood, but can be a great option for fueling your small wood stove. Kiln dried wood has been heat-dried, so it’s already fully cured and ready to use in your stove. …
Bulk Cordwood
One of the most cost-effective options for fueling a small wood stove is to buy cordwood in bulk. If you have space to store the wood, you can purchase an entire season’s worth of fuel for relatively little cost. Locally sourced bulk cordwood is one of the more sustainable options for fueling a small wood …
Glass
Most quality wood stoves, like our Dwarf Stove, use an air wash to keep the stove glass clean. But even with an air wash, some soot and creosote is bound accumulate on your stove glass. To keep your glass clean and prevent difficult to remove deposits, we recommend cleaning your glass before each fire, when …
TROUBLESHOOTING
Poor Draft Diagnosing common draft problems in small wood stove installations. Typical symptoms include smoke leaking out of the stove, difficulty starting or maintaining a fire, poor burn efficiency, and insufficient heat produced from the stove. Coming soon. Stainless Pipe Discoloration Stainless steel pipe changing color as its heated, also called tempering, is normal. It …
MAINTENANCE
Proper maintenance is critical to the efficient function and safety of your wood stove.
Gaskets
Airtight stoves use gaskets on their doors, which need to be checked and replaced from time to time. To inspect the gasket while the stove is cold, place a dollar bill halfway in the door opening and close and latch the door. If you’re able to pull the bill out from between the door and …
Firebrick
If your stove uses firebrick in the firebox, bricks will last for years of typical use, but will eventually need to be repaired or replaced. Chips and cracks can be repaired by filling cracked joints with stove cement. You can find correct replacement bricks for Dwarf stoves here. For other stoves, contact your stove manufacturer …
Stove Finish
Most stoves are painted with high temperature paint, which can scratch with use. I periodically wipe my stove top down with a thin layer of cooking oil to cure any bare metal and prevent rust, same as you would with a cast iron skillet. Cooking oil can smoke when curing, so be sure to have …
Flue System
You will need to inspect your flue system on a regular basis and clean it as often as necessary. The frequency of cleaning will depend on how you use the stove—how often you use it, what type of fuel you use, and what temperatures it runs. It’s a good idea to inspect a new installation …
Flue Temperatures
Regardless of your fuel source, a stovepipe thermometer is a critical tool for monitoring your stove’s performance. Keep the flue temperatures in the “ideal” range to help prevent creosote from forming in your flue system. If you’re burning low and slow fires, you’ll likely get some extra creosote buildup overnight. You can help remove some …
Burn Efficiency
Creosote consists of flammable compounds escape your stove without being fully burned, and then cool and condense in your stovepipe. Ensure that you are burning your fuel as completely as possible to minimize the amount of flammable compounds that end up in your chimney. Avoid smoldering or “choking” your fire by keeping the air controls …
Fuel Choice
Burning properly cured hardwood fuel will help your fires burn cleanly, which will minimize creosote buildup. Moisture content in solid fuels consumes a significant amount of heat and results in cooler fires and lower flue temperatures. The colder the flue temperatures, the more creosote will condense inside the flue. Fuels like kiln dried hardwood and …
Before Each Use
Use a brush to collect ash in the ash pan, and empty it prior to each fire, and as needed. Ashes may contain embers for hours or days after the fire goes out, so they’re best disposed of in a fireproof ash bin. Improper disposal of ashes (i.e. tossing them in the kitchen trash can …