In these times when every penny counts, many people are considering buying a wood stove. If well managed, it can be a highly affordable way to heat your home. However, prices, availability, and demand vary throughout the year.

The real question is when to buy a wood-burning stove. Below, we'll discuss the different aspects and help you learn the best times to buy a new wood stove.

Key Takeaways

  • Summer is the best time to buy a new wood stove or wood burner, with spring being the next best option.
  • During the warm seasons, lead times will be lower, and more variety will be available.
  • Prices are lower in the off-season, meaning you will pay less than you would during the cold months.

Cost Savings

If you've been wondering when to buy a wood-burning stove, the answer is simple: summer. The first (and arguably most significant) reason for this is that stoves are more affordable during the summer months.

Many people wait till they actually need a wood burner before purchasing it, which leads to high demand during the cold months. Manufacturers and suppliers know that people will, at this point, pay whatever it takes to get heat in their homes. Like the good businesspeople that they are, this prompts them to raise prices for this season.

Buying a wood stove in the summer months will, therefore, lead to significant savings compared to buying one in the cold months. If you ask a tradesman how much to install a wood burner, their prices and lead times will also be higher during the cold months as there's much more demand for their services.

Shorter Lead Times and Better Stove Availability

There is another significant reason why it is a good idea to buy and install your new wood burner during the warm months.

During the autumn and winter seasons, people suddenly start to realise that buying a wood stove might be a necessity if they wish to stay warm. As a result, the demand for these products skyrockets during that time.

This means that most stores and manufacturers have much lower availability, and sometimes barely have any. What this means for you as a purchaser is that you will be faced with lengthy lead times, which could be as long as weeks or a couple of months.

Naturally, when it's already cold outside the last thing you want is to wait a month or two before you even get your stove. And, once the stove is in your possession you'll need to wait to have it installed or go through the gruelling task of installing it yourself.

The other side of this particular coin is that the most popular (and likely most affordable) wood burners will have the highest demand. Consequently, the lead times on them will also be longer, which means that you will have to pay more for a stove model that you don't necessarily want. You also won't be able to pick and choose between different styles and aesthetics with as much ease.

Less Mess and Cold During Installation

While it is certainly possible to buy and install a wood-burning stove during the cold months, there are reasons beyond affordability and availability rendering it an unwise option. For one thing, when installing a stove during the winter months, you will have holes in your wall or roof to help facilitate the required flue.

Assuming your home has an existing chimney, you will still need to wait until the installation is complete before you can use your new stove. If you place the stove where your fireplace was before, this can mean a couple of days without the warmth of a fire in your home.

Furthermore, thanks to snow, sleet, and autumn leaves, having your wood burning stove installed during the cold months is likely to be a lot messier.

Woodburners for All Seasons

One thing that many people fail to consider is that wood burners are not only useful during the cold months. In our temperate northern climate, weather can be unpredictable, with even spring and summer days sometimes getting quite cold.

If you get a jump on the stove-buying season, you'll be prepared for even the coldest of summer days.

Think Before You Buy

When you buy a wood burner in summer, it also gives you the opportunity to think things through rationally and with a clear mind. When it's already quite cold, you may likely need a larger stove than your home requires.

You'll also be able to take your time and have a look at the various different models on offer, considering aspects like environmental friendliness and fuel consumption. On the other hand, if you buy a wood-burning stove when it is already cold, you may be more concerned with the idea of warmth than the overall ramifications of your purchase.

Finally, most showrooms are better stocked during the summer months, allowing you to see the stoves on offer in person. This gives you a better idea of what they look like and which models will best suit the style and design of your home.

Final Thoughts

While you can buy a wood burner any time of the year, spring and summer are definitely the better options if you want to make the most of pricing, availability, and short lead times.

One of the excellent attributes of modern wood burners and pellet stoves is the fact that they don't require a brick chimney. This means that you can, with some basic skills, do the installation yourself if you so desire.

Purchasing a stove in the warm months gives you the time that you'll need to complete the projects without worrying about winter being on your doorstep. Even if you do have an existing brick chimney, you can probably put it to good use by installing a chimney liner or flue liner to ensure that it doesn't leak. Alternatively, have a look at our easy-to-install twin wall flue kits.

We wish you all the best with buying a wood stove for your home.