What is a central heating stove?

Our homes have become increasingly energy-efficient. Passive homes will be the standard from next year for new-build homes in the Brussels Capital Region. The heating requirements in these kinds of houses is so low that a heating boiler is no longer necessary. So is a central heating stove sufficient? And do these appliances offer benefits for renovations or an existing house?

A central heating stove combines two functions in one appliance:

• The fire of the stove provides warmth and comfort in the living area.
• The stove also provides energy for the (pre-) heating of water for the heating and sanitary use.

BIn other words, it works similar to your central heating. This method of heating saves a huge amount of energy. A central heating stove can be used in new-build homes as well as renovations. 

Two principles

A central heating stove can contribute in two ways to heating your home or hot water production.

• The central heating stove can be connected directly to the heating system.
• Or the central heating stove can send hot water to a buffer tank.

How a central heating stove works

Cold water that flows to the central heating stove is heated via a heat exchanger by the heat produced by the stove. The hot water then flows to a buffer tank or to the heating installation. In the latter scenario, it flows directly to the radiators or floor heating if the temperature is high enough. If this is not the case, then the central heating boiler provides additional heating of the water.

No central heating?

In some cases, and in particular in low-energy homes such as passive homes, you can forget about central heating all together. However, this is subject to your comfort expectations because you will also need hot water for sanitary use during the summer months. Using a stove during those warm months is not very pleasant. Alternatively, you could install a sun boiler. But even then, there's no guarantee that you'll always have the hot water you need.

New build and renovation

A central heating stove can be used in new-build homes as well as renovations. To install the system in an existing home, you need to provide a connection between the heat exchanger and the central heating installation or a buffer tank. This may require complex drilling and demolition work.