If you are interested in burning firewood, choosing the right wood stove grate is very important. When you are shopping for one, it is helpful to know how big the inside of the stove is so you can buy the right size. The type of material you are burning can play a factor in this, as will the amount of it used at one time. You can choose a rectangular, round, or square stove grate, and the best one can depend on the shape of your stove and where it is located in your home.
Before you go shopping for a wood stove grate, it is a good idea to know how big this device should be. Measure the length, width, and depth of the stove's interior so you will know how much room you have inside. It can also be helpful to measure the width of the wood stove's door so you can make sure the grate will not be too large to fit through this opening.
Visit a dealer that sells wood stove parts and ask her to show you several different grates. While you are looking them over, think about the type of material you are likely to burn in your stove, as this can determine which stove grate you buy. If you are burning firewood, you may want one that is around 24 to 42 inches (60.96 to 106.68 cm) long and slightly curved on the sides. In the event you are only using kindling or wax-based fire logs, one that is only 12 inches (30.48 cm) long and completely flat could be a good choice. Perhaps you would like to burn a combination of materials such as fire logs, wood pellets, or cherry pits, in which case you may want a wood stove grate with a tiny screen across the bottom.
The shape of your wood stove can play a part in the type of grate you buy. Some stoves are round or pot-bellied, so a round device might work best for one of these units. A rectangular wood stove grate could be a good choice for a rectangular model, while a square one could work in either a round or rectangular type. Round or square grates are normally more like platforms, so they may not hold as much wood as a rectangular-shaped one will. No matter which shape you buy, the grate should have legs that are 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 cm) high and sturdily attached in order to provide stability.