COVER FEATURE
The transition to closed combustion wood stoves
Most wood-burning stoves sold in SA up to the early 2000s were open wood-burning stoves. These burn well and create a great atmosphere when sitting around an open fire that is geselig( sociable). However, they burn a lot of wood, and whilst burning, 80 % of their heat goes up the open chimney. After you go to bed, the warm air in your home will continue to vent up the open chimney, leaving you with a cold room a couple of hours later.
A Closed Combustion Wood Stove( CCWS) is a closed cast iron or steel-fabricated body with a heat-resistant glass, enabling you to enjoy visuals of the flames. Air entering these units is governed via air controls, which direct it to where needed in the unit for optimal combustion. The air controls are like a car ' s accelerator pedal. You control the burn rate of these units. This is great for warming a cold room at full heat output and then adjusting the burn rate downward to maintain the temperature.
18 kW double sided convection unit with wood storage box.
CCWS are way more efficient than open wood fires, burning far less wood, delivering more heat, and are easily adjusted to the heat required. They are economical to operate, with running costs about 20 % of those for a gas or electric heater or an open wood fire. Consequently, CCWS have become the dominant player in terms of home heating in SA over the last two decades. Typically, the cost of installing a CCWS in your home will be recouped in three years through lower energy bills.
Infiniti Fires has, over the last 20 years, developed and sold a growing range of CCWS that cover most clients’ needs, from heating a single room to a whole house. We are probably the biggest local manufacturer of CCWS in SA. Our units:
• Move heat into the room easily, reducing temperature on the outer skin for increased safety.
• Are easy to operate and robust for excellent strength and longevity.
• With steel construction and a vermiculite inner, spares when needed are available / low in price.
• Many of our units offer a choice of clear glass or black border glass, for a swisher look.
14 kW wall mounted convection unit. www. tobuild. co. za | autumn 2026 15