Leenders library

Wood-burning stoves heat a room through both convection heat and radiant heat. But what exactly is convection heat, and how does it work? On this page we explain it to you.

What is convection heat transfer?

Convection heat warms the air. It is a form of heat transfer in which warm air rises and cooler air sinks. This process happens because air is heated by a heat source, becomes lighter and rises. As the air cools, it becomes heavier and sinks again, where it can be heated once more. This continuous circulation helps a room warm up evenly and efficiently. Convection heat is also useful for getting warmth around a corner, so that, for example, the kitchen becomes warm as well.

Convection heat is widely used in homes and offices because it is a fast way to bring a space up to temperature. Because the warm air spreads throughout the entire room, people experience an even and comfortable warmth.

Many modern wood-burning stoves, such as Leenders wood-burning stoves, are designed with a convection system. Cool air is drawn in through openings at the bottom of the stove, heated, and then released again at the top. This improves efficiency and ensures better heat distribution throughout the room.

Which heating appliances use convection heat?

Besides wood-burning stoves, there are other heating appliances that warm a room through convection heat, such as:

• Radiators. Although radiators also emit some radiant heat, they mainly work through convection heat. The air around the radiator warms up and rises, creating a circulation of warm air.
• Convector heaters. The name says it all. These are heating systems designed specifically to generate convection heat. They warm the air without the appliance itself becoming extremely hot.
• Forced-air heating. This system blows warmed air into a room through vents or ducts, providing fast and even heat distribution.
• Electric convection heaters. This name also gives it away. These heaters run on electricity and warm the air in a room using an electric heating element.

Convection heat and radiant heat

As mentioned, wood-burning stoves heat a room through both convection heat and radiant heat, and each has its advantages.

With convection heat you can warm an entire room quickly and efficiently. However, convection heat tends to dissipate sooner than radiant heat. Radiant heat also feels very pleasant, similar to the warmth of the sun. You feel radiant heat immediately when you are not too far from the stove, but it takes a while for that warmth to spread through the room. On the other hand, radiant heat is often more energy-efficient in well-insulated homes, because the warmth is retained for longer.

Convection heat and radiant heat therefore complement each other very well. Also read our article about radiant heat for more information about this type of heat.