Should you turn off central heat and air while heating with wood burning stove?

Whether or not you should turn off your central heat and air while using a wood-burning stove depends on several factors, including the type of central heating and air conditioning system, the size of your home, and your comfort preferences. Here are a few considerations:

- Central heating with hot water: If your home has a hot water central heating system, it is generally not recommended to turn it off while using a wood-burning stove. This type of system relies on circulating hot water through radiators or baseboards, and turning it off can cause problems such as freezing or overheating.

- Central heating with forced air: If your home has a forced air central heating system, you may be able to turn it off while using a wood-burning stove, but it depends on the stove and the layout of your home. If your wood-burning stove is able to sufficiently heat the entire house, you may not need to use the forced air system. However, if your home has multiple zones or rooms that are far from the stove, you may still need to use the forced air system to circulate warm air throughout the house.

- Central air conditioning: If you have central air conditioning, it is generally recommended to turn it off while using a wood-burning stove. This is because the air conditioner will try to cool the air that is being heated by the wood-burning stove, which will waste energy and make it more difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Ultimately, the best way to determine whether or not you should turn off your central heat and air while using a wood-burning stove is to experiment and see what works best for your home and your comfort preferences. If you find that you are able to maintain a comfortable temperature without using the central heating or air conditioning, you can save money by turning them off.