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Rush for stove builders: Fireplace and wood stoves are in short supply due to the gas crisis

2022-07-01T07:33:34.490Z


Whether as a back-up or even as the sole source of energy: since the outbreak of war, more and more Germans have been equipping their homes with fireplaces and wood stoves. But the trend has a downside.


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Wood-burning stove in an apartment: in demand, but the price of firewood is also increasing

Photo: Silas Stein / dpa

Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves give off a cozy warmth, but they are considered extremely harmful to the environment because of their high emission of fine dust.

Nevertheless, in the course of the Ukraine war, the stoves are now in high demand nationwide and are already considered to be in short supply.

Because just as the energy suppliers are now increasingly turning to coal instead of Russian gas for electricity production in power plants, many private households are also choosing a dirtier alternative.

Stove builders and installers could hardly save themselves from orders from concerned customers who want to install an additional heating option in their house or apartment, said a spokesman for the Central Association for Sanitary, Heating and Air Conditioning (ZVSHK) in Sankt Augustin.

"When the war broke out, demand exploded."

waiting period of one year

The triggers for this are obviously both the skyrocketing gas and heating oil prices as a result of Russia's war in Ukraine - as well as the subsequent concern that the heating could remain cold next winter.

"People are unsettled or even scared," says the association.

At least some customers will probably not get their stove before the end of next winter.

According to the ZVSHK, the waiting time is a year in some cases.

There are around 2,000 furnace construction companies nationwide.

The run on stoves is therefore not limited to Germany.

»The capacity utilization runs through the entire federal territory, even across the whole of Europe.

We know that from the exchange with European colleagues,” it said.

However, wood has also become more expensive since the beginning of the year.

This applies to firewood and pellets, as well as to construction timber.

Like other trades and industry, stove builders also suffer from delivery problems, which also delays the processing of orders.

This doesn't just affect imported parts, many of which come from China.

"Due to the immense demand and also due to personnel difficulties in connection with Covid-19, products that are produced in Germany are also affected by delivery problems," explains the ZVSHK.

The association cites fireclay as an example – this is the refractory material that is used to line the combustion chamber of a furnace.

apr/dpa

Source: spiegel

All business articles on 2022-07-01

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