Alternative Heat Sources & Firewood

Wood stoves and pellet stoves are in style as demand increases. You can still see wood stoves in cabins, family rooms, and workshops.. More than ever, they are appearing in beautiful homes and finding their way into the living room. Whether or not there is a fire burning behind their glass doors, they are a handsome room addition with their brass legs and attractive firebox designs.

They save heating costs. Withhigh energy prices, they especially save money if the owner has a lot of trees or can find trees to cut up. In that case, sweat is the main price of heating. Dealers say sales of wood stoves are up 250 percent over last years. Pellet stoves are becoming the alternative heat source of choice. They run partly on electricity and use sawdust capsules the size of rabbit food as the main fuel.

They are clean burning and convenient. After pouring pellets into the hopper, the fire lights when a button is pushed. At Home Depot, sales of pellet stoves are about siz times the level of 2007 sales. The national average price for pellet fuel is about $250 per ton, according to the Wall Street Journal. It takes three tons annually to heat the average home if the stove is its main heat source.

Gas-burning inserts are a better choice. All stoves and inserts must pass EPA standards for low emissions. The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts that the average household will spend 20 percent more this winter on natural gas, propane, and electricity. The price of heatnig oil could rise by 31 percent.

Finding The Best Firewood

A crackling fire on a chilly evening will go a long way to warm the heart and soul. Fires also provide a cozy place for friends and family to gather, especially during the holidays. You can use this handy guide to help you pick the best wood for your fireplace.

Types of Firewood –In general, oak is one of the most popular firewoods. There are many different oak varieties available. Oak is lng burning, usually lasting 1 to 1 1/2 hours per log. It’s slightly higher prices than other woods, but it smells nice, splits easy, and lasts long. Other popular wood burning alternatives would be: ash, beech, birch, dogwood, elm, hickory, maple, pinion pine, pine, pecam mesquite, and juniper.

The Key To Good Firewood –The wood’s moisture content is one of the key factors for a successful burn, so be sure the firewood has been properly dried. Quality firewood dealers will dry their wood for 12-15 months before selling it. Buying wood from the supermarket will most likely leave you with firewood that’s only been dried for 3 months. Supermarket wood is sold wet and will pop and split when burned. The trick is to know your dealer. By calling the National Chimney Sweet Guild at (317) 871-0030, you can get quality references for firewood dealers in our area.

How FIrewood Is Measures –Firewood should be sold by the cord or increments of a cord. Beware of folks selling firewood by the “truckload”. A cord is a measurement of neatly stacked and rowed firewood that equals 128 cubic feet. The stack measures four-feet tall by four-feet wide by eight-feet long. A good dealer will have increments from an eighth of a cord on up.

Storing Your Firewood –To get the most out of your firewood, you’ll want to store it outside on a rack. Keep the firewood off the ground to prevent rotting. Properly stored firewood can easily last up to a year.