Building a Home - Add Comfort With the Proper Heat Source

Your choice of heat source for your new home will affect both your bank account and your comfort.

My story is a good reason for planning ahead and considering all the angles.

When we built our home in 1998 we installed a propane furnace and a propane fireplace. Propane was affordable at 92 cents per gallon.

But by late summer 2008 it was $2.30 per gallon, and a friend said he paid $2.49. I was not happy about the idea of sending $400+ every month to the propane company.

The second problem with our propane heat was that my work space in the basement was always cold. I sat here all winter with an electric space heater aimed at my feet, even though the furnace was running. Yes, the heat was piped down here, but it came from overhead, so my feet and legs never got warm.

When we built this house, I didn't know that in a few years I'd quit selling real estate and work full-time from an office in my basement. It was plenty warm for sleeping, doing laundry, or playing pool - just not warm enough for sitting still for hours every day.

So, we decided to install a wood stove. But since we didn't plan ahead for that possibility, figuring out where to put it was not easy. We had to choose a place in the basement, since a stove upstairs would do nothing to warm my basement office.

That meant choosing a spot where the chimney wouldn't pass any of the upstairs windows. All things considered, we didn't have many choices.

Next, it entailed using a jack-hammer to pound out a hole in the cement wall of the basement. You haven't seen dust in your home until you try that one!

We also didn't have a suitable place to store the winter's wood - so my downstairs patio became a wood shed. We used sheets of plywood to protect a downstairs bedroom window from breakage. Not very pretty, but I did stay warm this winter, and did shock the propane man when he arrived time after time only to find we didn't need a fill-up. (It was OK, his trip wasn't wasted because our neighbors heat with propane.)

I'm glad we have the furnace - if we want to go away for a day or two in winter, it will keep the house from freezing. And if for some reason I don't want to build a fire, I have the choice of using the furnace.

Right now, in planning a new home, it would be wise to give yourself choices and build them in to your home. For instance, in addition to an oil or propane or natural gas furnace, you could install electric wall heaters in key rooms, or choose a fireplace (with an insert for efficiency) that burns wood. You could also install a free standing wood stove, as we did after the fact.

If you decide to install wood heat, have your contractor build a good sized wood shed with easy access to the door nearest your wood burning stove or fireplace. If you live in snow country, get a covered walkway so you don't have to shovel before you bring the wood inside.

One gentleman I know uses a wood furnace located outside of his home that sends hot water through pipes in his floor. Many favor this plan because it keeps the heat source - and possible fire hazard - away from the house itself.

Others use a heat pump.

If you choose all electric heat, or even a furnace or heat pump that depends upon electricity to run the ignition system and fans, consider installing a high-quality generator to keep warm during power outages.

If you have the generator installed during the construction phase, your electrician will set it up for a quick change-over from your panel box any time the power goes out.

As you plan your new home, you have the ability to plan comfort and convenience as well as good looks. While you're planning, think ahead to how you might use your home in the future.

I don't know about you, but staying warm is at the top of my list of necessary conveniences!

Keep Things Toasty and Cheap With a Wood Pellet Furnace

You read the headlines. "Home Heating Oil Hits Record Highs!" You see the TV reports featuring interviews with struggling families who are afraid of another cold spell because they can't pay their gas or electric bills. You don't really need those media reports to understand the situation, though. You've seen the evidence in black and white every month when you open your bills. It is getting expensive to heat your home. That's why you're going to install a wood pellet furnace.

A wood pellet furnace is more than a glorified fireplace. It is a top-notch way to keep your home toasty and comfortable without spending a small fortune on fuel. These marvels of engineering can transform simple, cheap little pellets of wood into enough heat to make even the most severe winter bearable.

If you don't already have a wood pellet furnace, you should be looking for the right one to meet your needs. If you don't have one and you're not shopping for the best option, you need to hop on the bandwagon. The price of petroleum products isn't going to suddenly bottom out overnight. Electricity isn't getting cheaper. Natural gas may be plentiful and readily available, but the gas companies want to keep posting their record profits. If you don't switch to a wood pellet furnace or some other alternative heating option, you can be certain that you'll spend more money than ever before in an effort to maintain cold weather comfort.

A wood pellet furnace has a number of advantages over other options. The first, as noted, is cost. The price of those little wood pellets isn't going up, either. In fact, the increasing popularity of these heaters is bringing more people into the pellet business, which is boosting supply and decreasing prices!

These pellet-burners are efficient, too. The old-fashioned fireplace leaks like a heat sieve. Your comfort and your money drifts right out the chimney or lingers just feet from the fireplace, failing to circulate. A good wood pellet furnace will create sufficient heat to keep things cozy from the basement to the second floor. They extract so much out of those pellets that it's almost unbelievable.

They're a flexible option, too. Some people do away with all other forms of heating, relying exclusively on a whole house furnace. Others invest in a smaller unit to supplement heat or in a fireplace insert. You aren't stuck with one option when you've added a pellet stove to your home.

These stoves--which have really only been readily available for the last few decades--are becoming popular, well-recognized options. That isn't an accident. Pellet stoves supply outstanding warmth with great efficiency while sporting a price tag that puts other options to shame.

Outdoor Wood Boilers and Furnaces - Why Do They Smoke So Much

With energy prices continuing to reach an all time high, more and more people are turning to alternate fuel sources. One of those fuels is wood.

Although people have burned wood for years, why is there so much buzz about outdoor wood burning boilers (or furnaces as they are most commonly referred to).

Well, first off, lets talk about what these are. If you live in a neighborhood where one has been installed, then I am sure you know what they are! In general they are a self-contained building that looks something like a shed. They consist of a firebox and an area that contains water.

Wood is added to the firebox and the heat that the wood produces is then passed to the water, which in turn enters the house or building and is used for heating and domestic hot water.

Sounds like a great thing right? It is. Or is it? The biggest problem that most people have with outdoor wood furnaces is most produce a ton of smoke at start up. This smoke can also last for a long time during operation (heat cycle) due to the large wood load stored in the firebox.

So why do they smoke so much? There are several reasons. The first reason is most manufacturers do not build these to be very efficient. As the fire burns, the firebox rarely gets hot enough to "gasify" the wood gases driven out of the burning wood. These gases consist of many compounds. The most common compounds are hydrogen gas, carbon monoxide and methane gas. Because these compounds don't get hot enough to ignite and combust, they escape up the chimney in the form of dense smoke.

Another leading cause of dense smoke comes from burning "green wood". Green wood is wet wood. In other words it has not been "seasoned" or left out to dry for a year or two.

As the green wood burns it gives off water vapor or steam from the water trapped inside the wood. This leads to heavy smoking. This problem is a very simple one to fix. Don't burn green wood! In fact, even know some makers of outdoor furnaces and wood stoves say that you can burn green wood, you shouldn't. You will consume more wood if you burn green wood, and thus loose even more efficiency. Some of the heat energy from the existing fire needs to be used to drive the moisture out of the wood instead of being used to heat the water.

A responsible owner of one of these devices, such as myself, can vary the way you "fire the furnace". Instead of filling the firebox to capacity every time, just add less wood as well as the time of day. I fire my stove at night so the smoke doesn't bother my neighbors during the day. And by adding less wood at each loading, it cuts down on the amount of smoke output.

For the most part, most outdoor wood furnaces are not regulated by the EPA. However, that is changing. Due to the overwhelming popularity of these things, the EPA is now starting to address this problem. Most manufactures of outdoor furnaces are now building models that conform to smoke emission criteria. This is nothing more than a normal path of evolution for these manufactures if they want to continue to sell their products into the future.

The bulk of manufactures are achieving this cleaner burning stove through the use of more modern technology. Although there are many different ways of doing this, the basic principle is the same. That is you need to increase the "combustion temperature" inside the firebox.

In most cases this is achieved by adding a secondary combustion chamber. And in some cases introduces "secondary air". Regardless of the method used, the goal is to get the exhaust gases / gases of combustion, hot enough to gasify, or ignite.

By getting the gases to ignite in the secondary combustion chamber several things are achieved. First, the gases are being burned at a very high temperature and therefore are achieving "complete combustion" (as much as possible in this type of situation) which in turn produces more heat.

The more heat that is produced, the more heat is transferred to the water, thus making the stove more efficient. Because we are able to gasify and burn the gases trapped in the smoke, the overall smoke output is greatly reduced.

The idea of gasification is not new. In fact, the extraction of hydrogen gases from wood was used during World War Two by the military to run jeeps and alike.

One of the attractions towards burning wood is that it is a renewable source of energy.

And, of course reduces our need for oil from others countries.

Despite what some well-intentioned folks may tell you, burning wood is no more harmful then some fossil fuels from a carbon dioxide standpoint. In short, here's why.

Wood contains carbon dioxide as part of the natural growing process. It's part of nature.

Of course all fossil fuels contain this gas as well. This is one of the big problems with burning fossil fuels.

So, why is burning wood different? Because trees contain carbon dioxide that will naturally escape from the wood in time anyway. That is to say, as a tree dies and decays it will emit carbon dioxide.

Fossil fuels on the other hand, only emit carbon dioxide when burned. So the thought here by most, is if the fossil fuels were never burned and left underground there would be no carbon dioxide emission.

Remember, this is not to say that burning wood is any cleaner, it's just that burning wood adds less NET carbon dioxide to the environment. (So long as we continue to burn fossil fuels)

So with the help of the EPA and stove manufactures, we will soon have a wood burning outdoor furnace that will smoke less. Hopefully this will reach some middle ground between those who are upset over smoke and those who STILL have a right to burn wood.

When Selecting a Wood Burning Furnace For Your Home, There Are Certain Steps You Can Take

If you want to heat your home very efficiently and at the same time help with the environment, then you should definitely think about heating with a Wood Burning Furnace. This type of furnace is not necessarily the traditional way of heating, but it is much more efficient than heating with oil or gas. This type of furnace allows the home owner to heat with a renewable resource that also helps to keep the environment clean. There is a little more work to these types of furnaces, but the savings are well worth the energy that you put into them.

When researching the different types of a Wood Burning Furnace that you can use, you will find that there are three basic kinds. These include the indoor stand alone furnace, the add-on furnace, and the outdoor burning furnace. You will also find that there are many manufacturers of these types of heating units such as TimberRidge, Biasi, Charmaster, Sure-flame, as well as many others. Charmaster has made their name a very popular and trusted brand to choose. Most of these manufacturers have their own websites where you can get much more information about their furnaces.

Charmaster has been in business since 1972 and make available several different models for the consumer to choose from. One of their models includes the Chalet Wood Burning Furnace. This furnace has a 24" long firebox which makes it capable of heating an area of up to 2000 square feet. You can use the Internet in order to browse through different dealers of this furnace but the cost of it will be around $4000.00. Other models such as the Englander can cost you around $1649.00 with the model number #28-3500. This model can heat an area up to 3000 square feet. It has been tagged the nickname "work horse". This furnace is cheaper because it is an add-on to your existing furnace.

The add-on type of Wood Burning Furnace is very popular in most homes due to the fact that it is large enough to add large pieces of wood, which helps to lessen the trips made outside and then to the furnace. The cost of these furnaces will be made-up by the energy that is saved by using them. They are easy to install as well as giving your home or business the warmth of heat needed through the cold months in order to keep your family comfortable.

Space Heating - A Comfortable Way to Stay Warm While Lowering Monthly Heating Bills

Several kinds of space heaters offer convenient ways to stay warm while lowering the monthly home-or-apartment monthly heating bills. However, one or two people might find it much easier to space heat their surroundings than what a larger group will find.

Space heaters available.

Because of the rising costs of heating fuel and energy, space heating has increased over the years. For example, the wood-burning fireplaces already existing in homes are being adapted to enclosed wood-or-gas-burning fireplace inserts or to gas-fired artificial logs. Homes not having fireplaces are adding free-standing wood-burning or other energy-supplied room heaters. Some of the space heaters available to the consumer are listed below.

1. Wood-burning stoves or fireplace inserts

2. Electric or gas fired artificial log stoves or inserts, often with added artificial ceramic coals

3. Infrared electric models of all kinds and sizes (e.g., circulating, quartz, reflective, floor model, tower, ceiling or wall mounted with digital remote)

4. Infrared electric models with the element-enhanced ceramic heat-transfer technology

5. Electric models utilizing infrared bulbs with metal heat-transfer technology

6. Infrared bulbs alone (like, in bathrooms)

7. Electric or warm-water-circulated baseboard types

8. Wall or floor inserted room furnaces; natural or propane gas

9. Older-style non-vented gas with fired-clay radiant heaters (These older non-vented models models might be illegal in certain regions.)

10. Free-standing kerosine or kerosine-with-wick models

11. Vented or non-vented natural or propane gas types with catalytic-burning technology

12. Portable fresh-air vented or non-vented propane-gas-tank models

13. Active or passive solar heaters directed to the desired rooms or locations

14. Heat pumps that can both heat or cool, like the ones found in many motels

Which one is best?

This answer depends on how much space heating is needed for how many people, and in how many spots. For example, one or two people living alone in a large or small dwelling can easily hole-up in one room having a bed, desk, radio, TV, computer, telephone, microwave, easy chair, and one small space heater during the cold months. Under these conditions, the home-furnace thermostat can be lower to 55-to-60-degrees Fahrenheit, which is fairly liveable for using the bathroom or kitchen for short periods of time. Also, the kitchen is warmed further by the heat from the refrigerator evaporator and cooking stove.

Moreover, if the one-room space heater is electric, it could add $10-30 to the monthly electric bills, depending on the intensity of the winter weather. However, under these same conditions and depending on the size of the house, a home-furnace setting of 72-degrees could easily add $50-150 to the monthly heating bills, even with some of heat registers closed. Thus, under these conditions, the one-room space heating provides a savings near 80%.

This principle can also be applied to the dwellings having more than two people living in them. That is, this larger number of inhabitants might need a larger room or more than one smaller room for everyone. They might also need several portable space heaters. However, the main idea of locating and living in relatively small spaces during the cold weather is the same, that is, by locating and living in spaces that can be efficiently and inexpensively heated.

Fireplaces Are the Ideal Choice to Keep Your Home Warm This Winter

Fireplaces are essential for homeowners. They keep the home warm even on the coldest days of winter and add a nice touch to the dcor of any room. Watching the flickering flames during the night is a wonderful experience and creates a cozy atmosphere. It can enhance the beauty and elegance of your living area for you and your family to enjoy. Gas fireplaces and other types are becoming more and more popular in homes and an amenity home buyers are looking for when searching for a new residence. With many styles of fireplaces, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Fireplaces have always added a touch of beauty to living rooms and family rooms. Wide varieties of styles have been created over the years. Gas fireplaces in particular offer a greater efficiency. They give this traditional look to the living room setting and are available in variety of style. Today they come in basic masonry and more contemporary styles. They're also available in cherry, oak, pine, white, and a host of other colors with designs and color combinations to fit any home.

A Gas fireplace is regarded as cleaner than wood or some other types. And with newer gas fireplaces and gas stoves, it is possible to adjust the heat and flames. More modern gas fireplaces and stoves come with easy to use controls for lighting the pilot and turning the fireplace on and off, as well as adjusting the amount of heat.

Some prefer traditional wood furnaces to heat their entire homes and these can be effective heating systems. For some, these direct fire heat sources are a more economical way of heating home and preferred. These work very well to provide relief from cold and windy winter throughout an entire home when the proper units are installed right. Many people from various countries that experience extreme cold weather or climate use this kind of heating unit. Since wood is a renewable resource it is even a better option for the environment. Many users of whole home wood furnaces have them installed right in the basement. The heating system uses a type of forced air to then provide heat throughout the entire house.

Wood stoves are also very efficient, environmentally-friendly and come in various colors and styles. Most modern wooden stoves have an inlet for combustion and an outlet for combustion of smoke. These wood stoves are clean and can fit in any style of home. It can convert up to 75 percent of fuel into heat.

A Wood Burning Furnace is a Viable Heating Alternative

Have you considered heating your home or cottage with a wood burning furnace? It is not a traditional method of heating a home but it can reduce your energy costs as opposed to heating with oil or gas. It is certainly a viable alternative in this day and age of high energy costs.

Using a wood burning furnace to heat your home allows you to use a renewable resource. It is also environmentally friendly to use these devices for heating.

When choosing a particular type of wood burning furnace, you have three different types from which to choose. You can find a stand-alone style along with a combination wood and electric furnace. Another style is the add-on type.

Another option for heating your home is the outdoor wood burning furnace. Most of the models available will heat an entire house along with heating the water as well. Not all the models are capable of doing this however. Determine what your needs are before making your purchase.

Once you have a wood burning furnace installed, you need to have a full winter's supply of firewood on hand. This can be costly if you plan to buy the wood. Other options include gathering your own wood. If you have a wood lot on your property, you can cut down any dead trees. If there was a storm during the summer that knocked down a tree, cut the wood up for your own use.

Scrap wood from lumberyards is also a good place to look for free wood. As you can see, you do not need to spend any money on wood if you are resourceful. Do not cut down any live trees, as this is not an environmentally friendly choice to make.

Any outlet that sells wood burning furnaces should be able to match you up with a unit that meets your needs. The unit you choose can add value to your home, so choose wisely.

Many heating and cooling supply stores will carry different models of the wood burning furnace. The big box do it yourself stores may also carry a supply. In addition, you can find many online stores that carry a large supply of these units.

Compare the prices of the units and compare the cost of installation before making your purchase. As you can see, there are a number of factors involved when it comes to finding the right wood burning furnace for your home or cottage.