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.

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.

How to Buy Wood Burning Stoves

Nothing beats the crackling sound of a wood burning stove on a cold winter evening. Well that's not true, the heat from your wood burning stove is awesome as well. When it comes time to purchase a wood burning stove you should consider these facts:

How much of my home do I want to heat

BTU's and exactly what they mean

Efficiency rating and why is this important

Emission ratings

Tax Rebate on Select Stoves

A lot of people who have never used a wood burning stove don't realize it will not heat the entire home useless you have a very simply house plan. In fact our first home did not heat well at all in our bedrooms because the flow of air in the home went from our living room to the kitchen and out the garage door. Never did the heat flow down the halls into our bedrooms.

With that said, heat pumps heat the entire home and wood burning stoves will heat certain areas of the home. Yes, the heat will trickle to other areas but the temperature difference can be 10 degrees.

BTU's are short for british thermal units and that translates into the higher the BTU's the more heat it will produce and the more square footage it will heat. BTU's in the 40,000 range will heat around 1200 sq ft. and units in the 80,000 range can heat areas in the range of 2100 sq. ft. Pick the wood stove that can safely heat the area you want heated.

Efficiency rating is based on the stoves ability to take the fuel you add and turn it into usable heat. Wood stoves range from 70% to 80+. Moral of this story: the higher the efficiency rating the less wood you will burn.

Emissions rating is based on how many grams of particulate enter the atmosphere per hour. Production of wood stoves in the 70's ranged in the 70-80 grams per hour. Today's wood stoves are as low as 2.4 gm/ per hour. Big difference!

Tax Credits: this year 2009 and next year you can get up to $1500 tax credit on your income tax if you purchase select wood burning stoves. Each manufacturer is prominently displaying the wood stoves that meet the tax credit. Bottom line you can get 30% back on your income tax and the most is $1500.

During your research make sure that the prices you find are for complete stoves. Some places do not include the price of railing, doors and other basic things to make your wood stove work.

One accessory you shouldn't leave the store without is a fan. This fan will move the heat that builds up on the top of the stove into other rooms. This is one incredible source of moving heat into rooms that normally get the direct heat from your wood stove.

If you are planning on installing the wood stove on your own, make sure and pick up the local regulations in your area. Learn what type of stove pipe they require, placement of wood stove away from walls, etc. You'll be pleasantly surprised how close you can place your wood stove to current walls in your home.

Essential Wood Burning Stove Accessories

You have made the decision to go with a wood stove this winter. Now its time to find some accessories that will make using your wood stove easier and more fun. There are a myriad of accessory choices, but here are a few of the most essential ones.

Log Carriers and Baskets

If you are using a traditional wood log burning stove, you will need a method for retrieving and storing those logs from the woodpile to the inside of your home. A log basket or carrier is a handy tool that makes it much easier to transport a number of logs at one time. They come in various sizes, shapes and materials. Our favorite is the wicker basket style that transports and stores at the same time. It is particularly stylish if your home or cottage is decorated in a country style. For a more sturdy and modern look, there are metal carriers that will do the job. Always consider your home decor when shopping for a log basket/carrier.

Stove Gloves

Fitting logs inside your wood burning stoves can be tricky. Purchasing a good set of stove gloves is essential to ensure that your hands are arms are kept safe from the fire and heat. Although you can use any types of gloves for this purpose, ones that are specifically made for the job are recommended. Good stove gloves are extra long to cover and protect the arms. Because they are specially treated with material that withstands high temperatures, they are much safer than a typical glove used during winter months.

Blowers and Heat Reclaimers

Efficiency is the name of the game for wood burning stoves. Blowers (fans) and heat reclaimers are accessories that will help make your wood stove as efficient as possible. Keep in mind that any hot air that is not circulated into a room is lost to the outside. An efficient blower will help circulate the heat throughout a room or house.

Heat reclaimers are designed to capture heat that would normally go straight up the chimney and circulate that air back into the room. A highly efficient wood burning stove will have both a blower and heat reclaimer working properly.

Thermometer

A thermometer will not only help you monitor the efficiency of your wood stove, but it will also alert you to any issues involved with overheating. The thermometer attaches either to the stovepipe or directly onto the stovetop.

Kettles and Steamers

You will want to get the most out of your woodburning stove, so having a few cooking accessories on hand is fun and functional at the same time. Wood stove kettles can be used for making old fashioned popcorn. Fill a kettle with water to help humidify a room. You can even add a touch of potpourri to the water to give the room a special scent too.

Kettles come in a wide variety of styles, but porcelain covered ones may be the best choice since they resist rust. If you use your stove for cooking often, consider purchasing a trivet. Wood stove trivets will help protect the top of your stove from rust spots that could result from the use of a kettle or steamer. They are made of cast iron and are very durable.

Wood stoves can be a smart decision from both an aesthetic and economical viewpoint. Wood stove accessories will help your stove be more efficient, fun and safe - all at the same time.

Top Rated Wood Burning Stoves Are Suitable For Any Style Home

Top rated wood burning stoves come in a variety of colors and styles. From the very practical to the very elegant, there is a model for everyone. The heat from a wood stove is better than from a traditional in set fireplace, because all sides of the stove are exposed to the air in the room. Their closed style also helps to prevent black stains on the floor from wood popping during a fire.

Some of these stoves burn wood only, but others are designed to use gas, wood pellets, oil or electricity. Some models do not need to be vented, so the installation is much easier and there is no need to cut a hole for the chimney. These models are excellent for use in a smaller room or study. Larger models work well in the great room or family room. Almost any area of the home can be heated with the use of a wood burning stove.

Top rated wood burning stoves are affordable for most home owners. They are far less expensive than installing a traditional inset fireplace with a hearth and chimney. Wood stoves are a great way to heat finished basements, which can be hard to heat through the existing heat system. When you add a significant amount of square footage to your home, especially underground, you often need to upgrade your existing electric or gas heating unit to accommodate the extra space. It is far more economical to install and run a wood stove than to have a new heating system installed.

Top rated wood burning stoves are more economical to operate than electric or gas furnaces. They also provide more visual appeal. They are old fashioned in a way that never will go out of style. While wood stoves are always at home in a country style home, log cabin or traditional style home, new styles are also a beautiful, welcome edition to a modern or contemporary style home.

There is a great selection of wood burning stoves online. It is easy to shop online to browse the large selection of styles and features available on wood stoves. You can also easily compare prices. Most websites will tell you how efficient the wood stove will be. When choosing the style and power of the model, be sure to take into account how large the room is where the wood stove will be installed. It is quite easy to overheat a small room or area with a large, powerful wood stove.

Burning Wood in an Outdoor Wood Furnace - Green Energy Or Grey Smoke

Many individuals question whether burning wood in an outdoor wood furnace is a good green energy solution or contributing to global warming. Well the answer is not that simple .... it depends! As with all things in life the answer can be muddled in the execution. If an outdoor wood furnace is designed and installed intelligently then it is a great, GREEN heating option. If not, then it may get you ejected from the neighbourhood. How does one know?

First maybe lets look at all the reasons why wood itself may be a good fuel source. In my case it is a no brainer. I have a wood business that generates large volumes of waste in the form of very thin and very long strips of wood. Disposal is always an issue. Thus, an outdoor wood furnace looks attractive.

Some have suggested cutting it up and bagging it for campgrounds as a source of fire starter, but the cost of handling is higher than what the campgrounds are interested in paying.

Stacking it in one large pile and having an annual bonfire certainly appeals to the guests and creates a wonderful social environment, but as municipalities tighten up on open burning regulations, for good reason, this option is rarely available... at least not that size. Thus considering outdoor wood burning furnaces as a method of disposal, if for no other reason, is not a bad plan... and if it saves on the heating bill and offsets oil consumption it is even better.

Likewise if you have access to local firewood using that as a fuel source helps to clear the forest of very low grade fibre and make room for better quality trees. In fact using wood as a heating fuel is endorsed by the U.S. Forestry Service especially when you use an outdoor wood furnace that contains the fire in an all metal container and presents no fire hazard.

The best reason to use wood is that it is renewable. We as human beings are getting a little smarter. We do know that trees can be replanted and many more jurisdictions are moving towards sustainable harvesting and silviculture methods that guarantee that we are not removing more wood from the earth than we are growing. That can't be said of many of the other fuel options: oil, coal or nuclear.

But the story gets better. Every tree is about 50% carbon. Where does that come from?As the tree grows, it breathes in all the pollutants that you and I persist in dumping into the atmosphere, and the tree is smart enough to convert the carbon in the carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide into tree mater. The tree acts like a pollution repository.

Taking that tree and converting it to a desk would lock in the pollution and be the best answer, but in the worse case scenario even if we burn all this wood in an outdoor wood furnace, it still would not give up more carbon that what it originally absorbed as the tree grew to maturity. Thus although using outdoor wood burning furnaces is not the perfect answer, it certainly does not add more carbon based pollution to the environment than what would have existed if the tree had never been born. That can't be said of oil, coal or nuclear. Wood is carbon neutral!

The question then becomes how wood burning can be efficient in outdoor furnaces to minimize toxic exhaust. That is a story on its own including a larger discussion on intelligent furnace design, what metal to use for good thermal transfer, an article on water-antifreeze considerations for your hot water boiler.. and many more design paramaters covered on our website.