If you're thinking about wood heat, here are a couple of things you should understand prior to investing in a wood burning stove, wood fireplace insert or wood cookstove. With increasing fuel expenses, wood heat can be a cash saving investment, but you need to plan ahead of time and make good choices.
Here are some things to know prior to purchasing a wood burning stove:
# 1-- You Must Have an Ample Supply of Clean, Dry Wood for Your Stove
Some of the best trees to gather for firewood include:
• sugar and red maple
• hickory
• any of the oaks
• beech
• hornbeam (ironwood)
Hardwood species (like those noted above) will offer you the best return on your financial investment of labor by burning longer and producing a great deal of heat. These types are easily offered in northern Wisconsin, however you will need to do some research to discover what is readily available in your location.
A wood lot can produce from 1 to 2 face cords of fire wood per acre each year. You may likewise have the ability to salvage some wood from tree cutting services, lawn waste centers or storm damage.
Softwoods burn quickly and produce less heat, which implies that you require to refuel regularly and utilize a lot more wood in general. (Note: Pine does make good kindling for a quick start to your fires.).
Fire wood needs to be "experienced" or dried for at least 6 months to a year before you burn to decrease creosote in the chimney and air contamination. Green (unseasoned) wood will burn gradually and produce a lot of smoke and particulates. When these develop in your chimney, it increases the danger of a chimney fire. This indicates you must be planning for next winter season a year ahead of time.
# 2-- You Need to Plan for Proper Wood Storage
To treat (dry), wood requires good air blood circulation. You ought to likewise discover something to stack the wood on to keep it off the ground. It does not have to be expensive-- salvaged materials utilized correctly can get the task done just great.
# 3-- Heating with Wood Burning Stove is Labor Intensive
One thing that many people do not think of is how much time you will need to buy cutting and splitting wood to heat your home. If you cut a cord or more of wood, split, and stack it, you will be doing a complete day's work. If you have back problems or other illness you may wish to think about purchasing your wood from a logger. There is also the job of keeping a fire. The majority of wood burners will require attention every 6 to 8 hours, perhaps longer if you have a great heater or outside boiler.
On the plus side, you can skip the health club subscription and get your workout in the house.
# 4-- Wood Burning Stoves are Not Cheap
The initial expense of a wood heating system will have to do with $3000 plus installation. Resale value drops quickly, so if you do not believe you remain in it for the long term, any savings will be negated by the initial cost. (You * might * have the ability to get a deal on an utilized unit, however do not count on it. Most people hold on to their ranges.) Quality wood cutting tools cost money, too, and with tools, you usually get what you pay for-- it's worth the additional money to get tools that last. This is a financial investment-- so make good choices.
Pellet stoves may be a better choice for urban locations, due to the fact that you do not need to dry and store a year's worth of fuel. You will lose some BTU's since if the stove is outside the home, the water has to travel underground and be moved to the house through a heat exchanger.
Masonry heating systems are another option, however they might be more costly than routine wood stoves or pellet stoves.
# 5-- There are Risks Involved in heating Your Home with Wood
Make sure your home owner's insurance will cover you if you have wood heat, and what limitations they have on heating with wood. (A carbon monoxide detector is a great financial investment for almost every home, however particularly those with combustion appliances.).
Town and Country Fires is a family run business based in Pickering on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors. Once farmers, the Thurlow family took the big decision to diversify and as a consequence started the stove business in 1977.
Gaining a wealth of experience over the years and using a learn more combination of old and new techniques has led to the company developing and manufacturing some of the best, energy efficient, solid fuel and wood burning stoves in the world.
For more information contact:
Town & Country Fires Ltd
Thornton Road Industrial Estate
1 Enterprise Way, Pickering YO18 7NA
01751 474803
https://www.townandcountryfires.co.uk/