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Heating With Stoves & Fireplaces

Sep 10, 2015 | 11:47 AM

As fall encroaches, many start to think of cold weather and the need to keep their homes warm over the upcoming winter.   Using a stove or fireplace to supplement the needed heat can offer many benefits.

Today’s gas and wood burning stoves and fireplaces, offer many improvements over past generations of hearth products.  Both gas and wood burning stoves and fireplaces have come a long way in the past decade. It is now common to find both gas and wood burning units that can achieve an efficiency of 85% plus.   

It can be worth a review to see if an upgrade to a newer stove or fireplace can offer you some of the following;

  • New stoves & fireplaces are much more efficient, in some cases up to – 50% more energy efficient.
  • You can use one-third less firewood to produce the same amount of heat.
  • Using new models represents savings in fuel, money, resources, and time.
  • Many new fireplaces offer venting options, in which hot air can be directed into other rooms in the house, or even into the plenum of your existing furnace.
  • Reduced risk of a house fire due to a lot less creosote build-up in the chimney.
  • Being gentler on the environment and your health. New wood stoves produce 70% less particle pollution outdoors and inside, which can mean less potential health complications from wood by-products.

Today’s wood stoves and fireplaces can offer more than just heat and aesthetics, some units have built in BBQ grills that can provide cooking options should you have to endure a power outage or just wish to have a relaxed meal using your fireplace / wood stove.

Gas burning unit’s offer clean burning and have improved the visual appeal of today’s gas flames.  Many units incorporate glass beads, log sets, or stones to accent the visual aesthetics of the flames.  Many gas burning fireplaces also include LED backlighting or remote control operation.

If you have an existing stove or fireplace a couple things to check before the heating season begins include; ensure you have both an operating smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector.  Both are essential items, and should be a part of your home safety plan.  Have your existing chimney inspected to ensure it’s clear of any obstructions.  If you have a wood burning unit, it is also advisable to have the chimney cleaned once a year.

If you don’t yet have a fireplace or stove, there are many options available that can fit your needs.  Important considerations for choosing a heating unit include; size of space to be heated, preferred fuel source, gas or wood, importance of aesthetics vs heat output, convenience, whether it be flicking a switch to start a gas unit or the convenience of wood pellets vs the nostalgia of a traditional wood burning appliance.

Hopefully this heating season, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a crackling fire or watch some dancing flames while curled up with a good book or that someone special.  Not only are the aesthetics and warmth from a fire pleasing to the soul, the resulting savings from reducing your heating bill can make it a very happy occasion.