All You Need to Know About Using Wood to Heat Your Home
Posted in HVAC Alternative Heating & Fireplace Inserts HVAC Alternative Methods of Heating HVAC HVAC Wood burning
Wood Heat is a Viable Alternative to Electric, Gas or Fuel Oil
With the economy and price of heating fuels today, many folks are heating with wood or are considering wood heat for the first time. Wood heat may be a backup for another heating source, a sole heat source, or used only for emergencies. Regardless, it’s important to understand the advantages and disadvantage of heating with wood.
Wood is an environmentally friendly, or “green,” heat source as opposed to fossil fuels. Wood is also readily renewable. As trees grow and are harvested, they can be replaced or will usually replace themselves. Wood doesn’t contribute to global warming in the same manner as fossil fuels. CO2, the main ingredient in greenhouse gas, absorbed from plants as they fossilized millions of years ago, is oxidized by burning the fuels. Growing trees absorb carbon dioxide, only to be reabsorbed by growing trees. Another advantage of burning wood is during an emergency when the electricity is off. Wood supplies heat along with cooking and water heating, as well as some illumination. And, firewood is usually more economical to burn than fossil fuels.
There’s also the romance of a wood fire. Sitting, gazing at our fireplace in the early morning before daylight, with that first cup of coffee, is my favorite wintertime start of the day.
Burning wood safely requires following all safety rules regarding your burning unit, and keeping the fireplace or stove maintained and properly cleaned.
However, burning wood also has disadvantages. It requires a storage place. And, any way you look at it, burning wood is messy. Wood chips, bark pieces and other litter come in and ashes go out, not to mention the maintenance required of cleaning a fireplace or stove and a chimney. Smoke pollution from burning wood can also be a problem, especially in low-lying or urban areas. It’s important to check local regulations regarding wood burning. Also check with your homeowner’s insurance. A wood-burning fireplace or stove can add to the cost.
