Is Wood Heating Right for You?

(Page 3 of 3)

March 31, 2008
By John Gulland 
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Other Considerations for a Wood Heating System
Whatever type of wood heating system you choose, you’ll want to be sure it’s well-designed and safely installed. When considering these issues, keep in mind that a critical part of any wood heating system is the chimney. It’s the chimney draft that draws in combustion air and sends the exhaust outdoors. Bad chimneys create wood heat nightmares because their low draft means a cloud of smoke rolling into the house every time the stove door is opened to add wood. The biggest mistake you can make is to install the chimney out through a wall and up the outside of the house. There is nearly always a way to route the chimney up through the inside of the house, and it is well worth the effort.

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Wood heat has many benefits, including the beauty of the natural wood fire, the warm spot in the house to gather around, the security of knowing that you’ll be warm and comfortable if the electrical power grid fails in a storm, and freedom from energy suppliers who only care about the big check you send them each month. Chosen wisely, a wood heating system can provide many years of comfort, pleasure and savings.

John Gulland regularly writes about wood heating for Mother Earth News. For more information, you can find more of his articles here, and visit his Web site at woodheat.org.

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  • Joseph Miller 12/1/2008 3:43:43 PM

    If you were to update your articles you would have much stronger credibility! It is now the last day of November, that makes it Fall, not Spring - 3 weeks until winter!!

  • constance 10/6/2008 10:23:10 PM

    i've used wood heat for over 40 years...i learned a few things the hard way...i might have a few experiences that may help someone just starting out. 1. if you are purchasing your wood from a local wood cutter...here are several things you really need to know. there are always a few bad apples in the bunch. try and use someone who has been in business for at least five years. they have a reputation to uphold. sometimes people use wood cutting as a way of getting them through hard times. and they may sell wood cheaper. if you are enticed by a cheaper price or someone selling wood on the side of the road. here are a few things to look for. 1a. make sure that you know exactly how much wood you are buying. a cord of wood is 4 feet high two feet wide and eight feet long. that is stacked with the logs laying vertically on top of each other not cross stacked. 1b. make sure you don't have a whole load of wood with soft or spongy looking centers. that would be from wood that rotted on the inside and only the outside that is hard will give off btu's! usually it just smolders and puts off very little heat.. and most important! 1c. if at all possible avoid wood that has been seasoned longer than 6 months. the very best wood, is green oak or any green hard wood. you age it and use 3 months later. hard wood seasoned for three months provides the most btu's for your money!...the one wood that isn't in this class would be pine. unfortunately pine needs to be dry. so be careful. if you have to use pine that is green try and mix it with dry oak or any slower burning woods. and remember the pitch from pine will cause cresote to build up faster!... try to get enough wood so that you have at least a quarter of a cord to use as starter wood the next winter. Often you will have the opportunity of getting wood from various tree's. be careful...some woods burn extremely hot. madrone is one...manzanita is another. of course the reason for care is hot burnng wood can

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