Feeling the Heat

During the winter of 2005-06, a nasty collision of weather and world politics sent oil and gas bills through the roof. Suddenly, heating stoves and fireplace inserts were red-hot commodities as the rush was on to find ways to stay warm that didn't burn through the bank account.

Given the latest February blast of zero weather, interest in alternative heating options havs been rekindled. Zone heating can be provided by a stove, fireplace insert (basically a stove inside a fireplace) or a high-efficiency wood or gas fireplace.

Wood, pellets and gas, both natural and propane, are the most common fuels for zone heating in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic medium- cold climates. Coal-burning equivalents are sold, but the fuel can be hard to come by. In addition, coal's pollution levels are high when compared with other supplemental heating options, said Alex Wilson, president of BuildingGreen in Brattleboro, Vt., and author of "Your Green Home" (New Society Publishers, 2006).

Electric stoves, inserts and fireplaces, while offering what Leslie Wheeler, communications director of the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, calls "plug-in" ambiance, are generally no bargain as a heat source. (And not much use after an ice storm and power outage.)

So how to choose among wood, pellets and gas? Here's a guide, in terms of heating value, initial investment, looks, operating cost and ease of operation, and pollution potential.

Sample purchase prices come from American Chimney in Purcellville, Va., and do not include installation, which generally adds $500 to $800. Prices are for basic models "without all the bells and whistles," said Lenah Cox, co-owner of American Chimney.

A look at the pros and cons of wood stoves:

Heating value. With an open wood-burning fireplace, "most of the heat goes up the chimney," said Leslie Wheeler of the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association. Because the damper must stay open until the fire is out, the fireplace not only acts like an open window but sucks warm air out of the house. Open fireplaces are estimated to be 10 percent efficient; the percentage refers to the net amount of usable heat generated from the fuel burned. In other words, open fireplace fires are lovely to look at, but lousy for heat.

Old wood stoves were only marginally better, at 20 to 30 percent efficient. Stoves, wood-burning fireplace inserts and prefab high- efficiency fireplaces made in the past 15 years or so typically have raised that percentage to the mid-60s to mid-70s.

The quality of the stove, insert or fireplace is a factor in its efficiency, Cox said. Thicker materials radiate more heat, and better construction means less leakage. "You get a smoother ride with a Lexus than a Ford," she said.

When Chris Granger was renovating his suburban Washington house, he bought a prefabricated, airtight wood-burning fireplace -- basically a firebox or furnace with a hearth and chimney built around it -- rated at more than 70 percent efficiency. Granger loads it before going to bed, and it keeps his main furnace from kicking on for much of the night. Even on single-digit days his living room is "toasty," he said.

Many wood-burning appliances require no electricity to operate, so they can keep a house warm, or at least warmish, during power failures. Even those that use an electric blower can provide heat during a failure; they just won't be able to circulate it as well.

Initial investment. Cost varies according to the quality of the stove or insert. At American Chimney, the price for a stove that heats about 600 square feet, made by Jotul, a leading manufacturer from Norway, starts at about $800. A stove capable of heating 3,500 square feet, made by Quadra-Fire, another leading stove maker, is about $2,200. A wood-burning insert that heats about 1,200 square feet, also by Quadra-Fire, is about $2,300; one that can heat 2,500 square feet is almost $3,500.

If a house lacks a fireplace, the venting of a chimney can be equal to or greater than the cost of the stove, insert or fireplace, said Mike Taylor of Acme Stove in Rockville, Md., where Granger bought his fireplace. Granger, who did not have a fireplace, said he spent about $4,200 on his Fireplace Xtrordinair and $1,500 more on installation. He built the brick hearth and faux-stone chimney himself.

Looks. Stoves usually have large viewing windows, and some even allow for operation with the door open (fire screen recommended) so homeowners can hear and feel the fire as well as see it.

The stoves tend to be rather squat but come in more than basic black cast-iron now. Some are finished in enamel and trimmed in gold. Inserts can feature Gothic arches, filigreed glass doors and brass fittings. Granger calls his insert "beautiful," the "centerpiece" of his house.

Operating cost and ease of operation. Fuel can be free for those who have wooded property and don't mind hauling and chopping. For those who buy wood, the price is relatively stable because it is usually a local product. Still, a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina can raise demand and price. Granger spent about $180 for a cord of wood this year, and he estimates that he uses about 1-1/2 cords each winter. Seasoned hardwood gives the most efficient burn.

Because wood can harbor house-harmful insects such as termites, a wood pile should be some distance from the house -- which can make wood impractical in urban settings.

Most modern wood-burning appliances, depending on the size of the load of wood, will burn for five to 12 hours and produce heat anywhere from a half-hour to several hours after that, meaning they need tending only a couple of times a day. Most are regulated only by the amount of wood being burned and the amount of air being allowed in through the damper.

Although carrying firewood through the house to the hearth can leave a messy trail of chips and twigs, modern wood stoves, inserts and high-efficiency fireplaces require far less frequent ash cleanup than open fires. Granger said that he removes the ashes about every dozen fires, although the window that gives him a view of the fire needs cleaning after every use.

To avoid chimney fires, stoves and their venting systems need yearly professional cleaning to remove creosote and other buildup. American Chimney charges $229 to $350.

Pollution potential. The average open fire in a fireplace emits 28 grams of fine particles into the air every hour. Wood stoves built before 1990 were capable of sending 80 grams an hour into the air, said John Millett, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But the efficiency of wood stoves and inserts has improved dramatically.

Wilson, of BuildingGreen, said newer stoves and fireplaces typically emit 3 to 6 grams of particulate matter an hour, with some stoves emitting as little as 0.7 grams an hour. Wood stoves have a long life, often 25 years or more. To get the dirty stoves out of operation, Millett said his agency works with manufacturers on "change-out" programs, which offer periodic discounts on new EPA- certified wood stoves to people who turn in their old models.

Wood, unlike oil or gas, is a renewable resource. It is also considered "carbon neutral," because before being cut it absorbed carbon dioxide instead of producing it.

(c) 2007 Cincinnati Post. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.