David Fishman asked:


A wood stove is a device, which is normally used in the kitchens for the heating of food, keeping it warm and making it palatable. Some antique wooden stoves can be used for the purpose of heating and cooking even today. Wood stoves are used for household cooking needs as well as for heating purposes.

One of the purposes of a wood burning stove was to enclose the fire so to generate more heat and make the heating more efficient. A wood stove is often used for heating rooms or cooking food.

They are made up of cast iron and other strong metals and are sturdy enough to handle the amount of heat generated. A stove uses other sources of fuel to burn and make heat, many use wood or pellets. Wood stoves are also used to heat homes apart from their cooking function. Some come with glass panes that can handle the heat but adds a nice touch when you see the flame.

It is important to know what types of fuel your particular type of burning stove can use and what cannot be used safely. When purchasing a pellet stove or a wood burning stove, there are many factors to consider before making the purchase. There are a few things to think about before purchasing and installing a wood burning stove in your home. After calculating the installation space understanding how to keep all the combustible items safe you need to hook up the chimney so the smoke is directed to the outside.

Want something different than carrying in wood, cutting wood and storing it, then try out the new pellet stoves, you can store the pellet easily, there is no cutting, no mess, but it gives you the feel of a wood burning stove. When looking at wood stoves and pellet stoves the pellet stoves are a little more expensive but the plus side is that they come ready to use, they are cleaner and easier to use. This is 20% less efficient than wood pellet or corn stoves. Pellet stoves are very easy to use, you don’t need to cut wood all you need to do is open the bag of pellets and poor them in, the auger will move the pellets as needed to be burned. Pellet stoves have a mechanical part that feeds the fire when needed; you do not have to go near the hot flame. You can get the pellets anywhere today, most of the major hardware stores carry the easily to carry bags. Stove are cheaper and you can use them with a cheaper fuel source such as pellets, firewood or any other type of materials.

Antique wood stoves are collector’s items that are very valuable to some people. There are many different types of antique wood stoves available. Today you can find the stoves in local household stores, furniture stores and many stores that sell antiques.

Some of the older wood stoves are considered antiques, and many people use these pieces as decoration purposes only. Many antique pieces from the past are available for sale today in different antique shops and on the Internet.

Wood Pellet Production Guide

Matt Barker asked:


Winter will soon be upon us; indeed, it’s starting to creep in on the northernmost parts of the country. Here are some ideas for you to consider to keep your home warm and inviting for this winter season.

It is a good idea to get your chimney checked well before you need to use it. Beware of flimsy work, check with your local Fire Department for recommended chimney inspectors if you are in doubt. If there are repair and maintenance works to be carried out, it will not be inconvenient as there is no need for a fire at this time of the year.

It can also even be termed ‘pleasurable’ to chop wood into kindling on a sunny day, but this is not so much the case in the wind and rain! Even if you only use your stove as a backup for power cuts, kindling is still necessary, no matter how dry your split logs are. If you do heat your home with a wood stove, then you should have your winter supply of wood already stacked, so that you can be sure that it is seasoned at least six months.

Other necessities to think about would include: batteries for your flashlight/ lantern, your clock, and radio. It is also handy to have a manual can-opener and canned compressed air with sealant (for emergency tire repair) and a bag of sand or salt for your driveway.

It’s best to order your winter heating fuel (oil?) in the summer months, but if you have held off, buy now! If your water runs on electricity, a couple of large drums of water would be good to have in store. Keep a container of anti-freeze indoors, to protect your plumbing, if need be.

Food stuffs are common sense, if you have no wood stove to cook on, then you will need to store foods that can be eaten uncooked. Get in: crackers, cereals, tuna, beans, tomatoes and soups in cans, dried fruits, powdered milk. Also store up any food or medications for very old or very young, such as formula or diapers.

Sunlight or light from a good high power flashlight pouring in through cracks around the doors will help you to spot where you should be adding weather-strip. This system may be ‘antiquated’ but it goes a long way to keeping the home warm. Heavy winter drapes are also old fashioned but effective in keeping in the warmth.

For those who struggle with heating costs, there is a government backed grant scheme. It is run by your local state department and is called LIHEAP, this stands for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Check it out on the Internet or in the phone book under each state listing if you think you qualify.

Preparing for winter is best done in summer or fall, but it’s never too late to improve your home’s energy efficiency and stockpile food and other essentials in case the power goes out or a blizzard decides to descend upon your neighborhood. Preparing now helps you avoid discomfort later!

Carol P Freyer asked:


It seems that the recent inflationary setbacks of the past months have caused many of us to rethink our life-styles. Home buyers are now placing energy efficiency high on their list of wants.

This means that small improvements to your home that can be listed as ‘green’ will be a selling plus in this new environment. Switching to ‘green’ is supported by a recent survey published by Move.com and echoes findings from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

The poll conducted by Move.com was focused on which type of ‘extras’ prospective home buyers would choose in a new home. Not surprisingly in view of the escalating cost of living that we have been experiencing lately, over 49% of them opted for energy saving amenities. Only 31% of potential buyers rated luxury amenities as top of their list.

A poll where prospective home-owners would choose ‘green living’ over luxury goods reveals the struggle that many Americans have faced, in fact 81% of participants admit to financial set-backs in their house buying plans. Most obstacles are quoted as revolving around the economy, the house prices and their own incomes, according to the survey.

A previous survey conducted by the NAHB confirms that Americans want to pay less for their energy; 64% of participants cited “reduced energy costs” to be the most important aspect of choosing to go green, whereas only 55% would choose it “because it is healthier”.

Everything is pointing to the fact that Americans want to save energy – and money. Can this be done without investing a lot of cash in new products? The answer is yes, there are life style choices we can make, that we used to make, but which have dropped by the way side of consumerism. There are also small investments we can make in our homes to give it ‘green’ appeal.

For green lifestyle choices, we can think back to our Grandma’s day. Start now by growing your own organic winter vegetables and invest in two fruit trees which will emanate oxygen into the environment. All vegetable and fruit peelings used to be ploughed back into Grandma’s garden in the form of compost; saves on buying chemicals to nurture your vegetables. Read about how to compost on line.

Here is a simple one that saves gas: keep a shopping list! It will save endless trips to the ‘corner shop’ if you stop forgetting groceries! If you can encourage the family to walk or bike more, your health will benefit as much as the environment.

Solar heating panels would be great, but remember your windows are a variation of this. Keep drapes and blinds open when the sun shines on the window to let the warmth radiate through the glass; at night time close them to keep warmth in, up to one third of home heat can be saved by closing drapes. Turn your heat down by two degrees when you go to bed.

Another small saving will be gained if you turn off the heating and close the doors in the rooms that you do not use. Try to remind the children to turn down their heat dials before they leave for school. It only takes a minute for the rooms to warm up again.

Heating takes a large chunk of our money during the winter months; have you thought of installing a wood stove with an outside chimney (the easiest to install)? The new stoves that leave almost no residual wood and are almost ’smokeless’ are part of a grant scheme offered by some governments.

A wood stove will offer a choice of heating in your home, and so this will increase the value of it. Stack your cord(s) of wood against an outside wall to help increase the insulation of your home. Double glazing is a sure way to save on energy bills, but it can be expensive. However, weather-stripping around the windows and doors can keep a lot of cold air from coming in.

Meanwhile, as winter and the heavy heating bills creep closer, remember Grandma and stock up on clothes in thermal and woolen fabrics!