hunter construction

The Comfort of Home Heating
Wood Stoves, Fireplace Inserts and Pellet Stoves
Traditional fireplaces can be a gathering spot in the home. They can also be inefficient. This can make fireplace inserts, wood and pellet stoves more attractive.
   
There are many methods of home heating. From oil, to gas to electric, most consumers and homeowners have little difficulty deciding on how to warm their home in the cooler months. For homeowners who want an alternative heating system, a heating system designed to draw the eye and warm the home, or just want to have a back up system in place for those cold winter months, wood stoves, pellet stoves and fireplace inserts may be the answer.

Heating with Wood Stoves
There are many styles of wood burning stoves on the market today. From home heating systems, to wood stoves with built in cooking elements, a wood stove can be a comforting addition to any home.

Wood stoves are a form of space heater, meaning that they heat the air and area around them. In well insulated homes, and homes with more modern layouts, it is possible to heat an entire, average sized home from a wood burning stove.

When considering the installation of a wood stove, the first criteria is location. To be most effective at heating the home, a wood stove should be located in the room where the family spends the most time, such as a family room or living room. The second consideration is determining how the heat will travel to the rest of the home.

Homes with open floor plans, and good air flow are the most effective at transferring heat from one area to the next, although many homes can be modified to increase the effectiveness of heating with a wood stove. Homes with many small rooms, however, may not allow for enough air travel to be effectively heated.

When choosing the style of the wood stove, the look of the stove will have no impact on its ability to warm a home, so be sure to choose a design that is favorable and complimentary to the rest of the home. The size of the stove should be large enough to heat the designated area, but not so large as to overwhelm the room in which it is installed with heat.

If using the wood stove as a source of primary heat for the home, consider using an advanced stove. An advanced EPA certified stove is up to 1/3 more efficient than traditional stoves, making them more cost effective over the long term, as well as more environmentally friendly.