Winter and Your Wood Stove
In most areas of the U.S. it is time (or past time) to get ready for winter in it’s full furry.
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, look for pitch and tar accumulation, and get a professional to clean it. If you have a gas-operated fireplace, keep the door and the flue closed when not in use. Make sure the gas pipe is rain-capped and in good shape.
If you have a wood burning stove, keep the door closed when not in use. A fireplace draftstopper will eliminate air leaks. The inflatable pillow seals the damper and is removed whenever the fireplace is used.
If you don’t have a wood burning stove or fireplace you may want to take advantage of tax credits that are still available while you can.
U.S. homeowners can get a 30 percent tax credit of up to $1,500 for purchasing a qualifying wood stove, fireplace or fireplace insert before Dec. 31, 2010. The tax credit also applies to pellet stoves and inserts.
Many people have discovered the benefits to heating all or part of their home with wood, particularly if they have access to free or inexpensive cord wood. “Financial benefits are derived for years to come with significantly reduced heating costs,” said Karen Smeltz, brand manager for Hearth & Home Technologies, maker of Quadra-Fire and Harman stoves. “Burning wood in a high efficiency stove also has environmental benefits. In addition to producing low air particulate matter, it is considered carbon neutral since the same amount of carbon is released into the air when burnt as during the growing and decomposition process in the forest.”
Read more from these sources:
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20101109/LIFE/11090328/1004/life
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/10/29/prwebprweb4722994.DTL#ixzz14npXT2Aq
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