Wood Heat Can Cut Fuel Bill in Half

Penny-pinchers everywhere are using fireplaces and woodstoves for more than just ambiance this year.

While fuel costs have fallen in recent weeks, historically high prices have led an increasing number of Americans to heat their homes with wood. You may want to consider doing so, too.

Switching to wood from oil, gas or electricity could slash heating costs by half. In many households, the idea of using a renewable fuel that's produced right in your own community or backyard is as appealing as the potential savings.

Here's a refresher on heating your home safely, and efficiently, with wood.

The fireplace

If you've got an old potbellied stove or masonry fireplace that's graced your home for decades, consider an upgrade. Stoves have become cleaner, safer and more efficient since the late 1980s and are now manufactured under Environmental Protection Agency requirements.

An EPA-certified stove will produce 60% to 80% less creosote, the tar-like goo that builds up in your chimney, and use up to a third less wood than an older model. Modern stoves also belch far less pollution than older stoves and won't smoke up your home.

If you have a fireplace, consider turning it into a source of heat. You can do so by installing a fireplace insert, a box that fits into the fireplace and functions like a stove.

If you get a new woodstove or fireplace insert, hire a professional to install it properly and find out if there are any regulations where you live.