Wood Heat Can Cut Fuel Bill in Half

The wood

Even the best stove won't heat your home cleanly and efficiently if you burn wood that's wet, green or too large. It may take research to find a good wood supplier, but it's worth the effort.

The wood should be cut into clean, consistently sized pieces that fit into the stove. Make sure you're getting what you paid for. Wood is usually measured and sold by the cord, which costs from $150 to more than $300 depending on where you live, the type of wood and whether the wood is delivered and stacked.

You may be able to buy wood seasoned, but otherwise you'll need to stack it and dry it for six months to a year. When you knock two pieces together and hear a hollow sound, the wood is ready to burn.

Start your fires with plain newsprint and kindling. Don't use glossy magazines, liquid fuel or any sort of fire starter. A stable and efficient fire will require at least three pieces of wood. For a smaller fire, use smaller pieces. You don't want your fire to smoulder. Instead, it should burn bright and hot.

The maintenance

If the glass doors on your stove are getting stained, it's probably due to poorly built or smouldering fires. If you smell smoke, there's probably something wrong with your stove. Check for one of the most common problems or get it looked at by a professional.

It's important to keep your stove or fireplace clean. This involves removing ash frequently and occasionally checking your chimney and flue pipe for creosote buildup, and removing it if necessary. Once a year you should hire a certified chimney sweep to inspect and clean your chimney.