Your Home - Burning to heat your home

Long have we been slaves to the oil industry. As Kurt Vonnegut wrote, “When you got here, even when I got here, the industrialized world was already hopelessly hooked on fossil fuels, and very soon now there won’t be any left.” He wrote those words in 2005, which means there is even less fossil fuel than when those words were published.

So what do we do? Where do we look? And how can we discern the environmentally friendly from the liars and lemon salesmen who are taking advantage of your fear, your intuition, and your wallets. To be truthful, the conversion from our current means of living to a truly environmentally friendly way of life is not easy. At first, it is expensive, it requires an adjustment to our lifestyles, and the returns from such a decision will not be seen immediately. And if the American people make the all-out morally conscious decision to do the right thing and abandon convenient life for a more eco-friendly one, the impacts of our decisions will probably appear to future generations and will not present themselves to us.

So while much is dependent on the onset of the cold weather headed our way, after all it’s inevitable, here are some options for those who are concerned with the projected fuel prices and the costs we may occur in the upcoming winter months. Here are some ideas to get you thinking.

1. Wood can save money. When burning logs in the new generation of high efficiency hydronic furnaces (or wood boilers), like those offered by Greenwood Technologies, the heat generated is more intense and little is lost up the chimney. These furnaces can be used in lieu of standard heating systems featuring gas or oil during the heating months, or as an add-on when homeowners prefer to use other heating sources as their primary method of heating. This reduced need for oil, propane and natural gas means a reduction in monthly heating bills. In fact, many homeowners using a Greenwood system have seen energy bills reduced by up to 70 percent during winter months. One of these furnaces pays for itself in energy bill savings in just a few years.

2. Wood can be a clean way to provide heat. There are plenty of people who have wrestled with cords of wood to stock wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, only to find that the mess left behind in the way of trailed bark and ashes leaves much to be desired. However, homeowners who use the next generation wood boilers like the Greenwood will find that there is little to no mess involved. That’s because they burn wood at such a high temperature (2000-degree F) that no discernable smoke is created. What’s more, because of the high burn temperature, very little ash is generated, meaning the firebox only has to be cleaned once a month rather than once a day. Also, the furnace can be installed indoors or outside and be set up to heat the entire home, eliminating the need to transport logs through the house.

3. Wood is a safe heating method. Using a wood-fired furnace can be just as safe as any other traditional heating source. Just as with other furnaces, proper operating procedures should be followed. In the case of the furnaces offered by Greenwood Technologies, safety is the primary focus. Their furnaces are certified for indoor use to strict UL and CSA standards and are as safe as using gas or electric appliances. Very few competing wood-burning furnaces or boilers meet these stringent safety standards.

The local expert to talk to is Lou Faraone, owner and operator of Seasoned Gourmet Firewood located in Malta, NY. If you travel up and down Route 9, it is more than likely that you have seen Seasoned Gourmet Firewood, as it appears as a maze composed of split wood walls, and beyond that labyrinth is the beautiful thirty-acre property from which Seasoned Gourmet has serviced the area for 13 years. Seasoned Gourmet is open 24 hours a day and makes deliveries to three counties: Warren, Albany, and Saratoga.

The ambience of Seasoned Gourmet’s property is matched by the quality and presentation of their firewood. All their firewood is cut one-year in advance. The split wood is placed on rails so that the wood can age off the ground, clear of any mud, moisture, bugs or sludge. “It’s like fine wine,” smiles Lou, “a quality burn.”

The rail system aging of their wood is not only for distinction. Moisture in wood will retard the flame, which means wood smolders more so than burns. Smoldering woods can complicate the inherently simple process of wood-burning as smoldering wood will deposit creosote on the inside of your furnace or chimney. If creosote buildup continues unabated, smoke can become restricted and blow back into the house, or worse, the creosote deposits can burst into flames.

As testament to their name, Seasoned Gourmet’s supply of firewood, traditionally flying off the stacks for preparations of the Autumn/Winter indoor burning season in September, has been tapped since March. “We’re technically sold out,” explains Lou. The owner is very well aware of each season’s firewood supply and his customer’s demand, but this year’s early start to the storage season indicates the subtle desire for alternatives to heating oil.

Lou had these words to impart on the curious consumer: “If you order firewood, order early and order more than you need. This stuff has a seven year shelf life, and check out our website at www.exit13s.com”.

When upgrading your home and heating system this season, or if you’re thinking about an entirely new way to enjoy efficiency, consider a Greenwood Hydronic Furnace.

In fact, today’s high-tech wood boilers and their cost saving benefits are more popular than ever.

Determining if these units are right for you and your home can be done by asking yourself three simple questions.

Is wood heating right for you?

The decision to go with wood heat requires careful consideration. While lower heating bills are things many homeowners are looking for, the folks at Greenwood Technologies, the industry leader in high-efficiency wood boilers, recommend that homeowners consider the following factors when thinking about switching to central wood heating.

• Availability of wood. For many homeowners, wood is readily available. For others, identifying a source for log wood presents a challenge and requires the purchase of seasoned wood. Even in these situations, the benefit of heating with wood provides a significant savings over existing monthly utility bills.

• Comfort level with wood. Many people who use or have used a fireplace or wood stove find it easy to operate a wood furnace. With improved performance, today’s efficient models require less frequent loading and maintenance. Although not difficult, the storage and handling of the wood fuel used in these appliances requires attention.

• Local codes. Be sure to check with the local authorities to be certain that a wood furnace complies with local codes.

Will my heating system accept a central wood heating system?

Today’s high-efficiency wood heating systems are compatible with most existing heating systems.

This includes forced air, baseboard, radiant and in floor, existing boilers, and hot water heaters.

For those who like a little luxury, these wood heating systems are even compatible with spas and hot tubs. To be certain your home will be compatible with a wood heating system, visit Greenwood Technologies online at www.GreenwoodUSA.com.

How do I know which system to choose?

Today’s high-efficiency wood heating systems offer homeowners more benefits than ever before. As mentioned, many homeowners are simply fed up with rising heating costs, and are most concerned with finding a way to alleviate some of those costs. While wood boilers can save their owners 70 percent or more on their home heating costs, they’re also low-maintenance and low-emission products.

For those who already have Aspen Series wood furnaces, its simplicity and low maintenance is a close second in terms of benefits. For instance, the series’ Plug-and-Go operation makes them easy to connect to existing outdoor wood furnace plumbing with little or no modifications.

Designed to be easily maintainable, Aspen Series furnaces use 60 percent less wood than competing furnaces, making them convenient and cost-effective. Today’s high efficiency wood boilers are an easy and cost-effective way to achieve home heating independence.

For more information on wood boilers and to find a Greenwood dealer, visit www.GreenwoodUSA.com.

New heating patterns, including an increase in solid-fuel use, have the potential to increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and chimney fires.

According to the most recent statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), chimneys and chimney connectors accounted for the largest share (36 percent) of home heating fire incidents in 2005, with “failure to clean” accounting for two-thirds of those fires. Structural fires related to fireplaces, chimneys and chimney connectors resulted in 30 deaths and $627 million in property losses annually.

In addition to encouraging that chimneys and vents be inspected on an annual basis and maintained as needed to reduce the risk of fires and carbon monoxide poisoning due to creosote buildup or obstructions in the chimney, the CSIA also recommends the following winter heating safety tips:

• Ensure that new appliances are installed with the correct venting components as defined by the manufacturer.

• Install a carbon monoxide detector on every level of the home.

• Check smoke alarms. Replace batteries in both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors when clocks are reset for Daylight Savings Time.

For further information on chimney and venting safety, chimney inspections, what to expect when you hire a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep, and to locate a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep, homeowners are encouraged to visit www.CSIA.org.