What Could I Replace Home Heating Oil With?

The cost of home heating oil has surged dramatically over the past few heating seasons. Many families have seen their heating bill rise out of their reach, and some bills have even doubled in size. This is because the price of fuel oil has been steadily rising since 2002 and promises only to get higher.

According to the US Energy Information Administration, heating a home this winter with home heating oil will cost American families approximately $1,500 for an average size home. This same organization has also predicted that cost of fuel oil per gallon will be $.30 or 6 % higher than last year.

To protect themselves against ridiculously high heating bills, many of the millions of consumers that use home heating oil are looking into alternative ways to heat their home. And what they are finding are some surprising, efficient and inexpensive ways that they can replace their traditional fuel oil furnace.

Before we look into the alternative energy sources that you can replace home heating oil with, it should be noted that upgrading to these alternate heat systems costs about the same as replacing your traditional heating system with a new traditional system but costs less to operate. This means that you could actually save money by changing your furnace. And if you need to replace your existing furnace anyway, there is really no reason not to purchase an alternative heating system.

Alternative Fuel Sources You May Not Have Thought Of

Corn, Grain, and Rye – These natural, plentiful fuel sources are ideal for replacing home heating oil. You can burn these materials in an outdoor furnace or an indoor furnace that is specified for these materials. What’s great about using these fuel options is that they burn hot and efficiently heat your home using very little product. And as you probably already know, they are cheap to purchase. You may even be able to grow your own home heating fuel which will further lessen your cost to heat your home in future seasons.

Wood, Wood pellets, and Coal – While these heating fuels are not new, the way we burn them is. Many of today’s wood stoves and furnaces are situated outdoors and pump heat into your home using your existing duct work. The new design also allows for you to burn larger pieces of wood which means that you will be tending your fire a lot let than you may think.

Water: Replacing your home heating oil furnace with a radiant water system is both efficient and cost effective. These systems work by pumping heated water throughout a network of pipes installed in your home.

Solar energy: using solar energy for part or all of your home’s energy needs is also a great way to save money on your winter heating bill. Solar energy is harvested by solar panels and stored until it is needed meaning that you don’t have to worry about not having heat on cloudy, winter days.

It is predicted that the world’s oil supply will be completely depleted in the next 30 to 40 years if consumption continues at its current rate. This means that prices will continue to rise and that one day soon your traditional furnace will be obsolete. That is why now is the time to look into some alternative sources to heat your home.

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Used Wood Stoves: Should They Be Purchased?

Used wood stoves can often be found available in your local classified ads. But, should you purchase them? What could go wrong if you do? Like any product that you purchase that is used, you need to rely on what the user tells you about the condition and quality of the unit. And, not everybody is as honest as you are. The fact is that when you are considering used wood stoves to bring into your home, you need to insure it is of a quality that will keep your family safe.

What to Look For Using Wood Stove

What should you look for when you do purchase these stoves? There are many things to insure before you do so, but here are some of the most important issues for you to insure.

Regulations. Most locations have ordinances and regulations that stipulate that you need to purchase a permit or you need to have the unit inspected prior to using it. For example, if you wanted to install a wood burning stove of any type into your home you probably will need a fire inspector to come out and insure it is safe to use. With used wood stoves, you’ll need to insure that they qualify for inspection.

Air Pollution. Another very important element is how well the used wood stoves will burn. Again, you have no idea if the product was cared for and that means that you don’t know the air quality that it can give you. No unit should be purchased that is not certified by the EPA. If you are not concerned about the air quality, you’ll still have problems with these models because they won’t pass inspection anyway.

Older and wood stoves that have not been taken care of are at risk for producing very toxic pollutants that can get into your home. For example, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde are some of the most dangerous. In this case, you should have the used wood stoves approved by a professional before allowing them to burn in your home.

You should also insure that the used stove will work within your homes structure. For example, in some cases, you will find that used wood stoves that are old do not fit well within the chimneys of today. You should also carefully consider any repairs that may need to be done as these will likely be costly.

If you are installing a wood stove so that you can lower your gas costs, check out the efficiency of the model in question. Make sure that you purchase a quality product, one that will actually save you money. The efficiency of models can be found on their manufacturer’s website.

Yes, you can purchase these used models. But, you should insure that your safety and your wallet are at the front of your mind when doing so. Remember, you’ll need to pay for a professional inspection at the least, plus maintenance, installation, and possibly repairs before you gain any benefits from used wood stoves.

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Small Wood Stoves - Large Range of Stoves for Different Purposes

Small wood stoves are small wood burning heating appliances for a widespread of purposes. Whether you are looking for a fireplace insert, a stand-alone heating device, a portable heating solution for your outdoor or camping needs or for cooking food, you have small woodstoves for all applications. Small stoves are available in a large array of options if you are willing to use wood as your primary heating fuel or simply spend some evenings in the comfort of wood fire.

Small woodstoves are ideal heating solutions for small seasonal cottages or family rooms. You can use these stoves to heat small portions of a large home for zone heating. This can be an energy efficient way to heat only the frequently used portion or room of your house and save money on your energy bills. However, if you are looking for a heating solution for small and mid-sized homes, you will have to select mid-sized wood stoves. For larger or leakier homes, you will need a large size wood burning stove.

Advantages of Small Wood Stoves

Small stoves mimic the fireplace. You can add them to your existing masonry fireplace without having the need for major structural changes. These small stoves not only provide heating comfort in the winters but also double up as a decorative accent for your living space. This is because of the attractive looks of these stoves. You can select from woodstoves, fireplace inserts, or small wood burning cook stoves in a number of style and design options right from antique Victorian models to contemporary wood stoves with a host of modern features.

If you are looking for comfort with elegance, you can select a small wood stove with freestanding structure. The small woods stoves are generally made of cast iron and are easy to operate and handle. These elegant stoves have iron legs and decorative bodies. Engravings and ornamentation of these beautiful stoves make them a hot favorite. These stoves have a pipe for expelling the unwanted smoke. This pipe can go out either through the ceiling or through the wall and prevent you from the fumes and smoke.

Small Woodstoves - A Combination of Safety, Economy and Comfort

Apart from the great looks, these stoves are safe when compared to the heating appliances that use oil and gas. With these stoves, you are free from the danger of fire accidents that are caused because of leaving the gas open. The sturdy body eliminates the possibility of tipping over of the stove and staring a fire. Moreover, these stoves use wood that is easily available and is a safe and economic fuel than oil, gas and electricity.

Kindling the fire and extinguishing it is easier in small stoves than the stoves that use coal as fuel. Small wood burning stoves produce much less ash than the coal stoves and fireplace inserts. According to estimates, wood-burning produces 10 times less ash as compared to burning similar amount of coal. This feature of wood stoves makes them free from the need of frequent cleaning and maintenance.

Last but not the least, using small wood stoves lets you discharge your responsibility towards the ecology and environment. These stoves use wood, which is an ecologically safe fuel than oil, gas and even coal. Wood is renewable source of energy and can be easily replenished. Some latest models of wood burning stoves also use wood pellets as fuel, which are made from sawdust, wood waste and other biomass waste thereby eliminating the need for felling the trees for fuel.

While selecting a small wood stove it is necessary that you consider certain aspects such as what is the area that the stove will heat, what type of wood it uses and what is the burn time. However, all these factors are relative to conditions such as geographic location and outside weather. For example, if one stove can heat a 1000 square foot area in Georgia, it could heat only a 400 square area in Alaska because of the extreme climatic differences.

Similarly, the burn time also depends upon the type of wood and the moisture content. Therefore, it would be better that you consider all the aspects, make necessary enquiries and if necessary, take expert advice before purchasing a small wood stove for your house.

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Pellet Stoves: Great for Alternative Fuels

Pellet stoves are perfect for any individuals looking to lower their heating costs without sacrificing their homes and their families to winter’s harsh chills. As energy prices keep increasing, more and more homeowners are choosing to steer clear of traditional energy methods such as electricity, natural gas, or liquefied propane gas, and look to alternative fuels. These alternative fuels can range from dried corn kernels to cherry pits, but one of the most popular forms of alternative fueling is a sawdust based product pressed into the form of a pellet. Burning pellets are clean burning and highly efficient for heating rooms or homes of all sizes.

Looking much like traditional wood burning stoves, pellet stoves are perfect for homeowners who want to continue a historic feel throughout the home. Just like the stoves used to heat your grandparent’s, great-grandparent’s, or great-great-grandparent’s homes, pellet stoves are produced in many traditional styles, including the old fashioned “potbellied” stove that is generally thought to be the epitome of a heating stove. Just like with wood burning stoves, pellet stoves are produced in a wide variety of styles, from the sleek and modern creations to the elegant, old world styles.

Pellet stoves are fueled by pellets, tiny bullet shaped dry fuel buds that are made from compressed sawdust. Because the pellets are made from wood, they burn quickly and easily without a great deal of smoke or soot. This favorable aspect of pellets ensures your home or the stove itself is blackened by soot or smoke, which is common with traditional wood burning stoves, coal furnaces, or wood burning fireplaces. Since pellets are compressed sawdust, there is no danger to your family or pets by storing the pellets in your home. Also, these pellets can be stored inside a building, whereas liquefied propane gas (LP gas), kerosene, or natural gas must be stored outside due to safety concerns. This is an excellent attribute of pellets, as you can easily refill your stove without having to venture out into the chilly winter weather.

If you are interested in installing a pellet stove into a preexisting home or space, the installation process is quick and easy. Pellet stoves do not require a chimney and only require a small hole to ventilate the stove to the outdoors. Most stoves are equipped with special vents to ensure the stove vents without issue or potential danger. Furthermore, most pellet stoves come with an internal fan to distribute the hot air instead of allowing it to remain inside the heat box. This feature is not included in similar wood burning stoves, but it can be purchased as an extra. An internal or external fan will allow the air to be evenly distributed throughout the entire heating space, and is critical for large, spacious rooms.

Unlike wood burning stoves, those stoves that run off wood based pellets require fueling only once a day, or even less depending on the capacity of the stove and the temperature chosen on the setting. Wood stoves and wood burning fireplaces often require wood be added every couple of hours, so pellet stove owners find themselves able to do other things than fuel their stove. Furthermore, the usual smell associated with burning wood and the smoke from burning certain types of wood, wet, or “green” wood is virtually nonexistent in stoves that burn pellets. This allows pellet stoves to be used in more homes, especially those with small children or residents that have allergies or asthma that can be bothered by wood smoke. Furthermore, the exteriors of the stoves are safer than other variations of heating devices, since the heat is not radiated to the outside of the stove, preventing small hands and fingers from being scorched.

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How to Supplement Traditional Home Heating Systems

Cold weather is on the way again and while you might not want to think about the cost of home heating right now, learning how to supplement your traditional home heating system before the snow flies can save you hundreds of dollars over the course of the coming winter.

Not everyone can afford to replace a greedy oil furnace or dated, inefficient traditional home heating system, but you do have plenty of good options for supplementing your system and thereby reducing the cost of using it.

Here are some of the most popular ways to supplement traditional home heating systems:

Wood stoves: Today’s wood stoves come in many different sizes and flavors, from small traditional cast iron wood stoves that cost less than $200, all the way up to high efficiency Jotl wood stoves that are pricier but create even less ash and toxic byproducts than high-end pellet stoves. You don’t have to burn a wood stove constantly to save big on your heating bill, but you may find that you enjoy wood heat so much that you end up using your traditional home heating system for back up instead of vice versa. Wood stoves have to be installed correctly in order to be safe, so make sure you get all the help you need meeting local codes.

Pellet stoves and multi-fuel stove: Pellet stoves burn compressed sawdust or grass pellets that are widely available at most building supply and farm and feed stores. Multi-fuel stoves burn pellets, fruit pits or dried corn. Both kinds of stoves have the advantage of direct venting to the outside of your house and both produce very little ash and toxic by product. An average homeowner can safely install a pellet stove alone in a single afternoon. No chimney is necessary.

Add-furnaces and biomass burners: Many energy-efficient add-on furnaces are available today that can save you money by burning renewable energy sources instead of fuel oil, natural gas or kerosene. Wood burning add-ons, pellet and multi-fuel add-ons, waste-oil burners and biomass burners (burners that use waste wood and plant refuse) are all good ways to stretch your fuel dollar. Make sure you install them properly and up to local building codes to avoid accident.

Solar space heaters: If you have a sunny window or wall in your home you can make or buy a solar space heater that will greatly reduce the amount of fuel you have to burn in your traditional home heating system.

Passive solar options: Many people think of expensive roof panels when they hear the words ‘solar energy’ but in fact, simple sunlight can go a long way towards reducing winter heating bills. Let the sunlight into a room during the day and then use thermal drapes or shades to hold in heat at night. Trombe walls can also trap the heat of the sun passively and keep a house warmer. Using dense materials that hold the heat can help too.

In addition to choosing energy efficient ways to supplement your traditional home heating system, make sure you don’t choose some of the more popular and even dangerous supplemental heating sources.

Plug in electric space heaters use large amounts of energy and are not very effective, so steer clear of them. Never use a conventional cook stove or gas burner for indoor heating. Stay away from kerosene heaters too: They start fires and are not really meant for home use.

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How to Choose an Alternative Garage Heater

Choosing an alternative garage heater can be a great way to gain exposure to green heating methods, especially if you’ve never used any of the more common ones. Once you successfully install and use an alternative garage heater, you may decide to rethink the heating system for your home as well.

Alternative heat doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Choices for alternative garage heaters include Trombe walls, wood stoves, pellet stoves and used oil furnaces or boilers to name just a few, but many common sense options like insulation, weather-stripping and passive solar will help maximize the warming effects of whatever alternative garage heater you choose.

Trombe walls are a form of passive solar heat first popularized in the 1960s. A Trombe wall is built to face the sun and is made from a material that can act as a thermal mass (such as stone, metal, concrete or adobe) An air space is built into the Trombe wall and glazing and vents at the top and bottom of the wall turn it into a passive solar collector. During the day, heat builds up in the thermal mass and warms the air space, and then at night the heat is released into the garage.

If you are building a garage or are up to renovating at least one wall and you have the option of a sun-facing wall, a Trombe wall may be the only alternative garage heater you need. Once installed, the heat is basically free. If you live in an area where the winters are hard and the nights are very cold, or if your garage is situated such that a sun-facing wall is not a good option, you may want to install a small wood or pellet stove.

nexpensive wood stoves are easy to find but using a wood stove as an alternative garage heater requires a willingness to meet all the safety standards for installation. Most wood stoves need a separate chimney and building codes dictate specifics of how much clearance is required and what kinds of materials can be used for a hearth.

Keep in mind that, if you choose a wood stove as an alternative garage heater, you will have to regularly clean the chimney. Wood stoves create a by-product called ‘creosote’ which builds up over time in the chimney and can ignite if not regularly removed, causing a nasty garage fire.

Also, although it may seem obvious, many people forget to consider where they will get the wood to burn in the stove. Not all wood burns well or cleanly, and all of it has to be chopped. If you have to pay for wood, or if you don’t like to chop wood, a wood stove might not be your best option for an alternative garage heater.

Pellet stoves burn compressed waste wood (sawdust pellets) saw grass pellets, corn, or fruit pits, and are a good choice for an alternative garage heater if you don’t want to mess around with chopping wood or cleaning a chimney. Pellet stoves burn so cleanly they can be vented directly outside and do not require a separate chimney. Creosote is not an issue with a pellet stove and the pellets come pre-packaged in 40-lb bags available at any big box building supply store.

If you choose a pellet stove as your alternative garage heater, keep in mind that some will burn only compressed wood or saw grass pellets, while others are called ‘multi-fuel stoves and will take dried corn or fruit pits too.

Many people successfully mix fruit pits with pellets for a longer burn, and if you have a source for free fruit pits you are ahead of the game. Local canneries may have them, although more and more people are using pellet stoves, so the days of free fuel may be ending. Still, bagged pellets are cheap, easy to find and will keep a stove going for 24-36 hours per bag, depending on the size and type of pellet stove you purchase.

Finally, you may be able to pick up a used oil burner to use as an alternative garage heater. Watch the ads in your local newspaper and also online resources like E-bay and Craigslist for the right unit. If you do find a used oil burner, you may be able to fuel it in part with biodiesel, a non-petroleum based fuel made of waste cooking oil and vegetable by-products.

Whatever alternative garage heater you choose, make sure you are up to local building codes with your installation and be sure to install a smoke alarm, a carbon monoxide alarm and a small fire extinguisher.

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Choices for Replacing Oil or Gas Heat

With cold weather approaching fast, homeowners are once again thinking about whether it might finally be time to think about replacing oil or gas heat with something more environmentally friendly and economical. Whether you are replacing oil heat or replacing gas heat, you have lots of great green choices for a new home heating system that is both sustainable and affordable.

The following home heating systems are among the most popular choices for replacing oil or gas heat. Many more are available, but these are some of the best:

Geothermal Systems: Geothermal home heating systems are one of the most ecologically sound choices for replacing oil heat or replacing gas heat. A geothermal system taps the heat of the earth itself by burying lines underground (below the frost line). In winter, the heat of the earth itself is circulated and in summer the reverse process provides air conditioning. This is possible by means of a heat exchanger: a device similar to the one in a standard air conditioner. A heat exchanger takes heat out of the earth in summer and takes cold out in winter. geothermal heat is fairly expensive to install (between $8,000 and $15,000 for existing construction), but once installed is almost free. If you can tap solar for the electricity to run the heat exchanger, you basically have free heating and cooling for life.

Pellet and Multi-fuel Stoves

Pellet stoves are high-efficiency wood stoves that burn pellets made of pressed sawdust or saw grass. Multi-fuel stoves burn wood pellets, saw grass pellets, dried corn, or fruit pits. Unlike conventional wood stoves, pellet and multi-fuel stoves produce very little ash and almost no toxic byproducts. They both can be vented directly outside (much like a conventional clothes dryer) and need no special chimney, making installation easy and safe. A single pellet stove can easily heat an entire home if well placed. Pellet stoves cost between $1100 and $2000 depending on size and features, so they are very affordable.

High-Efficiency Wood Stoves

Conventional wood stoves burn wood in an air tight chamber, which creates lots of ash and toxic fumes. By designing a wood stove to burn wood in an open chamber, companies like Jotl have been able to create home heating stoves that look much like fireplaces but are so efficient they are comparable to pellet stoves in ash production. You can also burn larger pieces of wood in these stoves, so less splitting is necessary. Jotl stoves are a bit pricier than conventional wood stoves, but they last a lifetime and are incredible energy-efficient and safe.

Waste Boilers and Furnace Add-ons

If replacing oil heat or replacing gas heat is too daunting and you just want to do something that will cut your heating bill without having to rip out your existing system, you can add on any number of furnaces that will use your oil or gas system to circulate heat obtained from renewable energy sources such as waste wood and weeds, waste oil, wood, or even wood pellets. Do-it-yourself instructions for all these add-on furnaces are widely available online, but it’s a good idea to have your arrangement checked out by a professional to make sure it conforms to local building codes and is safe to operate.

Any of these choices for replacing oil or gas heat will save you money and protect the environment. When combined with other alternative solutions such as solar electricity and solar water heating, it is possible to reduce home heating and utility bills to almost nothing at all. It takes time and commitment to get there, but the peace of mind is more than worth it not to mention the lower bills!

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Cast Iron Wood Stoves: Eco Friendly Heating Appliances

Cast iron wood stoves refer to the wood burning heating appliances used to keep your house warm. Traditionally people used to place these stoves away from the wall. However, there are newer models of cast iron stoves that you can place as close as eight inches from the wall.

Cast Wood Iron Stoves - Different Models to Suit Your Budget

A large range of cast iron stoves is available these days. It is up to you whether you want to buy a traditional stove or a stove with a contemporary look. Cast iron stoves are made of cast parts bolted together. Appearance of the stoves differs with the material used on the stove exteriors. These materials include plate steel, sheet metal, or a combination of these materials. These stoves are available in several attractive colors. You can select a cast iron wood burning stove to complement the d�cor of your living room. You can even look for stoves with marble or porcelain cover that give a different look to the stove. Difference styles and designs of iron stoves allow you the flexibility to choose one according to your requirements, preference, and budget.

Some manufacturers offer only traditional cast iron wood stoves. However, others make innovative stoves with new and advanced technological features. Several stoves come with large size glass doors to make the flames visible. Another model goes one-step ahead by using infrared barrier in the glass to facilitate reflection of heat back into the firebox. Furthermore, some self-cleaning models have airflow system that automatically removes soot and smoke from the glass doors. Other additional features of cast iron woodstoves include thermostats, insulated door handles, removable ash pans and blowers.

Safer Heating Solutions

Cast iron stoves are much safer than other heating appliances that use gas. With a wood stove, there is no risk of igniting the gas in the air, and starting a fire, when you light a match. There is no risk of somebody leaving the gas on and making you breathe harmful fumes. Unwanted smoke is expelled out with the help of a pipe that goes either through the ceiling or through wall.

In addition to beautifying your house, iron wood stoves also prevent pollution by not using any non-renewable fuel. You help in creating a pollution free environment for the future generations when you prefer wood stoves to other heating appliances using non-renewable energy.

Few Points to Check before Buying Cast Iron Wood Stoves

How would you ensure whether a particular stove is of good quality? Checking the quality is an important step before you take a decision purchase a cast iron wood stove for your home. Check for its castings, welds, doors, draft controls and appearance. If the stove has clean castings, smooth welds, tight doors, smooth draft controls, and the appearance of good workmanship, then you may consider buying the cast iron wood stove without any doubt.

To avoid the possibility of any burnout almost all wood stoves have firebricks and metal plates. These materials also increase the storage medium of heat, known as thermal mass, and the life of the stove as well. The size of the stove you choose determines the duration of heat radiation from the wood stove. Duration of heat radiation of a 500-pound stove would be better than the heat radiation period of a 250-pound stove.

Consider all the aforementioned aspects and make proper checks before purchasing a cast iron wood stove for your house. This is necessary because the stoves one time purchases and involve considerable amount of money.

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Antique Wood Stoves- Heating In Style

When antique wood stoves was more rich and worthy to serve for the general atmosphere like modern situation but it was century years ago. A wood stove is a heating device that you can use as a stand-alone heating equipment or use as a fireplace insert. Antique wood stoves are popular because besides adding to the beauty of your home, they keep your house warm and can cook the food as well. Around the world, people have been using wood stoves safely and conveniently, for hundreds of years.

Antique Wood Stove - Not Only a Showpiece

Antique wood stoves are certainly a collector's item and would be a treasured item if you were fond of antique collectibles. If you buy an antique stove, then you are not buying just a showpiece to add to the beauty of your house. A great deal of the antique stoves is uses for their rank. Most of the people conduct it for their household activities. These stoves are very convenient to use and are not bothersome to maintain. There has been no significant change in the basic design of wood stoves over the last century. Therefore, you are not trading in any kind of modern convenience when you buy an antique stove.

Antique wood stoves are a natural choice for historically themed hotels and tourist spots. They add to the authenticity of these places while working as any other heating and cooking appliance. Similarly, they're also perfect to restored homes and museums. These days you can even buy an antique looking wood stove that has the looks of an old stove and yet has all the features of contemporary stoves. This way you can enjoy the antique looks and yet do not compromise on the features that modern stoves offer.

Safer Heating Devices

Safety is another important factor in favor of antique wood stoves when compared to many fireplaces, cooking stoves and heaters that use gas. If you light a match, there is no risk of igniting the gas in the air and starting a fire. You should always use this gas because of crashing into crack. No matter how old antique stoves are, you can always expel any unwanted smoke with the help of a pipe that goes through the ceiling or the wall.

Eco Friendly Stoves

Antique wood stoves are eco-friendly and do not use any non-recyclable fuel like coal or gasoline. You can available find this wood stove than any other fossils. Listed below are some popular styles of antique wood stoves:

Victorian Stoves: These stoves are in vogue since the later part of the nineteenth century. These early kitchen stoves were usually made of cast iron. Nickel was used to adorn the stoves.

Country Stoves: These early twentieth century stoves are almost similar to Victorian Stoves except for the nickel highlights and clean, crisp casting.

Retro Stoves: These extremely popular stoves of the 1930s are simple updated version of above-mentioned models.

Cylinder Stoves: Because of their peculiar design, anybody can easily recognize these Antique Wood Stoves. For conducting the normal ground, you can unbelievable power.

Parlor Stoves: These beautiful stoves were the center of interest in Parlor rooms in the Victorian age, artistically designed with cherubs, mythological figures and floral designs. To make their as a fuel, they were more embellishment. Manufacturers of wood stoves are offering modern wood stoves with all contemporary features that mimic the style and looks of these antique wood stoves. These are just a few options for antique style wood stoves available. You can select the one matching your personal preference and heat in style. Alternatively, just select an antique looking stove with all the modern features for a perfect confluence of classic elegance and modern comfort.

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Choosing a Free Standing Wood Stove

If you are looking for a new stove, then you might consider a freestanding wood stove. There are many benefits to choosing a free standing wood stove. Many of the benefits include a glass door, an ashtray, it is freestanding, and they can be used for many different purposes. People use wood stoves around the world. If you are looking for a stove then a freestanding wood stove might be your best option. The freestanding stoves do not confine your stove to a specific place in your home. You can move your stove in the room as you would move your furniture. The stoves have four legs and they are not cemented or fixed into the surface of the floor. People love the mobility of these stoves. You need attach a chimney to the stove to let the smoke out of the home.
The freestanding wood stove usually burns with wood as the fuel source. These stoves are often used for cooking in cabins or smaller homes. However, the biggest use for these stoves is to provide heat in a home during the colder months of the year. They do an outstanding job of warming up a home and saving people money. You will find you won’t need to run your electrical baseboard heaters at all when you use your wood stove. Freestanding wood stoves also have an ashtray at the bottom of the stove. This allows for the stove to be easy to clean. The ashtray pulls out from the bottom of the stove. You can dump the ash and replace the tray. You don’t have to worry about cleaning the stove the traditional way with a small shovel. The tray allows you to save time and eliminate the mess of ash everywhere. Another benefit to a freestanding wood stove is the glass window on the door of the stove.
People are tranquilized by the fire and love to watch the flames burn. The window gives you the same feel of a fireplace because you can enjoy watching it burn. You can also see when it is time to add additional firewood and when your fire is burning low. The panes on the front of the stoves are designed to tolerate the heat generated by the fire because they are made with a fine quality glass. Another benefit to a freestanding wood stove is that if parts break on the stove you can order more. For instance, if you move your stove and a leg breaks on the unit then you can order another leg to replace it. Some people like to order additional parts when they buy their unit so they have them on hand. A freestanding wood stove is an excellent option when you are shopping for a new stove for your home. They give you the flexibility to place your stove anywhere in your home you desire. This allows you to place your stove in a room where the entire house can benefit from the heat rather than be confined to a specific place that only heats a small area of the home.

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Clean Coal Technologies and Alternative heating

According to the World Coal Institute, reserves of coal worldwide top 847 billion tons; enough to last 130 years at the current rate of production and provide more than enough fuel for alternative coal heat. Contrast that with current oil and gas reserves (currently set to last 42 years and 60 years respectively) and it becomes clear that clean coal is a natural resource with enormous potential for the transition from fossil fuel to self-sustaining green energy. The hardest type of coal burns the cleanest and is called 'anthracite coal'. Rich reserves of anthracite coal can be found in Pennsylvania in the U.S., the Crow’s Nest Region of the Rocky Mountains in Canada, and in various spots in the Andes mountains in Peru. At the present time, most of the anthracite coal mined in North America comes from anthracite coalmines in Pennsylvania.
Softer grades of coal can also be burned as fuel, but are used less and less often because they produce substantial pollution in the form of sulfur and carbon dioxide. Even anthracite coal produces unacceptable levels of carbon dioxide when it is burned commercially. Clean coal technology refers to various attempts to reduce coal emissions so that the use of this plentiful natural resource does not contribute to global warming. Currently, electrical power plants burn the most coal and are the most heavily invested in clean coal. They also contribute most heavily to global warming.

Some Safer methods of cleaning up coal emissions:

GCC or Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle turns coal into gas before it is burned and removes the impurities so they don't end up in the atmosphere.
'Carbon capture' or carbon sequestration refers to a variety of experimental technologies that remove toxic gases from anthracite and softer grades of coal so they can be burned safely.
De-watering of lower grade coals removes moisture content so that low quality coal is more combustible and burns cleanly.

Clean coal technology is controversial. Many environmentalists point out that widespread application of IGCC and other carbon capture methods will not be possible until 2025 at the earliest, and require major monetary investment. Clean coal advocates point out the obvious need for a fossil fuel that can help the world transition to green energy, and to the fact that coal is still the most plentiful choice. A production infrastructure is also already in place. Alternative coal stoves for home use have existed for many years. Home coal burners can be a good option in regions where access to coal is easy and the grade of coal available is good. Coal stoves, like wood stoves require regular maintenance and an understanding of the technology in order to keep them operating safely. High efficiency alternative coal furnaces for home use are also available.
Today’s coal burning stoves and furnaces are cleaner than the home coal burners of the previous century, but alternative coal heat is not right for everyone. Consider the maintenance requirements, cost, and affordability of local coal in order to make an informed choice about whether alternative coal is right for you.

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Advantages of an Outdoor Corn Boiler

Have you considered getting an outdoor corn boiler? With heating costs rising and concern about use of petroleum for heat and energy production, it's no wonder that more people are beginning to wonder about alternative options for heating their homes. One lesser known heating method is the corn boiler. These outdoor heaters burn renewable fuels, such as wood pellets or feed corn, and offer a cost-effective, energy efficient, and safe alternative to standard heating methods. However, it's important to install and operate your furnace correctly and according to the recommendations of the manufacturer if you want to get these benefits. Operating an outdoor boiler inappropriately can lead to greater emissions and pollution. However, when installed and used correctly, this alternative heating option can offer significant benefits. For instance, since outdoor corn boilers are located outside, the risk of a fire inside the home is eliminated. As well, the possibility of smoke and carbon monoxide buildup that comes with indoor wood burning isn't a problem. Outdoor corn boilers are also inexpensive. People who own outdoor furnaces can find themselves paying a quarter to half as much for heat, depending on fuel cost. Most outdoor furnaces don't need to be loaded often. Once or twice a day is common for versions that burn wood, and those with corn hoppers can sustain their heat for days on one load of wood. Some people have even managed to maintain heat for two weeks without having to refill their outdoor corn boiler.

Outdoor furnaces also offer a more even heat than wood stoves. This is because a thermostat controls the heat they produce. Fireplaces and wood stoves are notorious for hot spots and cool spots. Using an outdoor corn boiler removes this problem entirely, as the heat from the furnace enters the home via water radiators or forced air. It's important to remember that even efficient methods of heating like outdoor corn boilers can be affected by outside factors. For instance, inefficient windows and doors, colder outside temperatures, cold air entering the furnace, and poorly insulated buildings are all capable of decreasing furnace efficiency. These problems can be rectified by insulating the buildings that are being heated, installing efficient windows and doors, and keeping cold air out of the furnace.
There are many myths about corn and wood furnaces that prevent people from using them. You might have heard that burning corn or wood is bad for the environment. In fact, these fuels are carbon neutral – burning them doesn't cause a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Heating with these resources also reduces our dependence on fossil fuels, such as oil, which do cause a net increase in emissions. Heating an average home with wood can save sufficient nonrenewable fossil to operate a car for a whole year. People have also said that outdoor furnaces provide a nuisance and have greater particulate emissions than regular wood burners. While this can be true if the owner of these stoves is irresponsible, the same can be said of cars and of standard wood stoves. A properly installed and operated outdoor corn or wood boiler has emissions that are comparable or less than wood stoves. New EPA guidelines mean that outdoor boilers are cleaner than ever.

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