Almost every homeowner would like to reduce their home heating costs. One option that often sounds appealing is heating or supplemental heating with wood. This sounds like a great idea, but the reality is that it’s really only an effective alternative in a few limited circumstances.
First, heating with an open fireplace is very inefficient. Most of the heat generated in a fireplace is lost up the chimney. In addition, in order to burn properly and to exhaust smoke, carbon monoxide and other combustion gasses up and out the chimney, a fireplace has to draw air in from the room. That air is replaced by cold outside air that makes your way into your home. A fireplace can actually make the rest of the rooms in your house colder.
A modern woodstove is much more energy efficient than a fireplace and in some cases can supplement your home heating system, but there are a few caveats. First, energy efficient woodstoves are expensive and for safe operation, they need to be installed by a professional adding further to the cost.
Next, take into consideration the cost of the wood or pellets you will be burning. If you plan to cut, split, and stack the wood yourself, consider the amount of time and the cost of the tools such as a chain saw, axe, and wood splitter. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of a back injury or worse, an accident involving a chainsaw or axe. It could take a very long time to make up the cost of a wood stove in energy savings.
The reality is that for the vast majority of homeowners, a fireplace or woodstove can add ambiance and charm to your home, but they are not very practical for home heating. More effective alternatives include having a system efficiency analysis done by a reputable HVAC contractor or replacing an old furnace with a new energy efficient furnace.
