Is a Wood-Burning Heating System Right For Me?

With rising concerns (not to mention prices) of non-renewable fuel sources, a wood-burning heating system is beginning to sound more and more attractive, especially if you are planning renovations or beginning construction on a new home. With rising popularity, companies have been manufacturing wood-burning systems to be cleaner and more efficient than ever, dispelling objections and misconceptions of wood-burning systems being primitive and bad for the environment. Still, there are a couple factors to consider before deciding whether a wood-burning system is what you want.

Cost. Consider all your options. There are about half a dozen different kinds of solid fuel burning systems and each operate with a different efficiency, thus varying cost-effectiveness. Oil and gas prices are high already and will continue to rise, while a cord of wood is relatively inexpensive as of now (about $50-$100), and pellets are priced around $159 per ton. Also, there is also the option of burning scrap wood salvaged from your property or construction companies.

A stove costs around $1,500 and up to buy, and around $1,000 to install. But with savings around $250 a year, it will pay for itself as an investment. Also, if oil and gas prices climb too high, a house with an alternative heating system will look very attractive to potential buyers. The value of your home will rise and you will have better equity for a home loan.
Extra Work. You’ll have to own a truck and be willing to do a little manual labor unless you want to pay handling and transportation fees. Also, loading your furnace or stove isn’t quite as easy as having gas or oil piped right into your home. You will also have to be a more wary consumer, as you’ll likely buy wood, corn, or pellets from a variety of different vendors, all of which may not be overly scrupulous.
Efficiency. Many wood-burning systems are not quite as efficient as conventional heating systems. Many homeowners use a solid-fuel burning system as a supplement to their existing system, and the savings come from fuel costs. While shopping, be sure you know the difference between terms. Don’t let someone sell you on high “Combustion Efficiency” or “Heat Transfer Efficiency.” These are merely factors that go into calculating overall efficiency which is what you are looking for to determine how well a system will work.
Environmental Concerns. Supporters will tout the fact that carbon dioxide released by burning wood is part of the natural respiration of trees, and that carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels is comparatively unnatural. But carbon dioxide is still released. Creosote is the main concern associated with wood burning systems, and that is the “soot” that would collect on chimneys. But EPA regulates wood-burning systems and modern systems have reduced their emissions by 90%. Pellets, made from recycled wood waste, create even less pollution, but require special stoves that run off a little bit of electricity as well. But the main benefit is that you are not using non-renewable, increasingly expensive fossil fuels.

Consider your lifestyle, and research your options before deciding the benefits of a wood-burning system justify the extra efforts.