Wood-Burning Stove: An Alternative Heat Source for Your Home

We've all seen the old movies with the frontier family huddled around the single cast iron stove sitting in the center of the room, shivering pioneers shoving log after log into the fiery maw in order to stay warm and thus survive the cruel winter months. This image quickly disappeared as more methods of heating our homes were developed, including the use of heating oil, electricity and natural gas.

But with the recent energy awareness hitting home in all facets of our lives, the idea of having a wood burning stove has returned to the general public with a new face and a new awareness of this old technology. Far from being only found in historical recreations, the woodburning stove has become a more common fixture in many households. Is this a viable option for your family in the near future? Read on and see if you may want to take a trip to the past to secure your family's warm future!

The initial problem, of course, is the purchase of the wood-burning stove. A freestanding wood-burning stove can cost upwards of two thousand dollars, depending on where you purchase it. Of course the design has radically changed over the years to reflect not only personal choice and preference but also to work more efficiently. But you'll have to make a decision right from the start – whether to get an old-fashioned wood-burning stove that eats up regular firewood or one that burns wood pellets! Each have their advantages and disadvantages, but can result in you saving hundreds of dollars in the long run as energy bills threaten to overrun many families' wallets.