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Years ago, most American homes were heated with wood or coal.  Now, it's the rare home that heats exclusively with such rustic simplicity.  More often, homeowners want the ambience of a fire without the time-consuming business of wood gathering or storage.  Fortunately, there are stoves available for just about everyone.

Wood stoves appeal to our essential caveman nature, pellet stoves to our desire for efficiency, and gas to our wish for convenience.  The following information may help you decide which stove best meets your needs.

WOOD STOVES

Today's wood stoves are very clean burning and many meet or exceed emissions standards in even the toughest states.  This also reduces the amount of cleanup, because the wood burns completely, leaving a minimum of ash.  With their airtight door seals, some models get up to 12 hours burn time on a low setting.  So, even if you work away from home, your wood stove can be heating your home all day.  New wood stoves are equipped with an "airwash" system that keeps the glass clean to maximize your enjoyment of the fire, as well as reducing maintenance.  (Note: To reduce build-up in the chimney and on the glass, you should burn your stove hot for about an hour each day.)

PELLET STOVES

Pellet stoves don't need a conventional chimney, but rather a simple exhaust outlet much like the vent for a clothes dryer, which can be vented through any exterior wall of the house.  Emissions from modern pellet appliances are below Federal requirements, which is especially good news if you live in an area where burning cord wood is restricted.  A good pellet stove will produce less than 1 gram per hour of particulate emissions.  No trees are cut down to produce the pellets - they are made entirely from sawdust, a waste product.  A year's supply of pellets will easily fit into a garage, occupying about one-third as much space as cord wood.

GAS STOVES

One of the main advantages of a gas stove is its versatility.  Because of venting options, one can be added almost anywhere in a home.  Direct-vent (DV) fireplaces and stoves exhaust conveniently out through the wall, eliminating the need for a chimney as tall as the house.  This can mean substantial savings on installation costs.  If direct-vent installation is not feasible in your situation, B-vent (BV) can be used instead.  B-vent is used when you are going to run a liner and go through an existing flue, or when the unit is not going on an exterior wall.

Gas Stoves are available for natural gas or propane, and most will operate safely during a power outage.  They are extremely low-maintenance, with no fuel storage, mess, or ash to dispose of.  Modern gas stoves and inserts have realistic log sets and large windows, giving the appearance of a "real" fire, adding atmosphere as well as warmth.  They are available in a myriad of styles and colors to complement any decor.

Gas stoves or fireplaces featuring turn-down control valves offer you additional savings.  These optional valves can reduce your BTU output by up to one-half, burning slow and steady for even heat and visible flames.  Minimum clearances to combustibles are much less than for wood burners, with some gas stoves able to sit as close as 4" from a back wall.

Gas heat is convenient, easy to use, and provides a fire with the flip of a switch.  By adding a programmable thermostat, you have extremely efficient zone heat.  With the current energy situation, some utility companies are offering rebates for installing a programmable thermostat.  Zone heating with gas makes sense because you are heating the necessary living areas of a home while keeping a lid on heating costs.