Is Wood Heating Appropriate?
Some people choose to heat their homes or portions of their homes with wood due to the lower cost. You can use your existing chimney along with a wood stove or furnace. You can strategically place wood heating stoves in different rooms in your house or design a heating system that utilizes a central wood stove to heat the entire house. If the house already exists you may have to make some structural renovations to the house to accommodate a central wood heating stove but if you have not designed the house have an expert help you design a central wood stove system. You can also use a heating system that utilizes hot air ducts or a pipe system that will uses water heated from a wood fired furnace.
Some homes containing about one thousand square feet of living space have been able to sufficiently heat their homes with a large circulating or radiant wood heating stove. In some cases in which the system was optimally located and the occupants were willing to live in moderate to low temperatures people have been able to heat two thousand square foot homes. Make sure the wood heating stove is air tight otherwise you will loose too much heat and you won't maximize the capability of the wood stove. Some people use their wood stove to prepare meals and to heat water.
Circular and Radiant Stoves
If you have young children in the house you should select a circular stove since the surface of a radiant wood heating stove is significantly hotter that a circular stove and the chance of injury is less with a circular stove. Airtight stoves cost more than non-air tight stoves but they are significantly more efficient and thus less wood is required. Another benefit of the airtight wood stove is they require less airflow and airflow is essential for combustion in a wood stove. If you decide to purchase a wood stove or furnace it is highly recommended that you have the unit installed by a highly experienced professional because if you don't you could potentially have a catastrophe.
Some people prefer using an outdoor wood heating stove or furnace. Most wood furnaces are made with a firebox which is surrounded with an insulated water jacket. The furnace is insulated and is provided with a weatherproof exterior. The heat produced by the furnace flows to the water jacket. Insulated underground pipes are utilized to pump the hot water form the furnace to your house. The heat then flows to the heating system of your home and is distributed throughout the house. Check with an expert to find out if a wood heating system is a good idea for your home.
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