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The Advantages and Disadvantages of Wood-Burning Appliances

It’s the season of pumpkin-spice-lattes, corn mazes, and steaming cocoa by a crackling fire. Many homeowners use the fireplace as a home decor focal point, a backdrop for family photos and festivities, and supplemental heat. You may not have a fireplace yet and desperately want one. A properly-installed or well-constructed fireplace or fire appliance can bring up the value of your home, help decrease utility bills, and enhance the holiday spirit. The fan favorite is the wood-burning fireplace because of the natural ambiance it creates. Wood produces beautiful flames, crackling and hissing of the wood, and has high heat output. It isn’t all wonderful, however. There are drawbacks to choosing wood, but we can help. 

Benefits of Wood Fires

Accessibility of fuel – When you choose wood-burning appliances, you are able to use wood from your own land or personal supply. You simply have to cut, store, and haul wood yourself. If you don’t have a readily accessible wood supply, you can find a local supplier quite easily. Just make sure your wood is properly-seasoned and that you’re getting what you pay for.
High heat output – When you choose your wood type, you can even control how much heat your fire produces. Today’s wood-burning appliances are equipped with many new technologies that allow better control of temperature as well.
Eco-friendly – Today’s manufacturers have made strides to produce high-efficiency wood-burning appliances. Wood furnaces, stoves, inserts, and fireplaces can be highly-efficient and leave less of a “carbon footprint” than ever before.
Versatile designs and models – The wood-burning appliance used to lend itself to rustic decor only, but no more. Now you can choose a wood-burning appliance that compliments a sleek contemporary look, a traditional rustic one, or any variety in between.

Drawbacks to Burning Wood

Wood fires require more service appointments than gas or pellet appliances. This is not due to the performance of the appliance, but rather the material burned. Gas is the cleanest burning fuel, so it produces no creosote and very little soot. Pellets appliances burn at such high-efficiency that they also produce less waste. However, firewood, even properly-seasoned firewood, will produce soot and creosote no matter how well it burns. It also produces ash which can be a pain to remove and dispose of and the wood chips and dust can make a mess. When you’re burning wood, half the work is in cleaning up the mess. Fortunately, a lot of that work should be done by the professionals.

Chief Chimney Services Wood Appliances

If you have a wood-burning appliance and haven’t had it inspected or cleaned in the last 12 months, now is the time. Keeping the appliance well-maintained through professional services will keep it working safely and properly. Call us at 631-863-2460 and talk with a professional about economical wood-burning appliances today.

Benefits of Wood-Burning Appliances

There are many options for fireplaces and furnaces today including a variety of fuel and designs. There are many products and appliances available that can supplement your central heat or heat your home completely. It can be difficult to decide which to purchase and install in your dream home. Therefore, it’s important to educate yourself on your options so you can make a choice you can live with.

Today’s Wood-Burning Appliances

Wood-burning stoves are more economical than they’ve ever been. The appliances themselves are designed for efficiency that allow for high heat output. The new designs on the market are also beautifully made. They are available in all kinds of styles and colors to match a wide variety of home decor.

Renewable Fuel Source

Wood is also economical because it is a renewable resource. Split wood can be cut, collected, and properly seasoned at home. If it’s not possible for you to collect and replenish your own wood pile, you can often find a reliable source for wood. If you are looking to purchase split wood it’s important to find a source that cuts hard woods and allows the wood to dry properly. You can check the wood yourself by checking the corners that should begin cracking, and the color which should begin graying, as the wood dries.

Free of Utilities and Electricity

Another great benefit of wood-burning appliances is that they still burn when the electricity goes out. During winter storms in which others lose electric heat, you can maintain a fire in your appliance and stay warm. Some appliances have a blower that helps circulate the heat throughout the home, but even if the blower is unavailable during a winter storm, your furnace will still provide adequate heat for you, but they will not work when the electricity is out.

Aesthetics of a Wood-Burning Appliance

Wood is the only fuel that creates an authentic flame that so many homeowners long for in a fireplace. The appliances that Sweeps America offer a high-heat front window that allows you to view the flames in the same way you could with an open fireplace, except without the particulate pollution and the low efficiency of an open fireplace.

High Heat

Today’s wood-burning appliances can warm a room quickly, and some appliances can maintain heat in the entire home. When you have access to wood, it is an inexpensive way to heat your home. Gas prices can be unpredictable, and pellet stoves require homeowners to buy pellets regularly. Wood is the only fuel source that anyone can have access.

There are numerous benefits for wood-burning appliances. If you are ready to choose, purchase, and install your wood-burning appliance, our certified chimney sweeps are ready to work with you. Call Chief Chimney Services at 631-863-2460 or schedule an appointment online today!