If you heat with wood,
         now is a good time to . . .

The hearth store salesman shows you two similar looking wood stoves.This one, he informs you, has the new advanced, clean burn technologies and that one does not.This one costs two hundred dollars more and he advises you to buy it instead of the conventional model.He faces a challenge in convincing you to part with the extra money, but if he fails, you could be the loser.

You may have several reasons to balk at spending the extra on an advanced wood stove.First of all, maybe you've been heating the house or cottage successfully for years with an old clunker, which was certainly not technically advanced, and now you just want one that is less ugly.Then there's the fact that the new stoves are identified by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval, which is an American government outfit, so why should it matter to you?And finally, there is a lot of competition for your money so a couple of hundred extra dollars on the price of a wood stove is a big deal.

It turns out that the EPA rules produced a lot unintentional benefits that more than make up for the extra cost of the products.Designed to cut smoke emissions, the strict limits must be proven by independent testing to be awarded certification.But beyond giving you bragging rights as being more environmentally correct than your neighbors, a new EPA certified wood stove offers a long list of benefits that make day-to-day wood burning more convenient and pleasurable. Burns cleaner

The new wood stoves burn a lot cleaner: they emit up to 90 per cent less smoke than older models.Conventional stoves emit an average of 25 to 60 grams of smoke per hour, while advanced stoves release only 2 to 7 grams.[*local dealer quote:* evidence of clean burn, such as: In practice, this means you will never again see a plume of blue or gray smoke coming from your chimney or smell that strong odor when you step outside.]These new stoves are kinder to the environment (and your neighbors) by putting out far less air pollution.

More efficient
The new wood stoves burn less wood for a given amount of heat.They range from 60 to 75 per cent efficiency, while conventional stoves are only 30 to 50 per cent.Higher efficiency means less cutting, splitting and moving of wood, not to mention saving money on fuel wood purchases.And making better use of the forest resource is the environmentally responsible thing to do. [*local dealer quote:* what customers report, such as: Users of advanced stoves and fireplaces report that wood savings were noticeable right away.]

Safer
Some people with conventional wood stoves live in constant fear of having a chimney fire.Their old stoves emit so much smoke that some of it clings to the inside of the chimney as creosote deposits which can ignite to produce a terrifying fire.A clean burning new stove makes the whole system safer because there is so little smoke there is virtually no chance of a chimney fire.[*local dealer quote:* objective of good installation, such as: Wood burning should make you feel warm, secure and comfortable, not nervous.]

Less Maintenance
Less smoke in the exhaust means your chimney will stay cleaner.[*local dealer quote:* evidence of less maintenance, such as: Some owners never need to have their chimneys swept because creosote deposits do not accumulate.]Still, any wood heating system should be checked over at least once a year just to be sure that all the gaskets, seals, baffles, door hinges and latches are in good condition.

Better looking flame
The fire in the new stoves is strikingly beautiful.The look of the fire depends to some extent on which of two different technologies the stove maker used to meet the strict smoke limits.One approach is to pass the smoke through a catalytic combustor that is buried inside the stove.The other strategy is to use an insulated firebox, smoke baffles and a fancy air supply system that feeds part of the combustion air to the fire through dozens of tiny holes. [*local dealer quote:* the difference shows up on the showroom floor, such as: The little jets of flame that appear to come from air supply holes are visible proof of the difference between these and conventional stoves.You'll also see nicer flame colours with some pink and blue compared to the dark orange flames of older stoves.]

Mind you, the fire is not visible at all in most conventional stoves because they have either a solid door or sooted up glass.In contrast, the makers of advanced stoves have all perfected the glass air-wash technology that keeps glass clear for great fire viewing.

Easier to use
The new technologies produce a more stable fire, meaning that fires burn more consistently and completely, and you'll have better heat control because the technology lets you turn down further without smoldering.For example, you can set one of these new stoves for an overnight burn and, as you go off to bed, you'll notice the fire flaming brightly.[*local dealer quote:* overnight burn in conventional stove, such as: If you tried that with an older stove it would likely smoke and smolder.]

Backed by knowledgeable companies
The inside of a conventional wood stove is usually a technology-free zone.In other words, it's just a steel box in which to build the fire; anyone with a welding torch could build one.In contrast, makers of the new stoves have made big investments in building more environmentally friendly products.These are the larger, more stable manufacturers that will still be around if you ever need a replacement part or have a warranty claim.

More attractive
The new stoves will change all your perceptions of what a wood stove looks like.Not long ago all stoves were black but now you can choose from a rainbow of designer colours.They all used to be squat ugly boxes and now they come in elegant shapes with tasteful trim and gold plated doors.And instead of guessing what the fire was doing behind solid doors, you can see the whole dramatic show through stay-clear glass doors.The changes are truly revolutionary.

Will you get more day-to-day pleasure from your new wood stove than you did from your old one?It appears the answer could be yes, provided you spend a little extra to move up to an advanced model.And in addition to the pleasure of using an efficient unit that works better, you'll feel safer and more secure.You'll be doing your bit for the environment too.

Don't forget that you'll be spending a lot of time with your new wood stove this winter and for many winters to come, and you don't want to look back with regret that you didn't spend that little extra for the new clean burn technology.

What is the cost of more convenience, security, comfort and enjoyment?In the case of the new advanced wood stoves, the extra cost looks like a bargain.

Return to: Heating with Wood Safely