What are the advantages of using firewood?
1. Firewood is a renewable resource – it is energy from the sun stored by the tree as it grows.
2. You are not dependent on energy companies or victim to blackouts of conventional heating systems during storms. During power failures, you will stay warm and safe.
3. Lower your utility costs. Firewood is the most cost effective fuel for domestic heating (Research Institute of Sustainable Energy). Firewood has shown to be 6x more economic than electric heat, 5x more economic than gas heat and 4x more economic than oil. Put an end to our dependence on foreign oil!
4. A blazing fireplace creates ambiance and radiant heat unlike anything else.
5. Purchasing
locally sourced firewood supports your local economy.
6. Burning Firewood is carbon neutral and does not contribute to global warming. Allowing wood to rot on the forest floor releases the same amount of carbon dioxide as it does when the wood is burned properly.
The Disadvantages of Firewood
Firewood burning stoves provide a natural way for a home owner to heat their residence by burning split logs. While many owners prefer log burning stoves to electric heating options, using a wood burning stove does not come without its drawbacks, including the extra work, space and risks a stove provides.
Cleanliness
Wood burning stoves can get messy if they are not properly maintained. As the logs are burned, they turn into ashes which fill up the bottom of the wood burning stove and must be emptied regularly for safe use. If care is not taken when cleaning the ashes, they can get on the area around the stove, creating a mess.
Wood Problems
In order to effectively use a wood burning stove to heat a home or room, a great deal of fire wood is required. Storage of the wood after it has been cut requires a great deal of space. Wood must be stacked and protected from the elements to prevent it from becoming wet and difficult to burn.
Dangers
Handling the wood logs around the fire requires caution to avoid injury as a result of the flame, and the tools used for manipulating the wood can get very hot and injure an individual if they touch them while hot. As logs are burned, they deposit creosote in the chute or chimney, which must be cleaned out as it can lead to fires.
Heat Distribution
Unlike central heating, which can have vents in all rooms in a house, a wood burning stove provides localized heat. For this reason, the areas immediately around the fireplace or stove can get much warmer than other areas in the home or room being heated.
Pollution
Wood burning contributes pollution to the environment in the form of the smoke emitted as the wood is burned. The smoke released serves as a pollutant to the outside, particular in winter months, and can also pollute the air inside the home if not properly vented, causing smoke to build up in your rooms.
