Wood Heat

Heat your home with wood, safely and well

Wood heat can warm a house through long winters and keep it comfortable during outages, but it asks more of the owner than a thermostat does. Poorly seasoned firewood, a dirty chimney, wrong clearances or an old, leaky stove can cause smoky rooms, weak heat and a real risk of chimney fires or carbon monoxide. Choosing the right stove or insert and running it properly makes a large difference in comfort, efficiency and safety.

The guides here explain how stoves, inserts and chimneys work together, how to burn cleaner and how to prepare and store firewood so it is ready when you need it. You learn what to check each season, from door gaskets to creosote buildup, and how to place smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Installation, chimney relining and any change to a flue should be handled by a certified professional and approved under local code and your insurer requirements.