Fact: One cord of wood is equal to 200 gallons of fuel oil in total available thermal energy.

Fact: At $4.00 per gallon for oil and a price of $250.00 per cord for wood (adjusting for comparative efficiencies), wood costs half as much as oil, or less!

Fact: Pellet stoves also cost about half the fuel cost for oil.

Fact: Wood is renewable; oil and natural gas are no;, and the latter are getting more and more scarce and expensive.

Fact: Wood is plentiful in New England!

Fact: Many of the new wood and pellet stoves are very attractive and colorful, highly efficient and easy to use.

Fact: Most new woodstoves and wood inserts cost between $1000.00 and $1800.00. New pellet stoves cost from $1800.00 - $2500.00 each.

Fact: Many older, used stoves are also available and can be very effective heaters. With bargains to be had, good used woodstoves can be found for $300.00 - $800.00.

Woodstoves
What do I need to install a woodstove?

1. Chimney (woodstoves cannot be "direct-vented" out the side of the house)
   A masonry chimney, constructed of brick, block or stone (must have a liner!) or an insulated prefab stainless steel chimney. Chimneys can run up through the house or outside the house.
2. A hearth constructed of masonry units like brick or stone o,r alternatively, a factory prefabricated hearth board.
3. Shielding to protect nearby combustibles from overheating — built into the stove or added on during installation.
4. Connector pipe to join the woodstove to the chimney (through a thimble hole or a fireplace).
5. Woodstove advantages/disadvantages:
   *Can run without electricity, if the power goes out
   *Good ambience, especially with fireplace style openings or glass-panel doors
   *Some decorator colors and good looks
   *Requires some fussing and tending (but can be fun!)
   *May result in ash and other wood debris
   *Can be less initial investment for stove itself
   *Wood can sometimes be procured for "free" or "low cost" near your "neighborhood"

1. Either a chimney, with a liner, or a "direct-vent" pipe (insulated) system going out the wall of the house.
2. A hearth or at least a bare floor space.
3. Shielding is usually not necessary.
4. Connector pipe to join the pellet stove to the chimney or "direct-vent" system (may run through a thimble hole or a fireplace, just like a woodstove).
5. Pellet stove advantages/disadvantages:
   *Requires electricity to run
   *Not as much ambience, but can have handsome, colorful look
   *Less daily "fussing" needed, but some monthly maintenance required
   *Cleaner burning and less "mess"
   *Stove investment initially greater than a woodstove

1. Inspect your home and consult with you regarding alternatives, options and comparative costs.
2. Perform your installation:
   *Repair or install/build chimneys
   *Line chimneys, if needed
   *Hookup your stove, providing all necessary materials and safety factors
3. Provide tips on running your stove and help troubleshoot any ensuing problems.
4. Provide ongoing maintenance, including chimney cleaning.
   

1. Open up walls to provide an open concept with large living area for better heat transfer and spread.
2. Alternatively, put a grate(s) through walls at ceiling level to allow warmed air (which rises) to seep most effectively into adjacent rooms (grates may have built in fans).
3. Install quiet 4" - 6" fans in the upper corners of doorways to pull/push hot air from one room to another.
4. Install grates in floors to aid the flow of warm air from one level to another. Open stairways will also facilitate this upward flow.
5. Insulate and tighten up walls and ceilings.
6. Note: Standard fireplaces usually provide no net gain in heat because so much heated room air escapes up the chimney.
7. Don't damp your woodstove down too far, especially overnight, or you'll ruin the combustion cycles, resulting in 20% - 30% wasted "BTU's" in the form of unburned, dirty smoke. And your chimney will get dirty faster while increasingly polluting the atmosphere.
8. Use a thermometer on your stove or stovepipe to monitor acceptable, efficient burn rates.
9. After loading your woodstove, burn it hot (600° on a stovepipe thermometer for 15 minutes or so) to "supercharge" the fuel mass while evaporating water, and to help clean out your stovepipe and heat up your chimney for a strong draft.