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IMS Wood heating is it right for you The energy crisis of mid 1970s is behind us but high fuel pnecsare here now and even higher ones are likely to follow That has lead growing number of Canadians explore the potential fur healing their homes with wood Energy efficient wood burning Moves now available in a wide of designs including tradi tional looking equipment that has all the benefits of modem tcchnol Homeowners interested in healing with wood are almost laintofindanapphancc thai matches their or Appearance is important but is only one of many considerations when purchasing woodburning equipment Infactbcforeyoucvcn begin to look appliances you should ensure that access to a secure reasonably pneed w supply If you do and you arc will to devote the extra time and attention required to operate a safe and efficient system sou find that healing with wood can be a rewarding experience in terms comfort aesthetics and cost Appliances Selecting the appropriate wood- burning appliance for needs will probably require some research and comparative shopping You find heating equipment is expensive obviously costs more to install a central heating system than a free standing Also central heat systems do nut lend ihemsehes Wood stoses and furnaces range in price from a few hundred to several thousand and an approved chimney sys tern can cost more than the Wood burning appliances come in a variety of types shapes and sizes They include space heaters pellet burning stoscs forced air wood furnaces boilers add on furnaces and boilers and dualfuel furnaces Pie equipment you select will depend largely on the role you intend it to play in tin horn Spend some tune becoming familiar with the opiums With sulliiicm about your healing requirements the proposed loc anon the appliance an informed dealer can usuallj reconiinendtheappropn sic equipment tor sour needs It is important to fni dun has been tested and labeled to the standards of anadi in Stan dariis Association or the Laboratories Can ada Before sou purchase any equipment check with jour insurance agent about coverage Some companies charge higher premiums lor homes equipped wood burning appliances The chimney The is as as the heater itself Unless sou are m accomplished do it familiar local build and lire codes andhise access to advice from a specialized heating appliance dealer ehmines should be installed inside the house rather than on exterior wall the first step toward safe operation ou should also hive the in spcctedregularlv necessary Safety Wood burning heating anc i re m ore i attention than electric oil or natural gas systems is because sotc a flammable byproduct incomplete wood cun accumulates on the inside surfaces of the heating equipment particularly in the flue pipe and chimney As little in creosote can result in a chimney You can slow down the built up usingachuiuie that is insulated and an efficient burning well seasoned wood and by building hot quick burning fires However regular chimney inspection and cleaning are the best to avoid prob lems Your home should also be equipped with smoke detectors Ashes should be removed from wood hunting appliances as often as necessary This can range from once a week for an appliance Used as the primary source of heat to once a month or lessi for supple mentarv wnodlieiters Although creosote is the com mon enemy carbon monoxide an odourless colourless and tasteless is the most dangerous product ol incomplete wood combustion in the home To avoid this problem ensure that has good draft and thai sou bum small hoi fifes rather than large smouldering The fuel supply Pie efficient of a wood heat sv stem is affected by the the should be dried in the open air preferably under a cover to keep the ram off for one sear before use Seasoned firewood bums more efficiently giving more heat to the house per the cord wood wink potential tor dangerous build up in your chimney In lion to having a reliable source wood you will need 10 have quatetovercd storage space for your winter supply dealers regularly ad in local newspapers and on community billboards You might want ask a wood burning friend or neighbour to recommend a sup plier from pLsl experience Make surcyouknowwhal you re getting when you purchase fire wood from dealer The common cord measurement for firewood is 1 X lV X However other measurements arc- also used including stove cords and face cords which arc consid erably smaller than a cord When price shopping make sure you arc comparing the same amount of You should also pay attention to the species of wood you are buying Dense such as maple oak heating and command premium prices less dense species such as poplar and spruce are less expensive and are ideal for small I spring and fall when high heat output is not needed Only experience will you how muUiwood you need forllie winter A medium sized modem house il heated exclusively with wood would need between four and six cords In the same house a space heater used for pan of the day may consume two to four cords wink reducing conventional fuel use by more than So per cent more wood will be required under very cold conditions or for large leaky poorly insulated houses A comprehensive booklet on burning wood in the home dentin Wood Heating A Hume owner is available by ing to Energy Mines Resources Canada Residential Energy Man Division Booth Si Ottawa Omano Kl A Give gifts and cards and help a child ate That Dream Come True If youre searching for your dream home the Estate Outlook can help Our weekly real estate tabloid is filled with the latest home listings from throughout the area To help you find that dream home weve included a map of the area and if you need assistance the selection of real estate agents will help If you would rather build your own home our Home Of The Week feature with its list of professionals will speed you on your way The Heralds Real Estate Outlook your first step towards owning the home of your dreams the HERALD The Home Newspaper of Halton Hills Established 1866 Guelph St Georgetown 8772201