"A Famlly Tradition for 125 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 17, 1992 - 25 Guidelines on buying a wood-burning appliance The most common mistake made by a stove buyer is choos- ing a stove that is too large for the space to be heated. An over- sized appliance will have to be operated at a temperature far below the optimum for complete and efficient combustion. A sur- prisingly small unit will provide enough heat for a well insulated house. When buying a room heater, bear in mind that a small unit will probably cause fewer creosote and condensa- tion problems. It is better to supplement a small wood stove with oil-fired or electric heat on days of peak demand than to in- stall alarge stove. Manufacturers use different methods to rate a stove's heat output. Some are based on the floor area or volume measure- ment of the space to be heated, and others on hourly output in British thermal units {Btu}, GEE ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVICE Sales, Repairs & Rewinding to All Motors Pressure & Swimming Pool Pumps -- SHIRLEY ROAD -- 985-8049 megajoules {MJ} or kilowatts {kW}. You should not rely exclusive- ly on manufacturers' ratings be- cause the ratings are not all de- termined under the same conditions and by the same tests. They do not, and cannot, take house layout and insula- tion levels into account. Cli- mate also affects the amount of heat lost from a building and therefore the amount of heat re- quired for a particular area or volume. Perhaps the best guide to cor- rect sizing is the experience of others who have heated their homes with wood. Based on their comments, and advice from your retailer, you will be able to decide on the size and configuration of space heater you need. Most houses cannot be heated entirely by a single space heat- er. When a unit is located on the main floor, the basement will receive very little heat and the heating requirements of the second floor may be only partly met. It is important, then, to in- clude in your calculation only those areas in the house that can reasonably be heated di- rectly or by natural convection. In some houses, two small space heaters may be preferred to a single installation for even heat distribution. It is also worth considering a central wood-heating system. BUILDING OR BUYING A NEW HOME? Does your builder offer a CANADIAN HOME ACOUSTICS noise reduction package? | Would you buy a car that does not have a muffler or noise control? HOPEFULLY NOT! il Then why would you buy a house without one? | For more information call 7O5-357-3303 | | Call Ray Rankin Carpentry & Woodworking PI 4 No ANE 3 SRE 8 Si o 3. RR ns a * Wood Burning o (Gas Burning o Wood/Electric Combination o All Electric [VON p [es] TIERS)? at Burns WHITBY, 668-3192 Keep your energy bill in shape. Call the Energy Hotline. The Energy Hotline answers all your questions on bome energy use. And we can also belp you with the following services: [] Jester energy surveys on your ome and recommend ways to improve your home's energy efficiency [J calculate the proper size of heating and cooling equipment for your home [[] answer any specific energy- related problem you have and supply information on all applications of energy in the home [J offer a wide variety of energy publications by EnerMark and government agencies e® insulation levels ® weatherstripping ® caulking ® heating and air conditioning systems ® water heating e financial assistance for new energy-efficient products e energy efficiency in new homes ® electrical appliances ® wiring For any energy-related information, call this telepbone number and ask for Cathy Olmstead o. Energy Management Rep. he ( nergy Lakeshore Area - Hotline Bowmanville Onta no Hy dro 1-800-263-8028 QR (416) 623-2561 Let's give tomorrow a hand.