Heating with wood had found a broad new acceptance. Residential wood heaters range from wood pellet stoves and boilers to instututional and industrial pellet stove heating schools, factories, mall centers and campuses.

Fully automated pellet systems of all sizes, bulk wood pellet delivery, refined and semi-dried wood chip fuels, advanced technology boilers with engineered emissions controls that bring down harmful pollutants, and combined heat and electric power (CHP) systems are steadily making inroads and on the cusp of mainstream acceptance.

Taking a look back:

In the winter of 2005, oil prices averaged $2.44 / gal. While many parts of the country were very cold, the answer seemed to be "turn up the heat". The problem with that was that many hard working Americans did not have the funds to support burning additional gas or fuel oil.

The answer for some was to purchase a pellet stove. The thought of lugging 40# bags of pellets was not pleasing to some, but considering the small amount of extra work vs. the savings, many folks opted in for a little extra work.

In 2007, oil prices went as high as $3.44 and in 2012, prices were even higher at $3.88. This fuel price increase surely supported the purchase of the pellet stove.

The average cost of a pellet stove at that time was about $3,500. Estimating an average of 2 tons of pellets per winter (1 ton of pellets = 1.5 cords of wood) at the average price of $217 per ton, The savings were astounding.

In October, 45 degrees feels like a reason to start a fire in the woodstove. Less so in January, when 45 degrees feels unseasonably mild.

Still, there’s something disheartening about a cold woodstove, as if it were a conduit for cold air and bad spirits. So I light it, for the warmth, for the light, for the company, so that when I go outside there will be that burgee of smoke blowing from the chimney.

Watching the fire, I think sometimes about two terrifying rooms in the Iowa farmhouse where my dad grew up. One was the coal room for the furnace, the other the cob room for the kitchen cookstove. When I first saw them, both had been antiquated by oil and electricity. The coal room had a darkness that the eye couldn’t penetrate. Next door, the cobs had settled into a heap that hadn’t been disturbed in years. I can’t say what frightened me, unless it was a glimpse into an abandoned way of living.

I think of it now because when I light the woodstove, I realize that I am burning time. Handling the split logs, I notice their straightness or their irregularities. But when I feed them into the woodstove, I get one last, end-on glimpse of their tree rings. It’s like feeding chapters of a biological chronicle into the fire one by one. Some of the logs are older than the memory of that Iowa farmhouse.

I have neighbors who make an art of their woodpiles and kindling. I used to think that one day I’d make a round Swedish woodpile, roofed with bark. What I have instead is a large, well-kept pile of things I used to think I’d do one day. It never rots. The chipmunks never nest in it. Now and then, I actually do one of those things I thought I’d do one day. As it happens, sitting by the woodstove, burning time, is one of them.

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The pink, pig-shaped smoker in the back of the Diva Q's black Ford truck indicates the 36-year-old mother of three's dedication to the life of a competitive barbecue chef. "I'm not that delicate, honey, I'm a BBQ chick," says the Diva Q, born Danielle Dimovski, a former human resources executive at Zellers who has reinvented herself as a five-time North American Barbecue Grand Champion. "Next to my children and my supportive husband, at the end of the day, barbecue is what I love." More

When looking at different models of Napoleon stoves , you need to keep in mind each model has its own requirements. First, you will need to have a chimney used with wood burning models or a direct vent with gas models. The next thing you need to do is determine the required amount of clearance and space needed for the stove. You can do this by measuring the area around where you want to place the stove in your home. Should you have limited space, there are models available which only require about eight inches of clearance.

Wood Burning Napoleon Stoves Do Not Need a Traditional Exterior Chimney

Modern wood burning Napoleon stoves, like those available on our website, here at Copperfield Chimney Supply, will require a chimney. Unlike traditional fireplaces of yesterday, today's chimneys can be run through just about any location in the home. You can choose a traditional exterior wall chimney or even place the chimney along an interior wall in your home.

Previously published at highschimney.com

Chimney liners are a vital element in the operation of your fireplace or wood stove. And when the liner has deteriorated, cracked or aged beyond its limit you have a choice of materials for the replacement chimney liner. Clay tile is a traditional choice for the liner, although you can also choose cement or aluminum. Stainless steel chimney liners are a popular and durable choice that delivers various benefits.

Long Lasting

Because stainless steel is corrosion resistant you can expect this liner to last for years virtually problem free. And the complete seal applied to the liner keeps nasty emissions away from your masonry, allowing them to last longer and cutting down on required repairs.

Affordable

A stainless steel chimney liner an affordable alternative to most traditional chimney liners. Easier to install than clay tile liners, the initial installation of stainless steel liners is less expensive. Also, chimney sweeps have an easier time cleaning this type of liner thanks to the round shape. No square corners to catch deposits of creosote makes for a faster, more effective clean. In the end, this should cost you less.

Sealed and Smooth

Aged clay tile chimney liners will crack and split, which allows noxious fumes to leak into your home. With a stainless steel liner you will effectively seal those cracks and drastically reduce the chance of them happening ever again.

Added Insulation

Insulation can be fitted around the stainless steel liner or stuffed between the liner and the chimney walls. This insulation cuts down on creosote build up by keeping the air hot all the way up the chimney. It also helps to reduce the cold air draft that could come down the chimney when the fireplace or wood stove is not in use.

Replacing your existing liner with a new stainless steel chimney liner is a wise choice, offering your home all of these benefits and not to mention, a whole lot more.

Chimney liners are a necessary component of any chimney which can be made out of different types of metal or clay tiles. Should you have an older home with a clay liner it will wear out over time as the tiles crack. You should replace the liner in order to prevent combustible materials from being able to leak out through the cracks. Improperly sealed or cracked liners also increase the likelihood of a fire as escaping heat and other combustible products to get into the living spaces of the home.

Chimney Liners Come in Different Sizes and Types

When replacing chimney liners it is important to get the correct size liner and finding one which is also insulated is important. Insulated liners help keep the chimney cleaner longer as well as increase the draft effect for your fireplace or wood burning stove. You can find both rigid and flexible liners available from Copperfield Chimney Supply .