How to Heat a House With Wood Chips

Wood chips are an alternative to both fossil fuel heating and cord wood stoves. Wood chips are a renewable energy source and modern furnaces reach high levels of efficiency with wood chips, making them a relatively green method of heating your home. Wood chips are also cheap and can even be produced from branches or other wood debris around your property. However, the initial investment in a compatible furnace can more expensive than other heating methods.

Things You'll Need

• Wood chip compatible furnace
• Wood chipper

Instructions

1. Purchase a furnace that is compatible with wood chip fuel. Standard cord wood furnaces are generally not compatible with wood chips. Discuss your requirements with a local dealer to determine the best furnace for your needs. Masonry heaters are one option that will use wood chips and can reach 90 percent burn efficiency, but are also among the most expensive and difficult to install.

2. Create wood chips, using a wood chipper, from wood debris around your property.

3. Contact local tree services companies and ask whether they offer free wood chips. Many do and will deliver them to your driveway.

4. Purchase wood chips from a supplier if necessary.

5. Burn the wood chips in your wood furnace. Depending on your furnace model, you may need to refill the stove as few as one to two times a day.

References

• Energy Savers: Wood and Pellet Heating
• Composter's Resource Guide