How to Test Woodburners From Vermont Casting
With energy costs on the rise and frigid winters sweeping North America, some consumers are turning to wood-burning stoves as a cost-effective alternative to central heating. By practicing zone heating, householders can heat one room or area without the expense of heating unused portions of the home. With many wood-burning stove companies offering excellent models that use advanced technology and meet environmental regulations to produce cleaner heat, stoves may offer a budget-friendly option to families willing to stock a wood pile. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- House specs (such as square footage information)
- Firewood supplier
- Building code information
- Internet access
Instructions
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Consult consumer and expert reviews online. These resources will indicate strengths, weaknesses, points of concern that you may not have considered and potential problem areas. If others before you have tested Vermont Casting wood burning stoves --- and they have --- review their accumulated data and wisdom first.
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Match variables when comparing Vermont Casting wood-burning stoves to others. Measure the heating capacity of similar stoves for houses with identical (or close) square footage, for instance. Test or compare the effectiveness of the wood burners in similar climates, such as regions that average a minimum annual snow fall and winter temperature.
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Consider your particular household needs when testing and comparing Vermont Casting wood burners. Take into consideration the number of occupants of your house, the layout of your house (one- or two-story), its age as relates to potential drafts that exist in your structure and your regional climate. Also calculate the cost not only of the stove, but also of firewood. These factors are among the most critical for potential users, because Vermont Casting wood-burning stoves are already lab-tested and meet industry standards.
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Check your local air pollution regulations, building codes and inspection requirements before installing a wood-burning stove to test. Some communities require wood-burning stoves to meet specific EPA standards.
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Refer to owners manuals for specific steps to test individual functions on a wood-burning stove. Call your supplier if your wood-burning stove appears to be malfunctioning. An annual cleaning is required to remove creosote.
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Tips & Warnings
Never leave a fire unattended.
Clean your wood stove annually.
Train children about how to live safely in an environment with a wood-burning stove.
Regularly check smoke alarm batteries and keep fire extinguishers up-to-date.
Wear gloves when collecting firewood from a wood pile to minimize risk of spider bite.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit wood burning stove image by Paula Gent from Fotolia.com
