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I work hard with each customer to allow them to understand how to but to heat with wood responsibly.  The responsible use of wood begins with a code-compliant installation, which is where a WETT Inspection comes in – ensure you ask for a Level 2 inspection.  Next you need a stove which is capable of performing advanced combustion of wood and finally you need to understand how to use it properly.

Some will complain about wood, and it is true that wood is not a perfect fuel, but really is there any perfect fuel available today?

In our area of North Simcoe (Midland, Penetanguishene and area) wood is often times a very accessible and affordable renewable energy resource for home heating.  The use of wood can help us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as the net carbon dioxide emissions are far below those of all other fuels.

It is true that some will argue otherwise, however science has proven that if one truly understands and calculates net carbon accurately, wood is by far the lowest contributor to green house gases if burned properly.

Wood is also a fuel that does not need energy from other sources, such as electricity, to provide the much needed heat in power outages.  The burning of wood also can strengthens the rural and small town economies, as wood that is cut and used locally means money does not leave the community.

But wood heating is not for everyone, it is as much a lifestyle choice as it is a heating fuel option.

For green house gas or environmental emissions, often times the old style wood heating systems with visible, smelly smoke from chimneys are quoted as examples.  The advanced technology stoves made today which are certified as low emission can burn with no visible smoke and have ninety per cent less pollution than appliances of only thirty years ago.

When the various energy sources are assessed to determine their environmental impacts, the entire fuel cycle must be considered. There are huge and serious environmental impacts of fuel oil and natural gas which are largely ignored.  This is due in part because a lot of these additional greenhouse gasses are produced earlier in the chain of production and during production, refining and transportation of the fuel.  Furthermore any greenhouse gasses emitted by the home burning oil or natural gas are easy to ignore as they are not visible.  Some will argue wood has a higher CO² emission than these other fuels, and simply choose to ignore the downstream emissions from production, refining or transportation for often times political reasons.

Realistically though wood is not a good fit for all, and although I have seen in larger multi-family units, it really is not a great fit in those situations.   I would not recommend in the downtown core of a large city. The best place for wood burning is in small towns or rural areas, where the cost of firewood and population density are lower.

Families who use wood to heat their homes in a responsible manner should be recognized for their contribution to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a sustainable energy future.

Getting things in your chimney can be nasty.  Can cause your chimney to malfunction, allow odors into your home or even nasty fly and debris. Most chimney owners are prone to having some sort of blockage at one time or another.

These blockages can be leaves and twigs that end up inside your chimney, often times with or without a cap.  This accumulation can eventually create a blockage large enough to cause back-drafting into the home.  Yes a regular annual cleaning can prevent this!

There may also be raccoons, birds, bees or even snakes that make a home in your chimney.  These can be destructive and cause considerable cost.  It is not wise to remove the wildlife yourself, and is even hazardous for chimney sweeps.

At least once each year you should have your chimney inspected and if necessary cleaned.  While you may think it is good to do your self and save a few dollars, if you had a fire the evidence of it being cleaned and inspected by a professional may save you a considerable amount of grief.

The Ontario Fire Code says annually, however if you use your stove on regular basis it may need to be done more frequently.  If you are a DYI and can do the job yourself, maybe sweep as necessary throughout the year yourself and get at least one good annual sweep and inspection.  This will save you some money and yet provide you the protection you deserve.

When is the best time to have the chimney checked?  Well if you haven’t had it done this year, then do it now!   For a routine inspection and cleaning the early spring is good.  In fact the best time is after the heating season is over, cleaning the chimney in the sprig is a good habit and leaves the chimney free of corrosive and foul smelling soot deposits during the hot, humid summer months.  Furthermore in the fall, you are ready for the cold weather.

Many do not actually know that wood burning, if done properly, is actually environmentally friendly.

The only real emission from burning wood is carbon, which is the same amount released if the tree were to fall and decay naturally in the forest.  If trees that fallen down, or would soon fall down are harvested; and then used as fire wood to heat a home the amount of carbon in the air is equal.

There is however a difference in the speed in which this carbon is released into the atmosphere.  There also is a very significant difference in the amount of CO² produced by wet or green wood, so ensure your wood is properly seasoned and dry.  I have a moisture meter which I use for testing of wood dryness when at customers house and helping to understand problems with burning of woodstove.

Note that a poorly burning stove can release huge amounts of particulate matter into the air, which can be harmful if inhaled in large amount, and also can contribute significantly to the green house gases in the environment.  It is important your stove is burning properly and at its maximum efficiency.