Whether you are building a brand new home or looking for ways to renovate in order to save money, there are tons of different ways to be more energy and cost-efficient. Most are environmentally friendly as well. Wood stoves can affordably heat your home, but many people don’t think to utilize them as a way to cook food, either.
There are several benefits to switching to a wood stove in your home. If you are still on the fence, take a look at some of these top benefits for making the transition.
Saves You Money
According to the American Gas Association, the average household in the United States spends around $661 per year on their annual heating bills. However, this report also takes into consideration homes in the south that don’t require extensive heating like homes in northern states do.
In Connecticut, for example, the average household can easily spend around $1,500 per year on their heating bills.
Indoor wood stoves can help to drastically lower the costs of your electric, gas, and heating bills every single month. Since they are versatile and can be used as a means to cook as well, that means less energy is being used with your electric appliances. But we’ll get into that in a minute!
Environmentally Friendly
Choosing to use a wood stove is significantly more environmentally friendly than your traditional central heating system. They produce a lower amount of carbon due to the use of fossil fuels. If you chop down your own trees or purchase them from somewhere locally, your wood stove is considered carbon neutral.
This means the amount of carbon dioxide being sent out into the environment from your wood stove is being absorbed by trees, but not in excess. Trees then put that carbon dioxide back into the environment.
Wood stoves that use local wood or pellets send out roughly the same amount, balancing each other out. You’ll also be using zero electricity since they do not require any electric input to use them.
Indoor Cooking Options
Did you know that an indoor wood stove can also be used for cooking as well? Wood stoves do not need electricity like other cooking devices in your home. This means even if there is a power outage, you can still cook delicious home meals. It’s also a way to alleviate your carbon footprint instead of using a traditional oven or stovetop.
Aesthetically Pleasing
Nothing is cozier than a wood stove in your home. The cast iron or steel stove adds a sense of charm to the room and brings both aesthetic and physical warmth into your home. People love the timeless look of a wood stove and can come in multiple different colors to match the overall aesthetic of the interior design in your home.
There Are Different Types of Wood Stoves
When most people think of a wood stove, they solely think it takes wood to fuel it. What you may not know is that there are actually different types of wood stoves. Gas wood stoves, for instance, run on liquid propane or natural gas. This is a great alternative for someone who may love the aesthetic of the wood stove in their home, but they don’t necessarily want to keep up with the maintenance it may require with the use of wood.
Natural gas is usually the safer and cleaner option as opposed to liquid propane. Natural gas has become significantly more common and there is less of a chance of gas pooling in your home.
If you’re still uncertain whether or not you want to make the switch to using a wood stove for your home, take a look at this extensive wood stove buyer’s guide from eFireplaceStore.com. They offer in-depth information from choosing the right wood stove for your home to regulations within your home as well.
While there may be quite a bit to consider, read through the guide and see if your home is conducive to having a wood stove first.