• Should you feel good about wood heating?
• Is wood a safe fuel to use?
• Why is service important?
• How can a chimney sweep help?

Take pride in heating with wood

Did you know that by heating your house with wood or burning wood in your fireplace for enjoyment, you are � whether consciously or not � taking a stand in favor of the environment? It's true, heating your home with wood does not contribute to the greenhouse effect the way fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal do. When oil, gas and coal are burned, carbon that has been buried within the earth for tens of thousands of years is released in the form of carbon dioxide, a byproduct of combustion. The result is an increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, the cause of the greenhouse effect.
     Although carbon makes up about half the weight of firewood and is released as carbon dioxide when the wood is burned, it is part of a natural cycle. A tree absorbs carbon dioxide from the air as it grows and incorporates this carbon in its structure. When the tree falls and decays in the forest, or is processed into firewood and burned, the carbon is released again to the atmosphere. This cycle can be repeated forever without increasing atmospheric carbon. Heating with wood, therefore, does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. Moreover, when wood energy displaces the use of fossil fuels, the result is a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

A serviced system is safer and easier on the environment

Creosote and flyash deposits in the appliance, flue pipe and chimney restrict the flow of exhaust and can make your system burn dirty. If you use an older model stove or furnace or use a traditional wood burning fireplace, you should have a chimney sweep in regularly to clean and service the chimney and appliance. You never want to be surprised by a component failure, or worse, a chimney fire. Even though modern woodburning fireplaces and stoves burn cleaner than older models, they can still leave some deposits in the chimney and their components can wear over time, so full servicing should be done at least once per year as an absolute minimum.

The Chimney Sweep is Your Partner

During the regular service visit, the chimney sweep looks at the whole system, from top to bottom. In the process, the condition of all the various components � from the chimney liner and cap, to the firebrick and door gaskets � is assessed and reported to you. Based on your woodburning system's condition and the deposits found in the chimney, the sweep can advise you on how often servicing is needed. After all, for your woodburning fireplace, stove or furnace to function safely and efficiently, every part must be in good condition. This is one of the key ways that the chimney sweep is your partner in the use of wood energy.