This winter, with the rising natural gas costs and concerns about increased heat bills, more people are taking a new look at wood heat. This standard way to warm our homes just a few generations ago is not just for small rustic cabins or rural farmhouses. Newly constructed homes can also be outfitted for wood heat, so families in the city or sub-divisions can also enjoy the warmth of wood.

When Susan Siemers of Walkerton built her home in the summer of 2002, she had some definite ideas about the heating system. "I heat my home - more than 2,800-square feet - with two wood stoves. I do have an electric heat pump for back up heat but it doesn't kick on very often; and when it does, I see dollars floating through the air," she said. "I circulate the heat with ceiling fans and I have old-fashioned floor registers or through-vents to let the heat rise to the upper level."

Mary Ann Herendeen of Hearth and Home Design Center explained, "Wood burning stoves are made of three materials: cast iron, steel or soap stone. The cast iron stoves are more decorative and tend to hold the heat well. They heat up quickly and release that heat into the air quicker."

"The soapstone stoves also look nice but they are not as responsive. If you were to put a fire in at night, it may not be hot until morning. Once it heats up, though, it radiates the heat for a long time," she continued. "Steel stoves are usually the least expensive and use fire brick to hold the heat."

Siemers' home has both a soapstone and a cast iron stove. "I like them both but for different reasons," she said. "The cast iron stove is a good one that throws an unbelievable amount of heat. When I build a fire, I have heat immediately. That's not the case with my soapstone stove. But after it gets warmed up, it gives a nice, steady heat."

Adding a wood burning stove to your home is typically a doable project. Boyd Harwood of Rose Brick and Materials explained, "As long as there is a way to run a chimney or stove pipe to the outside, you can put in a wood stove. It really isn't that difficult a do-it-yourself project."

Harwood added, "We have noticed a number of customers who are installing wood burning stoves to offset rising heat costs. As natural gas prices continue to go up, wood heat is a more affordable option for many people."

"One thing to consider in wood burning stoves is the catalytic stoves," Herendeen said. "Like a catalytic converter in your car, this device takes the gases that are going out your chimney and burns them a second time. It is built right into the stove and makes it burn much more efficiently. There is no comparison with these stoves on the market today and the old stoves. Wood burning stoves are always being redesigned and improved upon."

If you're lucky enough to already have a fireplace in your home, there are ways to increase its efficiency. Harwood noted, "Most fireplaces today are gas fireplaces. One way to make them more efficient is to put in an insert. You can get either a gas or a wood burning insert. Most are cast iron with blowers or fans to push the heat into the room instead of allowing it to go up the chimney. Wood burning inserts are definitely on the rise for this coming winter."

Herendeen added, "You can't put in a blower or a fan unless there is room to house the mechanics. Homeowners can add an air-tight wood insert that requires only a small flue and line chimney. Gas inserts require two flues to bring fresh air in and exhaust air out. Either way, it is possible to build a fireplace in an existing home."

"Although most fireplaces are built when the home is under construction," Harwood continued, "as long as there is a way to run a chimney out of the house, you should be able to have a fireplace installed."

"If you use face stone or face brick, you can face a fireplace in a normal house without having to worry about extra footings. You don't have to worry about the extra weight of full stone or brick," Herendeen explained.

Oftentimes, people with older, existing homes feel that their fireplaces are too old and out-of-date to be serviceable. This is not true. A qualified, reputable fireplace technician can help you update your fireplace and chimney to increase its efficiency.

With an updated interior, the fireplace should also be given an updated face. Herendeen said, "Fireplace surrounds can be painted, stained or replaced to change the look. We are seeing cherry, maple and oak surrounds as popular now. Mantels and shelves can be switched out, too, to update the look of the fireplace."

"Depending on what you have, it may be easier than you think to remodel your fireplace," Harwood added. "You can sometimes go right over the existing face with new brick or stone. There are times, though, when you really should rip off the old face."

He continued, "Both stone and brick fireplaces are popular now. I have seen a lot of stone, both artificial and natural stone. Artificial stone is a man-made cement product that is considerably less expensive than natural stone."

If you plan to heat your home with wood this winter, use caution. Have your chimney cleaned and inspected annually and be sure that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order with fresh batteries.

Herendeen concluded, "Be sure you know how to burn your fireplace or wood burning stove properly for maximum value."