Hearth guides
Hearth guides
Answers to the questions that come before the purchase: sizing, venting, fuel and safety.
How stoves, gas fireplaces and log sets can release carbon monoxide, where CPSC says to install alarms, the symptoms to know, and the habits that prevent it.
ComparisonCatalytic vs Non-Catalytic Wood StovesHow catalytic and non-catalytic wood stoves meet the EPA limit, what each asks of the owner, and which suits steady all-day heat or evening fires.
MaintenanceChimney Cleaning and Creosote: How Often and WhyWhy creosote builds up, how often to inspect and clean a chimney, what a DIY sweep kit can and can't do, and how a chimney cap helps.
AccessoriesDo Heat-Powered Stove Fans Work?How a heat-powered stove fan turns stove-top heat into airflow with no plug, where to place one, the surface temperatures makers list, and what it can and can't do.
RulesEPA Wood Stove Rules: What the 2020 Standard Means for BuyersWhat the EPA wood stove standard limits, what changed in May 2020, how to read grams per hour, and where to find the label on a stove.
ControlsFireplace Remotes and Millivolt Valves ExplainedHow aftermarket fireplace remotes work with millivolt gas valves, the difference between on/off, thermostat and timer remotes, and what to check before buying.
FuelFirewood Seasoning and Moisture: Burning Wood That HeatsWhy wood moisture decides how a stove performs, how long to season firewood, how to store and check it, and how to match log length to your firebox.
Running costHeating Fuel Cost per Million BTU: Wood, Pellets, Gas, Propane, ElectricHow to compare cordwood, pellets, natural gas, propane and electricity on the price of one million BTU of heat delivered, with a worked table and the formula.
Heat outputHow Much Heat Does an Electric Fireplace Give?What a 1,500-watt electric fireplace delivers in BTU, the room it can warm, what it costs per hour at the average US electricity price, and when the flame runs without heat.
FitHow to Measure a Fireplace for an Electric InsertMeasure your firebox opening and depth the way insert makers size them, allow for the trim surround, plan the power cord, and pick the right insert width.
SizingHow to Size a Wood Stove for the Space You HeatSize a wood stove to the space it actually heats, not the whole house: how makers rate heating area, why the numbers differ, and how to read them against your floor plan.
PowerPellet Stoves in a Power Outage: What Keeps RunningWhy most pellet stoves stop in a power cut, what a battery backup does, how gravity-fed designs differ, and how to plan heat for an outage.
VentingStove Pipe Basics: Flue Size, Single-Wall and Double-WallHow stove pipe connects a wood stove to its chimney, why the pipe must match the stove's flue collar, single-wall vs double-wall pipe, and where the manual decides.
ComparisonVent-Free vs Direct-Vent Gas Stoves and FireplacesHow vent-free and direct-vent gas stoves differ in venting, room-air use, efficiency, sizing and local codes, and which suits your room.
ComparisonVented vs Vent-Free Gas Logs: Flame, Heat and the DamperHow vented and vent-free gas log sets differ in flame, heat output, damper use and room requirements, and how to match a set to your fireplace.
ComparisonWood Stove vs Pellet Stove: Which Fits Your House?Wood and pellet stoves compared on what matters at home: fuel handling, electricity, venting, burn time and cost per million BTU of heat.
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