Simply stated, wood is the least expensive and most reliable way to heat your home. In a clean-burning, high efficiency stove, this fuel is environmentally sound. Wood is a renewable fuel, and it's consumption in highly efficient stoves does not lead to the buildup of greenhouse gases or global warming. Come ice, snow, wind, power outage, flood or whatever, a wood stove will heat, provided you have some dry wood to burn and a chimney that will draw.

Wood does involve some work, as the fuel must be obtained, stacked, seasoned and the stove must be fed. In addition, the stove will need regular tending. Many people enjoy this little bit of work and enjoy providing one of life's necessities for themselves.Some do not. In thinking about wood heat, it is important to recognize the incredible improvements in wood stoves over the past years. It is also important to think through how and who is going to do the work involved.