For Galway and her husband, Steve, that season can easily run from November through April or May depending on how cool or damp the weather is during the heating season. As the seasons change, Galway varies her heating sources.

“The pellet stove is not our only heat source, but it is our primary heat source. Seasonally, we use a combination of heat sources both before and after the real heating season begins and ends,” said the Turner resident.

Galway said that she might run an electric space heater for a while to take the chill off early fall days. She also uses a small propane stove in her three-season, finished porch which also manages to heat the main floor of the house when it’s not winter.

“It uses very little propane to get the job done,” said Galway.

Once the first stretch of really cold weather arrives, Galway closes up her finished porch and the heating load moves into her house where the pellet stove goes into full operation.

“It runs constantly, 24/7, except for cleaning. The only adjustments I make are to the temperature and feed rate, reacting to how cold it is outside,” said Galway.

Three years ago, she replaced her original furnace and installed an oil-fired “cold-start” furnace that runs only to provide heat on demand.

“I’ll run the furnace for about a half hour in the early morning hours during the January, sub-zero cold stretch,” said Galway, noting that it provides just enough heat to start off the day. “After that, the pellet stove does fine during the day to keep the heat at that level.”

For heating water, Galway has a tankless propane heating unit that provides hot water on demand.

“We’ve done everything we can to be oil-independent and to have options so we can heat the house and our water more efficiently,” said Galway, who used a traditional wood burning stove prior to switching to a pellet stove about 10 years ago.

Travis Pontbriand, manager at Petro’s Hardware in Auburn, has seen many homeowners switch to pellet stoves.

“It is clean to burn and there is low ash content and low moisture when compared to burning wood,” said Pontbriand. “You can get a good heat from a good-quality hardwood pellet.”

Pellets come in 50-pound bags that currently sell for $5.99 a bag. Pontbriand said that many homeowners go into the heating season purchasing a ton of pellets or 40 bags.

Depending on the size of the hopper in the pellet stove, up to 20 to 60 pounds of pellets can be placed in the stove at one time.

For traditional wood stoves, Pontbriand sells environmentally friendly fire logs made from high BTU species wood fiber (recycled mill waste) and compressed under extreme pressure to form a very dense and heavy log that is very dry. There is almost no creosote when the logs are burned.

“We like pellets because there is minimal physical work involved,” said Galway. “They are easier to handle than cord wood and it is cleaner because you’re not tracking in bits of wood, sawdust or bark.”

Dead River Company, with offices throughout Maine, is gearing up for the heating season with more heating options than ever for homeowners.

“Before presenting an energy-efficient solution, we first listen to our customers to understand what their needs are; what they’re trying to accomplish and then present solutions,” said Lisa Morrisette, director of marketing. “Someone who has a heating system that’s 15-plus-years old with an efficiency rating of less than 80 percent has different needs than a customer wanting to supplement their central heating system with space heat.”

These days, Dead River is now much more than just an oil company. They offer an expanded energy portfolio that includes heating oil, propane, kerosene and electricity supply for home owners. The choices run the gamut for offering primary and secondary heating sources like those enjoyed by the Galways.

“Whether supplemental heat is provided by a ductless heat pump, fueled by propane or an electric thermal storage unit powered by off-peak electricity, the decision is based upon the consumer,” said Morrisette.

For Galway, even her pet Boston Terrier, Scarlett, has a preference when it comes to staying warm.

“As soon as I start the electric heater, Scarlett makes a beeline for her favorite heat source,” said Galway.

The Galways bought their first Harman Accentra pellet stove from Gary at Fireside Stove Shop about 10 years ago; they just repurchased the same stove, upgraded with enamel finish, but otherwise essentially the same to look at. “There have been a few refinements along the way, but it worked well from the start, so for us it made a lot of sense to repurchase what we knew. Also, the pipe connections were in the same location,” said Galway.