The need for supplemental heating solutions has become more prevalent in recent years, primarily due to the rising and unstable costs of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. Although natural gas remains a relatively inexpensive way to supplement the heating expense in our homes or businesses, Maine continues to painstakingly limit accessibility to natural gas with availability to only small pockets of communities.

New England, and Maine in particular, remain the last stronghold in the United States to primarily use expensive and price-volatile oil and propane gas to heat their homes and businesses. Hence, Maine’s rich history of using wood as an alternative to supplement the heating needs of our homes.

Wood and pellet stoves or inserts are the most economical way to reduce our dependency on expensive oil and propane. The placement of these “zone” heaters is crucial as they are meant to heat those areas of the home where we live the most.

The technology built into these heating appliances has drastically increased the efficiency and heat output, providing longer and cleaner burn periods. These appliances will heat the zones where you live the most, thereby preventing the furnace thermostat for that zone from turning on. Depending on how many zones there are in your home, the savings could be anywhere from 30 to 50 percent on oil and propane in the first year.

The real key to these heating appliances working to their maximum efficiencies is proper installation, maintenance and good fuel. Anytime a homeowner is installing a fire-burning appliance in their home, it should be installed by a qualified, factory-trained, nationally certified or licensed installer. This will ensure your heating appliance is installed correctly and meets all national, state and local fire codes.

A real comfort factor for a homeowner is to find a dealer that not only installs, but provides maintenance as well. Remember, fire-producing appliances are being installed in your home so don’t be afraid to ask for credentials. Think safety first.

Good fuel is also critical to the heath and proper operation of your heating appliance. Many times we get hung up on terms like “dry,” “seasoned” referring to wood, or “low ash” and “super-premium” referring to pellet.

The new wood stove technology is designed to keep the heat in and reduce emissions, thereby reducing stack temperatures. This is why burning dry, seasoned wood is crucial. These are not our grandfathers’ stoves and burning wood with high moisture content will yield little heat and create copious amounts of creosote, which can result in a chimney fire.

Storing your wood outdoors in Maine, even if it is split and stacked under the porch, will still result in a higher moisture content. If you are purchasing your wood, ask the proper questions, such as when was it cut and split?

Wood burners should be one season ahead for their heating needs. So if you burn three cords of wood in a season, you should have six cords on the premises, with three cords drying for the next season, preferably indoors and out of the elements.

Pellet stove technology has advanced dramatically in the last few years. These appliances require air movement within the burn chamber in order to properly operate the stove. Blockage to the movement of air is usually a result of improper maintenance or low-quality fuel.

All pellet stoves require frequent maintenance. The frequency of cleanings depends solely on the quality of the fuel.

Since there is no regulation for manufacturers of pellets to disclose the true ash, moisture or fines content, consumers should rely on organizations such as the Pellet Fuels Institute. This is an organization that sets standards for manufacturers of pellet fuels to disclose ingredients, ash and moisture content.

Homeowners should look up www.pelletheat.com and search for the fuel that will best serve their needs. Knowing what is being burned in your pellet stove is a key factor to the efficiency and maintenance of the appliance.

At Buy The Fire we strive to promote and market American-manufactured appliances. Purchasing American-manufactured stoves, inserts and fireplaces helps our local economy, protects jobs and supports American workers and their families.

For more information, contact Buy The Fire, 712 Main Street, Oxford; phone 207-539-9930; email info@buythefire.com; or visit www.buythefire.com.