Efficient Home Heating | WoodHeatStoves.com

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We have covered this topic quite a bit and regularly discuss the function and efficiency of older non-EPA wood stoves vs. newer EPA certified models. A lot customers purchase parts for their old stoves from us and are surprised at high costs or disappointed to find parts are no longer made. Although your old wood stove is in tact, burning wood and heating your home, the stove lacks efficiency and is costing you much more in fuel than a new stove would; while also contributing to air pollution.
Since 1988 the EPA has required newly built stoves to meet emissions guidelines of 4.1 grams/hour of particle matter for a catalytic stove or 7.5 grams/hour for a non-catalytic stove. If your stove was made prior to 1988, these standards provided by the Clean Air Act are not being met. If you are not worried about the environmental effects of extra smoke or what some may perceive as government bureaucracy, how about your own pocketbook? The costs of fuel needed to keep your home heated with a non-certified stove will add up tremendously in just one season!

photo from www.epa.gov

A lot of folks are taking this issue seriously at the community, personal and government levels. Check out the Wood Stove Decathlon, scheduled for November 15th, that is taking place at the National Mall in Washington DC! We were excited to find this article and learn that 14 teams are competing for the most innovative stove design!

from Popular Mechanics, Alliance for Green Heat & Wood Stove Design Challenge

The upcoming event will include international competitors and is driven mainly by the need for less particulates in the atmosphere and a desire to reduce levels of smoke. Alliance for Green Heat and Popular Mechanics have come together and offered “The People’s Choice Awards for the Wood Stove Design Challenge”. The finalists are listed by Popular Mechanics, you can cast your vote HERE. As long as your old stove lasts and parts are still available, we can help with door gaskets, replacement glass, sometimes even the doors themselves! But as the issue comes to the forefront of our industry, we should all take some time to calculate the cost of keeping these units running vs. starting fresh with a newly designed, more efficient and innovative stove to heat our homes.

We’re Spring Cleaning! Get incredible discounts on Hearthstone Wood and Gas Stoves

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Have you cleaned out your garage, shed or closet recently? Neither have I. We need to do some Spring cleaning in our warehouse and showroom, though, because we’re running out of room! Our space crisis can turn into your bargain of the year, because we’ve heavily discounted many beautiful, efficient and discontinued Hearthstone wood and gas stoves for quick sale. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your ugly, aging wood stove or adding an elegant gas stove to warm your bedroom, this is the time. You can save hundreds of dollars and have peace of mind all Summer knowing you’re prepared for next Winter.

Since it’s Mother’s Day, why not treat your Mom to a new gas stove for her living or bedroom. It’s perfect for her! No heavy lifting required, it operates effortlessly with a wall thermostat or remote control thermostat. She’ll really appreciate the cozy warmth and the dancing yellow flames. Show your Mom how much you love her with a gift of warmth.

Our Hearthstone gas stoves on sale include discontinued and showroom models at tremendous savings.

Hearthstone Tucson Gas Stove Direct Vent 8701
Hearthstone Tucson Gas Stove Direct Vent 8701Matt Black cast with Aztec Green Marble

The Tucson is a powerful gas heater, hard working enough to keep smaller spaces wonderfully warm. The Tucson’s stone and cast iron design helps distribute heat quickly and evenly, while its cast iron double heat exchanger helps maximize heating efficiency. And, with an adjustable flame control, the Tucson lets you control the amount of heat you want… either for greater warmth, or just the romantic ambiance of gentle flames. It’s also among our most versatile gas-fired stoves, available in three different venting configurations to make installation simple and convenient.

Hearthstone Stowe Gas Stove 8321
1 only showroom display model- Black enamel

Hearthstone Stowe Gas Stove 8321In fine cast iron, beautiful and efficient, the Stowe Direct-Vent gas-fired stove is an asset to any home. The Stowe is perfect for heating a small to mid-size home, or simply to provide the ambiance of a beautiful, flickering fire when the heat is dialed down. The Stowe features a large window, realistic log presentation and decorator embossed details, and can be vented either through your roof or through an exterior wall. Its variable flame height adjuster lets you control the heat’s intensity from high down to gentle, slow sustained heat.

Hearthstone Champlain Gas Stove 8301-Brown enamel showroom model
Hearthstone Champlain Gas Stove 8301-Black Matte showroom model

Hearthstone Champlain Gas Stove 8301Both classic and functional, the Champlain cast-iron, direct-vent, gas-fired stove is as striking as it is hard-working. One of our larger cast iron stoves, the Champlain has a double heat exchange system to make it extra efficient. An included wall thermostat lets you maintain heat at a pre-set comfort level. An optional remote control allows you to control the stove without having to get up from your comfy spot in the room. And as with all HearthStone gas stoves, the variable flame height adjuster lets you control the rate of heat output.

Hearthstone Maidstone Gas Insert-showroom display

Hearthstone Maidstone Gas Insert-showroom displayImagine your fireplace – the focal point of any room, where friends and family just naturally gather around – made even more efficient by adding a Maidstone Direct-Vent insert. Gas-fired and designed to fit perfectly into your fireplace, the Maidstone features a double heat exchanger that allows less heat up the chimney, more into your home. Adjust the flame height upwards, and the Maidstone will keep you warm and comfortable. Or, adjust it down – and enjoy a gentle warmth along with a beautiful flame display.

We have two Hearthstone cast iron wood stoves on sale, both discounted hundreds of dollars. Could one of these be the next proud addition to your home?

Shelburne Wood Stove Blue/black enamel 8370

Shelburne Wood Stove Blue/black enamelEPA Rating: 2.1 grams per hour With classic good looks in embossed cast iron, large heating capacity and mid-size dimensions – the Shelburne is remarkably functional, beautiful and adaptable to a variety of spaces. Perfect for a mid-size home, the Shelburne wood stove can warm large areas in your home when fully loaded. An over-sized, self-cleaning window allows for easy loading and great fire viewing.

Bennington Wood Stove Blue Black enamel 8350

Bennington Wood Stove Blue Black enamelA large cast iron wood stove, the Bennington generates an impressive 70,000 BTUs when fully loaded, able to heat areas of up to 2,200 square feet. With an exclusive double-wall cast iron frame and built-in rear heat shield, the Bennington’s huge firebox actually serves as a convection chamber that allows air to circulate within, and then return, thoroughly warmed, into the room. The Bennington’s non-catalytic combustion system creates more heat with less wood. With both front and side doors, loading the Bennington is simple. A large, self-cleaning window means you can relax and enjoy the flames for hours.

Make one of these stoves a dazzling new addition to your home, or a Mother’s Day present she’ll never forget. Take advantage of our Spring cleaning project while these bargains are still available. Like a blooming rose, they won’t last forever.

Choosing your new Wood, Gas or Pellet stove and comparative costs of heating

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When choosing your new Wood, Gas or Pellet stove and you will want to know the comparative costs of heating.
Click here to go to this interactive chart and find out how the cost of heating with different fuels compares in your home. 

Here is a comparison of fuel costs at our home town, Nevada City, based on price quotes in May, 2013.

 

 

It’s Cinco de Mayo! That means tacos, margarita’s and end of season stove and service bargains!

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Happy Cinco de Mayo! Arriba!!! Arriba!!! I get carried away. It’s May, it’s hot and Summer has arrived early in Nevada City. This time of year our thoughts turn to picnics, trips to the river, planting in the garden and taking a nap in the hammock under a shady tree. But don’t completely forget about Winter because, to quote Arnold, “I’ll be baauuk!” Now is the time to think about preparing your house to be warm and cozy when the cold rain and snow begins to fall again. Some of the best deals of the entire year are available now. Don’t wait till August or September because they’ll be gone.

Avalon Pendleton

Avalon Pendleton

We were just out at the Grass Valley Union’s Home and Garden Show last weekend where we talked to many savy, forward thinking people about our end of the season stove bargains and service special savings. Many took advantage of the chance to save money during our off season and you should too! Don’t be left out in the cold. Some examples are up to 25% savings on Avalon clearance wood stoves and fireplace inserts, Avalon pellet stoves, and Avalon gas inserts and fireplaces.

Hearthstone Manchester

Hearthstone Manchester

We also have the beautiful Hearthstone soapstone wood stoves or Hearthstone cast iron wood stoves on sale, including the new Hearthstone Marchester. (Hearthstone is for local customers only or those who don’t have local dealers within 50 miles prepared to serve them)

On top of the special stove pricing discounts, you can take a 10% credit on your Federal Taxes through 2013. Just buy a new efficient Wood or Pellet Stove and receive a 10% Tax Credit up to $300. on qualifying models. A $2000 stove saves you $200, so you get a new $2000 efficient heater For $1800. This is in addition to our special end of season pricing and reduced off season installation rates. Read about the Federal Wood/Pellet Stove Tax Credit for all the details.

Do you have a stove now but just need it serviced for the Winter? Take advantage of our reduced Service and Installation Special rates through August 31st. Get your wood stove chimney swept, your pellet stove cleaned and tuned or your gas stove annual service at reduced service rates so you’ll be ready to fire it up and go next Fall.Just think of this as a sale on peace of mind.

We make it easy and economical to prepare for next Winter. Just email us at info@woodheatstoves.com or call us at 530-265-8618 to get started.

Annual Service for your Gas Stove – Wood Heat Stoves & Solar

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After spending a weekend at The Union’s 28th Annual Home and Garden Show, it became apparent that many who own gas stoves are skipping their annual service call. We in fact ran into some customers from the past who purchased their gas stove years ago and admitted to never having scheduled maintenance. Skipping this crucial maintenance step can keep you from having heat when you need it most. Stoves and inserts using natural gas or propane should be checked annually by a licensed stove technician for proper function. Any time your burner does not respond to the thermostat is an early warning that soon the burner will fail completely. During your service call a trained technician will confirm that the pilot assembly is creating enough electricity to keep both the pilot lit and the thermostat working. A technician will also see that logs and ember beds are properly positioned for a proper clean burn. Your stove is checked for carbon build-up and chemical deposits as well which are inevitable over time and can result in a snowballing effect of soot build up. Wood Heat Stoves & Solar serves Nevada City and the immediate surrounding area. Our trained technician can annually check your gas stove or insert as described in the owner/installation manual*. A typical annual gas service call will cost around $100 an hour, one hour should be sufficient for a “tune up” as long as no repairs or parts are required.
Wood Heat Stoves & Solar, Inc. of Nevada City, California

*Warning! Gas stoves are very dangerous appliances and faulty repairs can easily lead to explosions causing damages and death. Hire local licensed contractors specializing in gas appliance repairs from your local stove dealer’s staff, or a heating and air conditioning service company for efficient and safe repairs. Wood Heat Stoves & Solar, www.WoodHeatStoves.com and staff members provide these tips for informative purposes and cannot be liable for damages or injuries resulting from the use of information provided in this article. Hire a trained and licensed stove technician to ensure your own safety and the life of your gas, wood or pellet stove.

Fireplace and Stove Glass Safety video

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Fireplace and Stove Glass Safety video

Hot Glass Warning Icon

Each year, millions of people enjoy the warmth, comfort and utility of modern fireplaces. Today, many gas fireplaces, stoves and inserts have glass fronts to enhance the beauty of the fire. While gas fireplaces, stoves and inserts are a great asset to any home, glass fronts can become extremely hot during and even long after operation. Therefore, it’s important to remember, touching the hot glass front can lead to serious, irreversible burns. Below is information that will allow you to continue to enjoy the many benefits of your gas fireplace, stove or insert while providing an added level of safety against burns.

Elegant Hearthstone Maidstone Brown Enamel Soapstone gas insert end of season clearance!

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March Madness continues with special end of season pricing on a one of a kind Hearthstone Maidstone Gas Insert. The Hearthstone Maidstone Gas Insert comes with Large Brown Enamel panels, the Brown Enamel Facade, and the last of the now unavailable Brown Granite Soapstone. Turn that ugly old black inefficient fireplace into a convenient and efficient gas heater while adding an elegant piece of furniture to your room that your family will naturally gather around.

Hearthstone Maidstone gas insert

Hearthstone Maidstone gas insert

The Hearthstone Maidstone Gas Insert is a Certified room heater which means it’s designed to be efficient as a room heater with less heat lost up the chimney resulting in more usable heat for less money. The Maidstone uses a Millivolt ignition system so it can operate without electricity and be an excellent source of heat during power outages.

The Hearthstone Maidstone Gas Insert can turn off and on automatically from a Wall Thermostat, maintaining the home at a preset comfort level. An optional programmable thermostat is also available.

The Hearthstone Maidstone Gas Insert includes a Two-speed blower, 
moving heated air throughout the home for more uniform temperature. The Thermostat monitors stove body temperatures and automatically turns the fan on or off. You set the speed of the fan.

The Hearthstone Maidstone Gas Insert heats up to Up to 1,500 sq. ft. with a Burn Rate Range of 13,000 – 32,000 BTUs/hr. Steady State Efficiency is 75– 87% with an EnerGuide Rating of 67.71%., This means you will be saving most of the potential heat from the gas into your home rather than up the chimney. With the required fireplace dimensions below, it will fit most fireplaces.

Minimum fireplace opening
Width 28-1/2″
Height 20″
Depth 16-1/2″

The Hearthstone Maidstone Gas Insert combines beauty and efficiency in an affordable gas fireplace insert. The classic design with the now unavailable to order Brown Granite Soapstone makes this a stove simply too good to pass up. Contact us at info@woodheatstoves.com to reserve it.

March Madness! Avalon Newport pellet stoves at 20% off

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Have you been watching the NCAA Basketball Tournament, also know as March Madness? It’s fun because sometimes you see teams you’ve never heard of before over-achieving and beating the big boys. Most of the time the powerhouses come out on top, though once in a while they need to dig deep with a special combination of competence, experience and timing to win. That’s much like our Avalon Newport pellet stoves right now. They have that special combination of competence, experience and now, timing. Avalon pellet stoves have gained a reputation in the industry as well engineered, trouble free pellet stoves: competence. Avalon pellet stoves are made by Travis Industries, which started making stoves in 1988; experience. Now this pellet stove powerhouse is on sale at clearance pricing of 20% off; timing. That’s a winning combination.

Avalon NEWPORT BAY Pellet Stove Insert w/gold grill & door

Avalon NEWPORT BAY Pellet Stove Insert w/gold grill & door

We only have one of these units left and it can come as either the Avalon NEWPORT Freestanding Pellet Stove or the Avalon NEWPORT BAY Pellet Stove Insert w/gold grill & door, depending on your needs.

Avalon NEWPORT Freestanding Pellet Stove

Avalon NEWPORT Freestanding Pellet Stove

 

 

 

 

12 Reasons to buy a Newport
•No Spilled Fuel. Entire stove top lifts up to allow easy access and pellet loading.
•Huge Pellet Capacity. Hopper holds 55lbs. of pellets. There’s no waiting for fuel to run out before reloading
•Heavy-Duty Auger. Precision auger feeds pellet fuel uniformly to the firepot, based on the automatic or manual feed rate setting
•Two-Stage heat Exchanger. Combination of 8 heat exchange tubes and rear heat exchange plenum gains maximum heat transfer from the stove to your home.
•Air Tube Scraper. Hidden under the loading door, this easy-to-use, pull rod removes ash from the air exchange tubes
•Super-Quiet Combustion Blower. Variable speed control allows you to turn the blower noise down in conjunction with the feed rate. >Auger Motor. A heavy-duty gear motor with metal gears, low r.p.m. and high torque, ensures long life and reliability
•Variable Speed Convection Blower. This quiet blower draws cool room air around the firebox, and two-stage heat exchanger to deliver heated air to your room
•Firepot & Standard Igniter. Stainless steel firepot and reliable ignition system combine to make firestarting and pellet burning as easy as the flip of a switch
•Ash Dump. Easy to access and operate, the ash drop makes ash clean-up in the firebox a simple mess free operation
•Huge Ash Pan. This is an ashpan! Designed for maximum capacity and ease of removal
•State-of-the-Art Circuit Board Operation. Operate your pellet stove manually or automatically with the use of a wall thermostat for the ultimate in hands free operation

March Madness is in the air. Looks like we’ve caught it too! Our March Madness could lead to one of the best descisions you’ve made this year, one that will keep you and your family warm and cozy next year.

 

Woodburning 101 | Don’t forget to clean the screen

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Chimney cleaningSound familiar? My stove burned great after the chimney was swept but gradually it got “sluggish”. The wood didn’t start as quickly, it wouldn’t burn as hot as it used to and smoke started coming out the door when you first started a fire or opened it to load more wood. These are all classic signs of a plugged chimney cap. It doesn’t have to be completely blocked to cause these symptoms, just restricted enough by a build up of creosote, a by-product of the un-burned gases and moisture driven out of the wood during the burning process. We’ve received a string of phone calls lately from people with these symptoms and 99% of the time a plugged chimney cap is the cause. There could be other issues such as a down-draft problem or wet wood, but in the vast majority of cases it’s the spark arrestor screen in the cap that’s the culprit.

What causes the cap to become blocked by creosote? Burning wet wood, either not seasoned long enough or not stored properly so it becomes wet from rain or snow, is one factor. Wood should, at the very least, be under 20% moisture content to burn properly. It takes energy to evaporate the moisture out of the wood and carry it up the chimney. This is energy that would otherwise go towards creating heat, so wet wood may burn but it won’t give you the heat it should. The combination of moisture and un-burned gasses then goes up and condenses on the cooler chimney walls and screen in the cap, building up a layer of creosote.

Chimney brushHow often should you expect to have to clean your chimney and spark arrestor screen? The answer is “that depends”. The general rule of thumb is that you should have your chimney swept at least once a year. This can vary greatly, however, depending on the moisture content of your wood and how you burn your stove. If you load your stove with wood and then close it down to a low burn constantly you can expect to have to clean your chimney and cap much more often than if you burn your stove hot on a regular basis with the air control open for about 20 minutes. Just make sure your chimney is clean beforehand if you haven’t been doing this. You may need to clean your screen much more often than you need to clean the whole chimney. In some cases you may be able to go a year between cleanings, in others it can become plugged in as little as a week. It all depends on the condition of your wood and your burning habits.

You can clean the chimney and screen yourself! If you’re comfortable getting up on your roof a handheld wire brush works well for the screen. For the whole chimney, we carry a full line of chimney cleaning brushes and rods. We also do chimney sweeps in our local area around Grass Valley and Nevada City, CA. Just call our offices M-F 9-5 or Sat 10-2 to schedule a complete chimney and stove cleaning-530-265-8618.

 

 

Wood Heat Stoves and Solar | Introducing the new Hearthstone Castleton Soapstone Wood Stove!

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The Renewable Energy Tax Credit has been reinstated for 2013! Right on the heels of this announcement Hearthstone brings exciting changes to their stove lineup. One of these surprises is a brand new soapstone model, the Castleton 8030 Soapstone Woodstove. This mid-size soapstone model is designed to bridge the gap between larger Hearthstone models such as the Heritage Soapstone Wood Stove and smaller units like the Tribute Soapstone Wood Stove. To kick off the celebration of this brand new Hearthstone stove model, a SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY SALE PRICE IS OFFERED THROUGH MAY 31, 2013. Visit the HEARTHSTONE Castleton 8030 Soapstone Woodstove web page at www.WoodHeatStoves.com for details.

Hearthstone Castleton 8030 Soapstone Woodstove

Hearthstone Castleton 8030 Soapstone Woodstove

With 45,000 BTU’s, this stove is designed to heat up to 1500 sq. ft. depending on climate and other factors. This firebox fits 18″ logs and uses economical 6″ wood stove chimney pipe. The Hearthstone Castleton wood stove is certified for ember floor protection only, which saves you money! No additional R-value hearth designs required.

The Castleton wood stove is mobile home certified, with an optional outside air kit available. Other options include a blower kit, rear heat shield and spark screen. Hearthstone Castleton Stove Specifications-

Hearthstone Castleton 8030 Soapstone Woodstove

Hearthstone Castleton 8030 Soapstone Woodstove

Features:
•  Single lever air control
•  Decorative interior cast panels
•  Decorative side emblems
•  Escalera ready - for easy installation.
•  Safety label pocket
•  Replaceable door latch
•  Equinox inspired hinges
•  Tall feet – improved airflow, cleaning, and floor protection requirements.

Specifications:

•  Size: 45,000 BTUs
•  Heats up to: 1500 sq. ft.
•  Emissions: 2.71 grams per hour
•  Maximum log length: 18+”
•  Flue Exit: Top and Rear, 6”
•  Mobile home certified
•  Floor Protection: Ember Protection Only
•  Finishes: Matte Black/Brown Enamel

Optional Accessories:
•  Outside air kit
•  Blower kit
•  Rear heat shield kit
•  Spark screenHearthstone Castleton 8030 Soapstone Woodstove dimensions

Hearthstone is a protected dealer network. Wood Heat Stoves and Solar serves Nevada City, California and the surrounding area. To check and see if we are your Hearthstone dealer visit the Hearthstone “dealer locator“. For stove customers without a local dealer, call toll free 1-877-265-8618 or email us at info@woodheatstoves.com