| When you think of a heating stove, you may | | | | not a mess you want in your home. It does, |
| picture old westerns where everyone is huddled | | | | however, burn cleaner and longer. Many coal |
| around the woodstove. These stoves were used | | | | stoves and pellet stoves have hoppers that you |
| to heat the home, to cook on and to heat up the | | | | can fill up and the fuel is fed in as it is needed. |
| water for baths. Yes - baths in the olden days | | | | This makes for less work. |
| were taken in the main room in front of the | | | | Most of the types of stoves discussed here are |
| woodstove. These stoves were made out of | | | | used for heating the home. Cooking stoves are |
| cast iron. | | | | generally in the kitchen and are not a great |
| Many people still choose to have an old style cast | | | | source of heat. There are faux stoves that are |
| iron stove or a pot bellied stove in their home. | | | | simply purchased for aesthetic value and not for |
| However, there are many types of fuel that can | | | | their heating properties. Some people are even |
| be used today for these stoves. Some of them | | | | creating outdoor living spaces centered around a |
| have been made into gas stoves with a | | | | stove placed on a patio for heat on those chilly |
| woodstove look. Pellet stoves use small pellets of | | | | nights. |
| wood or corn as their fuel. It's much cleaner than | | | | When shopping for a stove take into |
| traditional wood. Many people still opt to go out | | | | consideration how it will be used. Will it be for a |
| and cut down a tree and split wood. It is a matter | | | | heat source or simply for looks? Do you want the |
| of personal preference. | | | | aroma and work of chopping wood or would you |
| Coal stoves are also quickly becoming popular. | | | | rather have a self feeding hopper that comes |
| There are many types of coal that can be used | | | | with coal, wood and corn pellets? Do you have |
| from the very small "pea" coal to larger pieces of | | | | the storage for your fuel of choice. Maybe you |
| coal. Unlike wood, coal is generally too messy to | | | | prefer gas to any of the other choices. These are |
| be stored in the house and needs to be stored in | | | | all important things for you to know before you |
| it's own storage spot like a shed specifically for | | | | go to pick out your new stove. |
| this purpose. Coal can be dirty and messy. That's | | | | |