That old stove’s just burning money

Herald staff

Modern wood and pellet stoves are much more efficient and safer than those manufactured before 1988, said Kirk Newby of the Northwest Hearth Products Association.

Although they are costly, he said the savings in fuel could make up for the purchase of an efficient device.

Here are some things consumers should know:

An efficient wood stove will start in the area of $750, Newby said. You can easily spend $1,200 for a gas stove and $1,400 for a wood-pellet burner.

In many cases, the hearth pad and chimney you have for an old stove can be used with a new one, Newby said. If for some reason the chimney doesn’t fit or you have to start from scratch, you may have to about double the cost of the wood stove to make things work.

Firewood fuel nowadays is expensive. A cord of wood, delivered, can easily run from $170 to $200 in urban areas.

If you’re looking for gas and aren’t sure if there’s a line nearby, telephone Puget Sound Energy at 888-321-7779. In many cases, even if a line doesn’t come into your neighborhood, you might be able to get neighbors together to sign up for gas.

Wood stoves should be cleaned. You can do it yourself with a wire brush down the chimney or call a chimney sweep. Also, clean ashes out of the stove.

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