According to Vermont Department of Public Service figures, roughly a quarter of all Vermont homes burn wood as either their primary or supplemental source of heat. That's a lot of firewood. Some homes may use a traditional fireplace, or any of a number of types of wood burning central heating systems, but the lion's share of that wood is burned in woodstoves. The lure of the woodstove goes back to the hearth as the focal point of a home. It goes back further into humankind's harnessing of fire for its many basic uses.
Fire is our friend.
Something we must always consider when burning wood is safety. Woodstoves require a certain level of vigilance. Whether it's keeping small children away from the hot woodstove, making sure that all combustibles are a safe distance away from the lit stove, or performing periodic inspections, cleaning and maintenance of your stove, stovepipe and chimney, there is a lot to watch out for. The woodstove is the last thing I double-check before leaving the house each day in the fall, winter and spring. Chimney fires are generally caused by a buildup of creosote in your stovepipe or chimney.