Hearth Product Fuels

The radiant heat and dancing flames of a fire in a fireplace or a freestanding stove can create a relaxing and peaceful gathering place within a home. To help everyone be able to achieve this ambiance and warmth, there are now a wide variety of hearth products designed to be suitable for almost any home design and lifestyle. One of the most exciting components of hearth products is the variety of fuel options available that make the installation of fireplaces, fireplace inserts, stoves, masonry heaters and log sets possible in almost any home in North America.

Choosing the Right Fuel

Selecting your hearth product fuel depends on many factors: the cost and availability of the fuel, desired heat output and efficiency, maintenance requirements, and the expected appearance of the fire. Another factor to consider is local air quality regulations that determine what types of hearth products can allowed to be installed within a particular area.

Available Hearth Product Fuels

Wood

This renewable, non-fossil fuel is abundant throughout North America and is available by cord (128 cubic feet) or by face cord (66 cubic feet) through independent firewood dealers. People can also cut their own firewood on their personal property or in conjunction with local forest management programs. There are two types of firewood: hardwoods and softwoods. No matter what type is selected, it is critical that all firewood be dried for at least six months before it is used ("seasoned" firewood).

• Wood Burning Hearth Products: Fireplaces, Freestanding Stoves, Fireplace Inserts and Masonry Heaters
• Benefits of Burning Wood: Low-cost heat; provides independence from utilities during power outages; produces minimal smoke with use of EPA-certified or Clean Burning hearth products; provides the ambiance of real wood fire; readily available and renewable fuel that helps reduce threat of global warming; security.

Gas

Propane (otherwise known as LP or "liquefied petroleum gas") and natural gas are the two types of gas used in hearth products, and are both fossil fuels. Many cities throughout North America have natural gas utility companies that deliver the fuel underground to homes. Propane gas is generally delivered by private suppliers and is stored above ground in a cylindrical container on a person's property near the home. Propane is used mostly in rural areas where piped natural gas is not available.

• Gas Hearth Products: Freestanding Stoves, Fireplaces, Fireplace Inserts, Gas Log Sets
• Benefits of Burning Gas: No visible emissions; convenient and instantaneous fire; enjoyable and penetrating radiant heat; thermostatically-controlled heat levels; easy and flexible installation; realistic "wood-like" flames.

Pellets

Pellets are a renewable, non-fossil fuel made from 100 percent compressed sawdust. This fuel was developed in the 1970s as a way to use the leftover waste wood from manufacturing processes. Pellets are an extremely efficient way to burn and can be purchased in 40-pound bags from specialty retailer locations as well as some grocery and home stores. A distinct advantage of pellet fuel is the ability to lock in fuel costs at the beginning of the heating season.

• Pellet Hearth Products: Fireplace Inserts, Freestanding Stoves
• Benefits of Burning Pellets: Low-cost heat; lock-in annual fuel costs early in the season; lowest level of emissions for wood burning; automated wood fire; easy to use; flexible for installation areas.

Coal

Coal is a fossil fuel like propane and natural gas. Anthracite is the most commonly used coal fuel for home heating because of its high heating value. Coal provides a controllable, even heat and can sometimes be burned in a wood stove if the manufacturer designed it to be a dual fuel stove. Washed, bagged coal is a regionally available fuel.

• Coal Hearth Products: Fireplace Inserts, Freestanding Stoves
• Benefits of Burning Coal: Controllable, even heat; low-cost fuel with low emissions.

Manufactured Firelogs

Like wood pellets, manufactured firelogs are designed to be low emissions alternatives to burning real firewood in fireplaces and wood stoves, and are made from waste sawdust. There are two varieties of manufactured firelogs: sawdust and a wax/sawdust blend. Both of these products are available for use in Traditional and Clean Burning fireplaces, but only the sawdust firelogs are recommended for use in EPA-certified fireplaces and wood stoves.

• Manufactured Firelog Hearth Products: Fireplaces, Freestanding Stoves (sawdust only)
• Benefits of Burning Manufactured Firelogs: Convenience, low-cost, ease-of-use, reduced emissions, reduced creosote production.

Electricity

A new category in hearth product fuels, electricity has shifted from being a only a supplemental fuel to being used as a primary fuel for fireplaces. Electric fireplaces are an attractive option for condos, apartments, offices, hotel lobbies and other places where there is an interest in fire with, or without, heat.

• Electric Hearth Products: Fireplaces and Freestanding Stoves
• Benefit of Electricity: Ambiance, optional heat, installation flexibility and no emissions.

Corn

Corn is the newest hearth product fuel on the market and is a great example of an alternative, non-fossil fuel using available resources. Corn is either burned in a stove specifically designed to burn the fuel, or is burned in approved models of pellet stoves mixed in with wood pellets.

• Corn Hearth Products: Freestanding Stoves
• Benefits of Burning Corn: Low cost, low emissions, convenience where fuel is available.

Making the Final Selection

Before selecting a hearth product for your home, you will need to choose a fuel type. For educated assistance in making that final decision, we highly suggest you visit a specialty retailer in your area for expert advice. A specialty retailer is trained to assist you in this selection process and help you learn all the necessary details.

Hearth Product Fuel Cost Comparisons

Firewood: $90-$350 per Cord; Oak 26,000,000 Btus $5.77-$13.46 Cost per M/Btus** per Cord*. Pine 16,000,000 Btus $9.38-$21.87 Cost per M/Btus per Cord

Natural Gas: $.60-$2.25 per Therm 100,000 Btus per Therm $5.00-$22.50 Cost per M/Btus

Propane: $1.00-$3.25 per Gallon 93,000 Btus per Gallon $10.80-$34.95 Cost per M/Btus

Pellets: $150-$250 per Ton 8,000 Btus per Ton $8.33-$13.89 Cost per M/Btus

Fuel Oil: $.75-$2.75 per Gallon 140,000 Btus per Gallon $5.35-$19.64 Cost per M/Btus

Electricity: $.08-$.26 per KWH 3,412 Btus per KWH $23.45-75.68 Cost per M/Btus

*Btu = British Thermal Units
**M/Btus = Million British Thermal Units