Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

Alternatives To Propane Heating

For years propane has been one of the most popular choices for heating homes, powering grills, and more. It’s cheap, clean burning, and easy to access. Additionally, propane is considered by many one of the best fuel sources on the market. However, steadily increasing prices and recent shortages have caused a dip in propane’s popularity.

Do you use propane as the primary heating source for your home? If so, it may be time to consider an alternative other than lowering the thermostat. The fireplace store at Clean Sweeps of Michigan carries a wide variety of inserts, fireplaces, and stoves to meet your family’s heating needs. Trust our expert staff to help you find the perfect heating appliance. Get rid of propane today!

Wood burning heating appliances.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of warmth and comfort that comes with sitting around a crackling, wood burning fire. After all, modern wood burning stoves, fireplaces, and inserts can be used either as a supplemental or primary heat source for your home.

Wood is considered to be one of the most environmentally friendly fuel sources. Burning wood is considered “carbon neutral” as wood gives off the same amount of carbon dioxide, whether it is burned or decays naturally. Wood is also a renewable resource, helping keep supply steady and prices low. Many homeowners are able to further reduce costs. How? By cutting, chopping, stacking, and seasoning some – if not all – of their own firewood!

Pellet stoves and inserts.

Do you like the look and feel of a wood fireplace, but dislike the stacking, storage, and stoking it requires? If so, pellets may be the ideal fuel source for your home. Pellets are made from recycled and compressed wood parts and pieces that are too small to be used in other ways. This makes them an environmentally friendly wood alternative. Why? Since they are made from real wood, their burn closely resembles that of wood logs. Their small size allows pellets to burn more completely, reducing waste and leaving behind less ash and soot.

Pellet inserts and stoves are fed using a hopper; the frequency with which pellets need to be reloaded depends on the size of the hopper. Pellets can be purchased at most home improvement or home supply stores. While the price of pellets is often comparable to firewood, pellets come in large bags that are easier to stack, store, and require less space.

Gas fireplaces and inserts.

If your home already uses propane, switching to natural gas is, for lack of a better word, a natural choice. With low prices, clean burning, and the same ease of use as propane, natural gas is an excellent and cost-effective alternative. With a wide variety of fireplaces and inserts to match your home’s heating needs as well as décor, Clean Sweeps of Michigan carries the perfect gas heating appliance for you and your family!

If you heat your home with propane, don’t get left in the cold by high prices or gas shortages this winter. Instead, stay warm by switching to an alternative fuel source. For more information about new heating appliances and alternative fuel sources, contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today.

Why Install a Wood Stove Today?

When thinking about adding a new heating appliance to their home, many homeowners are quick to dismiss wood stoves, viewing them as outdated or old-fashioned. However, this could not be further from the truth!

Modern wood stoves are beautiful, efficient appliances that make an excellent primary or supplementary heating source. With a variety of sizes and styles available, now is the perfect time to consider switching to a wood stove. Below are a few of the many advantages of installing a wood burning stove in your home.

Save money of fuel

With the ever-rising prices of oil, natural gas, and electricity, burning wood [http://www.woodheat.org/cord-wood.html] may be one of the most cost effective ways to heat your home. Wood averages a lower price per BTU than any other fuel source.

In addition to saving money on fuel, using a wood stove for zone heating [http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-thermostat4.htm] is another way to amass significant savings. Zone heating works by heating specific rooms at specific times, such as warming the kitchen and family room during the afternoon and evenings and the bedrooms at night. Doing this reduces your overall heating costs by not unnecessarily controlling the temperature in parts of the home that are not in use.

Keep warm – even when the power is out

Unlike some fireplaces or inserts, wood stoves do not require electricity to run. This means that they can continue to heat your home even if the power is out. Additionally, wood stoves are an excellent choice for families looking to go “off the grid” and not use electricity to heat their homes.

Wood stoves also help heat your home more efficiently than a traditional fireplace. With an open hearth, much of the heat ends up being lost up the chimney. With a wood stove, however, the fuel source is more efficiently burned and can better heat a room or an entire house. In addition, many wood stoves can be installed directly into an existing hearth, often needing only minor adjustments to the flue before use.

Reduce your carbon footprint

There are a number of ways that wood stoves are considered green energy sources. First, wood stoves use a renewable resource as their fuel source. In addition, firewood can be easily found in almost every part of the country, meaning you aren’t spending additional time or money driving around hunting for or shipping a fuel source.

In addition to using a renewable resource, modern wood stoves must also be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Certified wood stoves burn fuel efficiently and produce a minimal amount of particulate emissions and air pollution.

Add beauty and ambiance to your home

The addition of a wood stove is an excellent way to add beauty and ambiance to your home. Whether it will be used in a rustic cabin or a more modern living space, the wide variety of styles [] and sizes of wood stoves means there is an appliance for every home.

If you’re ready to add the warmth of a wood stove to your home, stop by or contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today! Our expert staff can help you find the wood stove that fits your budget, style, and heating needs.