Some people use pellet stoves, wood stoves or outdoor wood furnaces as a substitute heat source. But these type of heating units need constant maintenance to work safely. Improperly installed stoves increase the chance of a fire.
When weighing costs, keep in mind that heating your home with wood involves the upfront cost of the stove or furnace, which can range from $1,500–$5,000 or even higher. Whether it’s economical to do so depends on how efficient the stove or furnace is, the type of wood used and its overall cost, which can include delivery and stacking fees.
Propane stoves offer a much more convenient way to keep warm. Forget about buying, chopping and storing your wood, and then hauling it to your stove or furnace and then cleaning out the ash later.
Just touch a button or flip a switch on your propane stove and you have instant heat!
Wood: not as green as you think
measured by lbs. of particulate emissions
Burning wood for heating has led to concerns about air pollution because emissions are much higher than those produced by heating with fuel oil or gas. Electricity causes high levels of pollution because it is produced by burning coal.
Source: Energy Research Council