Rural Living In Sooke: Heating With Wood

WoodStove

When I bought my house in Sooke – in the Otter Point area, one of the things that attracted me to it was its cozy Pacific Energy wood stove. Having never heated with wood in the past, it was a bit of a learning curve to figure it out. I learned that a modern wood stove isn’t just a steel box you burn wood in – it is actually a complex system with many variables that need to be accounted for in order for it to function safely and efficiently. Luckily, my stove came with a fairly detailed manufacturer’s manual from which I was able to learn some valuable information.

Even if you’ve been heating with wood for years, there is always something to learn. Last night, I stumbled across the website of The Wood Heat Organization, a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to the responsible use of wood as a home heating fuel. I learned quite a few tricks about everything from fire size and composition, to how to properly measure and stack a cord of wood.

For example:

There is also a whole section of the page about firewood – how to dry it, how to split it, species, and so on. I highly recommend you check out this site – you’re guaranteed to learn something!

Do you have a wood stove? Share your favourite thing about wood heating or your best tip!

 

Published by Tim Ayres

Tim Ayres is a Sooke and Victoria BC REALTOR®, with Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty. Tim is actively involved in helping clients buying and selling real estate in the southern Vancouver Island region. Tim is an active member of the Victoria Real Estate Board and served seven years (2009-2015) as a director, including serving as President in 2014.

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