As energy costs reach record highs, many Americans are turning to alternative heating equipment, such as portable space heaters and wood-, pellet- or kerosene-burning stoves, to cut down costs. According to the Pellet Fuels Institute, approximately 800,000 U.S. homes use pellet stoves, which burn compressed wood by slowly feeding it from a storage container into a burn-pot area creating a constant flame.

Fireplaces
• Have a sturdy screen on a fireplace.
• Burn only dry, seasoned wood.
• Chimneys and chimney connectors need to be cleaned and inspected at least once a year.
• Use artificial logs according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Use only newspaper and kindling wood or fire starters to start a fire. Never use flammable liquids, such as lighter fluid, kerosene or gasoline to start a fire.