Heat your home the old-fashioned way and save money this winter

The first flakes haven’t started flying yet, but the United States energy department is already warning Americans to expect a 10 to 20 percent increase in their energy costs this winter.

If their projections are right, it will cost users of natural gas, the heating source in 55 percent of U.S. homes, 20 percent more or an average of $1,049 to heat their homes during the winter season which lasts from October through March. Heating oil customers’ costs are expected to rise 10 percent and propane users by 18 percent over last year. The government did not provide estimates for electricity, which is used to heat 29 percent of U.S. homes.

“These are staggering numbers and a good reason for people to rethink the way they are doing things,” said Glenda Lehman Ervin, the vice president of marketing for Lehman’s, an old-time general store her father founded in northeast Ohio in 1955. Ervin suspects rising fuel costs are the primary reason sales of wood stoves are going through the roof.

Wood stoves have been around since the early 1700s when American inventor Benjamin Franklin first put a patent on one. They haven’t been the primary means of heating a home in more than 100 years, but now with fuel prices rising, they are making a comeback. The only fuel they require, wood, is easy to come by.

“The nice thing about wood stoves is they are fueled by a renewable energy source which also happens to be the cheapest heating source around,” said Ervin. “We have an employee here with three children who has a fairly large home and it only costs him $100 to heat the house the entire winter.”

Depending on the style, size and accessories you choose, a wood stove can cost between $500 and $3,000. Accessories -- which include leather hand bellows and pinecone starters to get the fire going, a heat-powered fan to pump warm air through your home, and a fireplace tool set -- are easy to find and affordable; and the fuel to run one (fallen trees and chopped up logs) is inexpensive and readily available.

In addition to being cost-effective, today’s wood stoves are environmentally friendly. Their fuel is a renewable resource and catalytic converters and advanced non-catalytic technology prevent their smoke from harming the environment. “They are also more reliable than electricity, particularly during an ice storm,” said Ervin. “Even if your power is out for days, a wood stove will keep you warm while you’re waiting for it to come back on.”

There’s also the emotional appeal to take into consideration. “My children won’t have fond memories of sitting around the furnace, but they will remember the stove we had set up in the family room and all the time we spent together as a family enjoying its warmth,” said Ervin.

To find out more about the old-fashioned, non-electric products (including wood stoves) available at Lehman's, call (888) 438-5346 for a 160-page plus catalog ($3), or log on to www.Lehmans.com.

— ARA Content

How to save money on your heating bill

Before the temperatures drop, take the time to inspect your window and door frames both inside and out. Check around the outside frame and between the door and inner frame. If you see cracks or daylight anywhere, either caulk or stuff rags into the cracks. If a gap is big enough, do both: Using a butter knife or something similar, stuff strips of cloth into the gap until it's almost even with the outer surface, then cover lightly with caulking. You get the best of both worlds by doing that. Rags are better insulation (besides usually being free), but caulking looks better and will stay in place better. Even if you can't see daylight under the door, keep a rug or draft dodger pushed against it.

If the door doesn't fit snugly in the frame, put strip insulation around the frame to fill in. Again, the rag bag comes to the rescue. Instead of buying strips of foam or felt, you can use any heavy material, or use your own felt salvaged from an old hat or shrunken wool garment. Tack or staple it into place.

Draft stoppers for under the door are easy to make. Cut a piece of sturdy material 8 to 10 inches longer than the door is wide and at least 12 inches wide. Fill it like a taco with dry corn, rice, beans, sawdust or sand, then bring the sides up and sew them together firmly. Gather the ends, leaving a few inches, and tie string or yarn or (go ahead, get fancy) ribbon around it.

Windows are notorious for letting in cold air, so make it a priority to put up storm windows or plastic sheeting over them if possible. First, though, check the frames to make sure they fit well and caulk wherever necessary. If there's a gap in the sash where two windows fit together, caulk or stuff it with rags before covering with storm windows or plastic.

Even if you have good windows, window glass will let in the cold—there's just no way around it. The best protection is to cover that glass with something that will keep in the heat. Window "quilts" are popular, but you can make do with a simple piece of heavy material cut to fit the window frame. Hold it in place with Velcro or tape at night. It really will make a difference.

No need to heat unused areas. Keep closets, pantries and storage areas closed off. Same goes for bedrooms and other rooms which are not in constant use. Open the doors an hour or so before bedtime; and be sure to check inside cabinets for gaps or cracks. These areas are often overlooked.

Insulate electrical receptacles and switches. You can buy foam forms to put in them, but you can just cut pieces of Styrofoam to fit.

Part of keeping warm is thinking you are! To make a room seem warm, use thick textured materials for accents like Afghans, area rugs and pillow covers. Make use of warm colors like reds and golds and arrange the furniture so that people sit closer together. This all contributes to a feeling of warmth—and that's what it's all about.