| If you have any aesthetic sensibility at all, then | | | | cleaner, and with more efficiency. Producing |
| the allure of wood stoves might be hard to resist. | | | | almost no smoke and very little wood ash, |
| Burnished metal and a crackling fire definitely | | | | contemporary stoves consume less wood and |
| appeal to the senses, and combined with luxurious | | | | they're kind to the environment. Since the early |
| radiant heat, it's no wonder that many home | | | | 1990s, the Environmental Protection Agency has |
| owners are looking to incorporate stoves in their | | | | overseen the production process, ensuring that |
| living areas. However, there's more to the story | | | | new models meet demanding emissions standards. |
| than romance and atmosphere. | | | | Today's stoves create a mere trickle of |
| Depending on where you picked up your concept | | | | smoke--as little as 2-5 grams per hour. This |
| of stoves, the picture you have in your mind's | | | | means that they save you money with fuel |
| eye may no longer be accurate. For example, | | | | economy, increase the air quality, and reduce the |
| remember those black, pot-bellied stoves that | | | | risk of fire to practically zero. |
| were a mainstay of the Western movie and your | | | | As you could probably guess, wood burning |
| grandparents' house? Those old-era stoves have | | | | stoves now come in sizes and models that are |
| gone the way of the American cowboy. They're | | | | suitable to almost every type of home. (For the |
| a thing of the past, and that's actually a good | | | | purposes of this article, I'm assuming you aren't |
| thing. | | | | living in a cardboard box.) So whether you're living |
| Contemporary stoves have all the aesthetic | | | | in a condo, a three-story house, or a loft space, |
| appeal of the old models, and then some. A wide | | | | there are stoves designed to heat your living |
| array of materials have added new looks to the | | | | area. The market may look kind of imposing. But |
| market. Today's home owners can choose | | | | there are a handful of questions that can clarify |
| stoves made of pewter, soapstone, welded steel, | | | | your needs. |
| or porcelain, as well as the traditional black iron. | | | | Ask yourself, for example, "What do I want to |
| A variety of textures and designer colors add | | | | accomplish? Am I heating one room, a small |
| even more room for personal preference. The | | | | cottage or an entire house? Will I use my stove in |
| stately-looking "antique" designs have made a | | | | a hot or cold climate, in the summer or winter |
| comeback, but graceful, modern-looking models | | | | months?" |
| are also popular. Today's stoves are equally | | | | With questions like these answered, you're ready |
| comfortable in a hunting lodge, family room, or | | | | to explore further. Are you ready to create |
| urban loft. | | | | some flickering fireside ambiance? Wood stoves |
| But there's more. Not only are today's wood | | | | have a lot to offer. Best of luck as you decide |
| stoves better-looking. They also burn hotter, | | | | which stove is right for you. |