OXFORD – When the cost of home heating oil spiked this summer, many residents who relied on the fuel decided to search for more economical options to heat their homes this winter.
Even as the price of heating oil has dropped, consumers continue to pursue these alternative methods of home heating.
Pete Faber of Oxford admits he is one of the few people around who didn’t mind the steep increase in the price of fuel oil.
“It didn’t bother me at all,” he joked. The proprietor of Countryside Stove and Chimney has seen his business skyrocket as people look to him for home heating alternatives.
“Most definitely, I think alternative fuels are the future,” said Faber. He especially encourages the use of local fuel sources which reduce the country’s dependence on foreign sources. And if they are a renewable resource, it’s even better.
“Our biggest sellers this year are wood, pellet and coal stoves,” said Faber. According to the home heating professional, each fuel source has its own benefits.
Wood stoves and fireplaces have always been popular in the area because the abundance of woodlands makes it readily available. They are even more attractive when you look at the costs associated with them.
“Wood is your least expensive to heat with,” he explained, whether you are cutting the wood yourself or purchasing it by the face cord. While efficiency ratings are lower with wood, he said it doesn’t really matter since it is so much less expensive than other options.
Pollution can be a concern though, and today’s wood stoves have to meet strict emissions guidelines, Faber explained.
Wood fires add not only heat, but ambiance, he added. “Psychologically we see fire, and we feel warmer.”
This is also one of the reasons that pellet stoves have increased in popularity, Faber explained. These stoves are significantly less work than a wood stove and produce very little ash. They can also be vented directly outside, rather than with a chimney.
The increased demand has caused problems on the supply side, for both the stoves themselves and the fuel they require.
2007 was the worst year in over ten years for sales of pellet stoves, Faber explained, and manufacturers slowed down production.
“No one forecasted fuel prices going up like they did. They got caught with their pants down.”
Supply shortages and increased demand drove the price of pellets up from around $200 per ton in the Spring, to over $300. And locally, people struggled to find suppliers.
