Many homeowners worry about their home heating bills only when temperatures begin to drop. This can be a costly mistake. Demand for efficient hearth products, such as freestanding stoves or fireplace inserts, skyrockets in cooler months, often exceeding supply. If you were in the market for a hearth product last winter, you may have found yourself facing long delivery and installation delays. Waiting until cold weather arrives again this year could cost you all season long. Right now is the best time to select and install an efficient alternative-energy solution. In addition, in the warmer months, hearth retailers often offer price discounts, providing an incentive to act now.
According to the American Gas Association, turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 percent for eight hours per day can cut annual heating bills by 10 percent. Hearth products offer an attractive and cost-effective way to turn down the furnace and zone heat the areas where you spend the most time.
Determining which zone heating solution is best for you requires considering your lifestyle, where your hearth will be located, fuel type preferred and whether design or heat output is the primary...