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| Which is better in a wood stove, a catalyst or a non-catalytic system? |
| Is it possible to get a stove too large for the area to be heated? |
| Are wood-burning appliances legal on "No Burn Days" |
| Might a wood burning appliance that is legal today become illegal in the future? |
| Which is better for wood burning, cast iron or steel? |
| Can I get a wood stove that allows burning with the door open? |
| Where is it best to buy carpet? |
| What is the difference between ceramic tile and porcelain? |
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| Which is better in a wood stove, a catalyst or a non-catalytic system? |
| Both systems are used to make wood stove clean burning and, therefore, able to be used on any day along the Front Range of Colorado. Each has advantages and disadvantages: Catalysts are generally cleaner-burning and more efficient, but do require that the catalyst be replaced when it is no longer performing. Non-cat systems do not require replacement but are somewhat less efficient and emit more particles into the atmosphere. |
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| Is it possible to get a stove too large for the area to be heated? |
| Yes, wood or gas appliances (stoves, inserts, or fireplaces) should be sized appropriately for the area. All wood stoves can be adjusted between hottest and coolest burning but consistently operating at the lower end of capacity may cause very inefficient combustion, creosote build-up in venting, and excessively sooty glass. Gas appliances can be operated automatically with a thermostat but will be less efficient if constantly turning on and off, and you will lose the aesthetic qualities of the fire with a large unit that is rarely operating. |
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| Which is better for wood burning, cast iron or steel? |
| Each has its advantages and disadvantages: Cast iron can hold the heat and release it more slowly, but also takes longer to heat up from cold. Cast iron can be cast into more intricate and interesting shapes and designs. Steel gets hot more quickly but cools faster. Steel stoves are often double wall, allowing for both convective and radiant heating, with or without assistance from a blower, and smaller clearances to combustibles. |
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| Where is it best to buy carpet? |
| We always encourage people to shop several stores and even take samples from other stores to compare. Many, especially the larger carpet stores and "big box" outlets, private label; i.e., they make up their own names for the carpet to make comparison shopping more difficult. If you have the sample that you like you can find similar styles and qualities even if the names are different. Many people assume that the "big boxes" are less expensive but that is frequently not the case. They definitely charge more for generally lower quality installation labor. |
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| What is the difference between ceramic tile and porcelain? |
| Porcelain tile is harder and does not absorb water (or stains), making it frost resistant and excellent for use outdoors. The color of porcelain tile generally goes all the way through the body of the tile and manufacturers are able to mold interesting surfaces patterns into the body before the single firing process. Ceramics generally are made using a separate glazing process. From a practical standpoint, however, there is little difference between the two. If they are properly installed (correct underlayments, proper quality and quantity of setting materials, grouts and caulks) either should last indefinetly. |
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