During times of volatile energy prices and economic uncertainty, many people consider zone heating as a method of reducing their home-heating costs. Zone heating allows for heating only the area of your home where you and your family spend time together as opposed to trying to heat the whole house equally. Popularized in Europe, zone heating is becoming an increasingly popular method of limiting energy consumption in North America. Zone heating can be done efficiently by supplementing your central heat source with a gas, wood, or pellet burning fireplace, insert or stove.

If your primary heat source is controlled by a single thermostat, you can save on your heating expense by turning your thermostat down a few degrees and using alternative heat sources in the main living areas of the home. This makes more sense than trying to heat everything from one point in the house.

Keeping in mind the fact that heat rises, you will get a wider distribution of heat if you install your stove in a lower level of the house. Also keep in mind that you only need to buy the size of stove that you need for your home application. Unless there is a turndown on the appliance, the appliance can overheat an area causing discomfort and excessive fuel use.