In the ever changing economic conditions, people are looking for different ways to effectively and efficiently heat their homes this winter. One method that is gaining popularity is the wood stove. This method always isn’t the most practical option given your location and the availability of firewood, but if you can make it work, it can be a real saver on your gas or electric bill.

Although a wood stove can be a money saver, it is a lot more work. Not only do you have to harvest and split the wood, you also have to keep an eye on the fire to make sure it stays contained within the stove. On top of that, new logs must always be added to ensure that the fire continues to blaze and keep you warm.

If you have not had a lot of experience with starting or maintaining fires, you need to keep in mind the safety that is required. The heat generated from a wood stove can get warm enough to catch flammable items nearby. Also, when you are adding more logs to the fire, there is a chance that the embers can spark and fly out of the heater. You must always be aware of how quickly something can happen.

Therefore, one action you can take that will help keep you safe is to always handle your fire place while wearing a pair of leather work gloves. Leather work gloves protect you from the heat and shield you from any type of sparks that might pop from the heart of the fire. Also: The tools that you use to manipulate the fire—poker, shovel, etc—can get quite hot when in heavy use. Gloves such as these will also help you handle these instruments should they become extremely hot.

Have a happy, warm, and safe winter!