There is just something about a roaring fire that makes a house feel warm and inviting.  Could it be the scent of the burning wood or perhaps the beauty of the dancing flames?  Whatever the reason, the sad fact for many homeowners is that fireplaces are not always easy or affordable to add on to a home that has already been constructed.

Wood stoves on the other hand have a number of advantages over other wood-burning technologies.  They are generally cheaper than turning on the gas or using electric heat especially if only a single room requires heat. They are also fairly simple to install, too. And, here is the real bonus as well as money saver, they do not require full, elaborate chimney systems.

Wood stoves are smaller and have less involved installations than fireplaces. They can go in just about any location in your home as long as there is a way to properly install the stoves custom chimney system.  And, unlike a full fireplace, these do not require full brick structures that can take over an entire room. They just use their own small and less invasive pipes for directing out unwanted smoke and soot to a larger chimney system.

Depending on size, design and placement, wood stoves can be used to heat an entire house or at least a major portion of it. To make this happen though, a stove needs to be in a central location in the home, one that gets a lot of use, and there needs to be a way to channel the heat to other areas.  Professional installers know how to make this happen and should be involved early on in the decision making process when considering adding a wood burning stove.

Stoves can also add great architectural features to a home. They come in a number of sizes, styles, colors. They can take on old-fashion appearances or be modern and eye-popping. There is a wood-burning stove available for just about any homes design concept.

The keys to choosing a good stove for you home include:

* Location chosen. It is likely you would want a different style and size for your living room than one you may use upstairs in a bedroom. Shop styles and sizes and make sure to get professional installation or at least professional advice.

* Safety features. Wood-burning stoves do in fact "burn" materials. This means they need to be properly ventilated and other safety features. There should be correct grating systems or screening materials to protect small children and pets.  Make sure safety features are used especially if small children are around. Locking mechanisms are also a good idea to make sure a child does not open a stove during a burn session.

* Design. It is important to get a stove you like for both functionality and décor to the room you are placing it in. Remember they come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colors. Shop around and find one that compliments your home and also includes good safety and smoke removal features.

A wood-burning stove is a great alternative to a gas or electric heat. It can even be far more cost-effective with the current price of gas, oil and electricity. Just remember to shop around, get professional installation or advice and make sure the stove you buy offers enough safety features to protect it from little hands or little hands from it and you should have a life time of enjoyment from it.