B12 - Sunday, October 7, 1984 - North Shore News IN MOST households heated by wood, buying fuel is a once-yearly event, While many people cut some or ail f the wood they burn, the market for dealer-supplied firewood is growing annual- ly. If you are going to buy firewood for use next winter, here are some tips that will help you get the most for your money. Early spring is the best time to get next season’s firewood. Besides avoiding the September rush, wood TURN DOWN Warming the basement THE BASEMENT is one of the areas of highest heat loss in the house. It is also one of the most neglected. Lack of basement insulation can be the root cause of cold ground floor surfaces, yet this is often overlooked. There are two ways to in- sulate a basement — on the inside or on the outside. In most cases, insulating from the outside brings better results, but interior applica- tions are often more practical and economical. Basement walls can be in- sulated from the interior with either batt-type or rigid plastic (polystyrene) insula- CHOOSING the right insula tion for your home energy conservation project can be difficult. In the past, when spere were relatively few pes of insulation by ‘Qyckness, the assumption we. that the thicker it was, the better it would work Today there are more in sulaiion products available and-each one performs dif ferently. Using the thickness tule can create problems because one type of insula tion material may not pro vide the same effectiveness as the same thickness of another type To make comparisons bet ween different products possible, afl insulation must carry a thermal resistance rating This ts the number prefixed by the letters RSI oor R Some insulation materials marked with both The value of an insulation are KSI product ts Che precise mete INCASUFCMENL OF LES FeSistanne¢ to heat flow Rois the unperial measurcment equivalent — Be careful aot to confuse them The KSI) (Ro rating, thew higher othe the greater Sublatinog vabue of the ate cial per unit of thickness [tous caseful tes hrew tow the RSE CR) svstern fire cin myoorder to better unde: msnpeortamee Phe tweens COMM Eypes ob rie iba ean uscd in abthes are Hotere wlas ard leony re ere Both types cn ea non work welbaf poop stalled but) Chey ta 1s terenmt RSL CR) valucs t' statled to the same thre kre batts fibre cellulose fibre walk provide oa higher value € clhulose 200 mam thick will provide as RSE of 8 CR 2K) batts of the sate slightly imsubatien resupba test: glass fibre tbyec bve ss bought in spring will have time to dry and season pro- perly. More than half the moisture in freshly cut wood will have evaporated by the autumn if it is) split’ and stored under cover. Seasoned firewood burns more effi- ciently, giving more heat value while lessening the potential for dangerous creosote buildup in = your chimney. Spring is also the off-season for firewood dealers, so prices may be lower as well. THE HEAT tion. When pbatt-type material is used some form of wood framing is required for support. Rigid plastic (poly- styrene) insulation can be in- stalled directly on the foundation with glue. or special masonry fasteners. Furring strips attached mechanically to the founda- tion should also be used in conjunction with the insula- tion to hold the air-vapour barrier in place. The air- vapour barrier is optional with rigid plastic (poly- styrene) insulation. But panelling over the insulation becomes essential as a measure against fire. Poly- will provide RSI 4.4 (R 25) Vermieulite, another material suitable for use in attics, pro- vides less RSE 32 ¢(R thickness insulation value When comparing the RSI (R) values of different tnsula PR) for 2000 mm HOME ENERGY MANAGEMENT Getting the most for firewood dollar When ; purchasing wood, make sure you know what you are getting. The common cord measurement for fire- wood is) 1.2mx!.2mx2.4m (4x4x8 ft.), although many other measurements such as stove cords, face cords or third-cords are used. When comparing prices, make sure you get the same quantity. While wood is sold by voluem measurement, the density and heat value per cord ,varies greatly among tree species. The denser hard- styrene burns rapidly if ig- nited and releases deadly gases. Basements with moisture problems should not be in- sulated from the interior. Ex- cavate around the perimeter of the foundation to improve drainage. If the excavation is extensive it will be more con- venient and cost effective to insulate the basement from outside. High-density or specialized semi-rigid mineral fibre insulation are recommended for exterior foundation walls. Ideally, insulation should extend down the foundation polystyrene Make it measure up tion materials remember that a higher RSI (R) rating does not necessarily make a par ticular product a better buy Other factors to consider are where the material will be in stalled, the quality of in Stallation and price WOODSTOVES INTRODUCTORY SAVINGS FIREPLACE INSERTS « AIR TIGHT PROJ STOVES COHAIMNE Y WOOO N ENERGY 5 SPACE HEATER OF THE YEAR NOW THUR OCTOBER AT: © The Patio & Gift Gallery 1200 Marine Dr. North Vancouver 984-7885 ‘ L000 U.anse.vitio St ‘36-8491 2554 Barnett Hwy ‘ rr! tC oauithiam 461.6933 woods such as maple, oak and ash are preferred for wood heating and command premium prices. Softer wood species are much less expen- sive and are ideal for spring and fall heating when a high heat output is not needed. One way to reduce the cost of firewood is to purchase full logs, then cut and split them yourself. If local lumber companies still supply firewood in this form, the saving can be significant. wall footings. If this is not feasible, a minimum depth of 60 cm (2 feet) below ground level ts acceptable. In either case, the insulation is held by concrete fasteners; the above- ground portion is covered with a protective’ finish. Some advantages of exterior foundation insulation include keeping the wall at a cons- tant, relatively warm temperature, which‘ reduces the danger of frostheaving and treezing. And the mass of the wall provides a degree of heat storage in the base- ment. Exterior application also improves basements that are already finished. Colonial “X Fireplace Stove WOODSTOVES INTRODUCTORY SAVINGS ON FIREPLACE INSERTS « AIRTIGHT STOVES PROJET HYFEMP CHIMNEY The Patio & Gift Gallery 1200 Marine Dr. North Vancouver 984-7885 (NORTH VANCOUVER ONLY) 2566 Granville St 2554 Barnett Hwy , Coquitlam 736-8491 461-6933 y 1098 WEST 4th AVE. VANCOUVER Elegant Black /Blue Color LOO% cast iron (Glass door standard Burns wood or coal Attordable A tradition in cast prom sane ISS 4 EXCLUSIVELY Al Woodstoves Unlimited WE ALSO FEATURE Waterford ana HearthStone QUALITY PRODUCTS 733-1017 WITH STORES IN DUNCAN & COURTNEY