We also discussed types of heating because we had made a mistake in Colorado when we heated with a wood stove for a few years at the height of the energy crisis. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (www.aafa.org) there are more than 11 million wood burning units in America today. Wood burning usually occurs in cold, oxygen-poor conditions that increase the emissions of carbon monoxide and other inhaled chemicals and particles. If you must buy a home with a wood burning stove have it checked by a professional. Radiant, electric and forced air heating are alternatives, but costs vary considerably.

After you are settled, remember the American Lung Association recommends changing your furnace filter the first day of each season and using filters that meet its indoor air quality guidelines with a Minimum Efficiency Rating Value (MERV) rating of 10 or higher.