Pellets

We have two heating systems.  One of them is based on a boiler in our garage.  It sends hot water into any room on demand.  It also has a bunch of bare pipes right there in the garage.  The result of that and other sources of leakage is that our garage is too warm to store fruit in for long periods of time.

The second heating system has been really fun.  We have two independently controlled fireplaces  that are supposed to be extremely efficient and are independently controlled.  One is downstairs by the kitchen and the other is in the master bedroom.  When it gets cold enough the bring in pellets, heat them to a spark, and blow them into a fire.  They leak an occasional few pellets until the area with the fireplace is at the optimal temperature.

Having fires blowing out hot air makes for a cozy environment.  And because they burn at such high oxygen levels there is almost no smoke and almost no ashes are left over.  They are kind of neat.