Most pellet and corn stoves rely on electricity for ignition and thermostat control - using about the same amount of energy as a couple of light bulbs, store owners said.
The cost of leading stove brands ranges from about $3,500 to more than $5,000, including installation.
Traditionally, when the leaves have fallen and north winds cut deep as Christmas and New Year's approach, folks yearn for a roaring fire as an aesthetic comfort. But this year, said Jim Muzyka, manager of Courtland Hearth & Barbecue in White Marsh: "It's not about pretty."
It's about that scary little box on the wall - the thermostat - to which no one wants to be hostage. And who besides the most stubbornly frugal enjoys walking around the house in a heavy sweater?
Muzyka said Courtland, which also has stores in Fallston and Bel Air - is installing four to six stoves a week. His company recently added an extra employee to handle the increased business.
Mastrapolito - a former caterer and restaurant manager - found his way into the pellet-stove business after chasing down ways to lower his own utility bills.
"For years, I never had a gas bill over $150, so I never thought about it," he said. "When it went to $250 and then $350 and kept going up, I had to do something."
This year, he sees many others coming to the same conclusion. "A year ago, a lot of business was high-end customers who wanted something beautiful," he said. "Now, I'm dealing with people who want to save money."
Because of increased demand, the cost of wood pellets - made from sawdust and other wood scraps - is on the rise, according to Tyson, who said a ton went for $209 in April and now fluctuates between $259 and $299.
It takes about 2 tons of pellets to warm an average-sized home throughout a typical winter.
"I've got 18 stoves on the [sales] board right now and people coming down from New Jersey to buy pellets," said Tyson. "People with pellet stoves need to know they can't wait until it gets cold to buy pellets." Prices rise along with demand.
The last time the sales of stoves jumped dramatically, Tyson said, was after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Then, disruptions in domestic oil refining pushed the price of heating fuel.
As for corn, Muzyka called it a "storage challenge. You have to remember that corn is food ... it attracts critters and bugs. Pellets don't."
Thus, responds Cadle, the beauty of a 35-gallon stainless-steel trash can with a snug lid.
Rafael Alvarez is a former reporter for The Baltimore Sun.
comparing costs
Although crude oil prices have fallen in recent months, a gallon of home heating oil ($3.30) is still about a dollar higher than it was a year ago, and sales of stoves continue to be brisk. Formulas for calculating cost comparisons among various sources of home heat factor many variables and are highly subjective. The following Web sites offer guides to calculating the cost of heating your home.
* wiseheat.com
* energyexperts.org/fuelcalc
* wapa.gov/es/calc.htm
* ces.ca.uky.edu/energy/calculators.htm
