Crystal Dale, who owns Superior Stoves and Fireplaces with her husband Matt, explains some of the wood-burning stoves in the showroom of their store in Harvey. (Journal photos by Claire Abent)

MARQUETTE — As gas prices swing through highs and lows, Upper Peninsula residents often turn to alternative heating sources to get through the winter months without breaking the bank. One of the most common choices is using biomass fuel — in the form of a wood-burning stove, to generate heat. But these stoves are not what most people would picture when they think of using wood to heat the home, said Norm Balko, sales manager of Superior Stoves and Fireplaces in Harvey. Modern wood-burning stoves don’t produce much smoke, a fact that may surprise some people. “These stoves, you literally don’t see any smoke, you only see hot vapor. As long as they are burning properly, you’ll see nothing coming out the chimney,” he said. A newer wood-burning stove will be much more efficient than any of it’s predecessors, said Balko. “It will re-burn a lot of smoke in the firebox before it goes up the chimney.