Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove provides a cozy place to relax and heat a whole home. Certain stoves emit harmful gases, such as creosote, which is dangerous to health and property.
A proper care for the stoves is crucial. A few important factors to be aware of include making sure the room isn't overheated, not messing with the fire, and using appropriately dried firewood.
Fuel
Wood stoves can be used to burn a variety of fuels that include dry wood, as well as manufactured solid fuels, such as briquettes or fire logs. These cleaner burning alternatives are healthier and more eco-friendly than traditional household coal or wet wood. They do emit harmful gases and smoke and require regular maintenance in order to work at their best.
Check the manufacturer's instructions before purchasing or using any kind of fuel. Make sure it's the right fuel for your stove. Incorrect fuel could damage your stove and chimney and cause costly repairs or invalidating the warranty. The use of a fuel that is not approved could be illegal, especially in areas that control smoke. Look for the 'Ready To Burn logo, which indicates that the fuel meets sulphur and smoke emission limits and is legally sold for domestic use. The logo is usually placed on the packaging or alongside the name of the brand and price.
Fuels that are suitable for combustion should be dried out or seasoned to reduce moisture content. This can increase heat output and combustion efficiency. The type of wood you select must also be suited to your heating requirements. Softwoods like spruce and pine are good for heating, but hardwoods such as beech and oak generate a higher output of hot embers over a longer period of time. Fruitwoods like apple and cherry are not just used to heat the home and provide a pleasant scent.
If you own a multi-fuel stove, think about a mixed fuel fire. mixing smokeless briquettes with wood will help keep the flames burning and warm your home for longer. Briquettes can be a great backup and can also stop a chimney fire by keeping the air moving.
A stove that is well-maintained will produce more heat and burn less fuel while producing fewer harmful particles. If you have a gas or oil-fired wood stove, ensure that it is fitted by an approved installer (on a competent person scheme like HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). A well-maintained appliance is more economical to run and protect your health and the environment by reducing harmful emissions.
Design
Wood stoves are a fantastic source of heat, however their design is something to think about. Unwanted byproducts from combustion, such as carbon monoxide and smoke pose a risk to the environment and health. A well-planned and efficient operation are key factors in minimizing these emissions.
Modern wood stoves are designed to be more eco conscious than traditional models. All EPA certified stoves must comply with strict energy efficiency and emission regulations to maximize the amount of heat produced. You can determine if a wood stove is certified by looking for the metal EPA label on the back or checking the EPA database. Going to local hearth stores who know the performance characteristics of their products is a great way to learn more about wood stoves and which size and capacity may be the best fit for your home.
One of the most important aspects of EPA emission regulations is the control of the flow of air through the stove. The firebox of the stove is enclosed by a wall of fireproof material, and air vents are located in the walls to provide controlled airflow. Airflow control is essential to ensure that the combustion is at its best and emissions are minimized.
A majority of modern stoves have a baffle to increase the time to burn the fire, which lowers emissions of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves include a catalytic converter to reduce NOx emissions. This system is more expensive and used only in high-end wood burning stoves.
Stoves also use different types of air control systems to regulate the airflow through the stove. The majority of wood stoves still utilize a passive air supply, which requires the operator (you) to operate the stove to get the best performance. Some wood stoves have active air sources that are controlled by sensors. These sensors monitor the combustion process, and adjust the air supply as required.
One of the biggest advantages of wood stoves is that it doesn't require electricity to run, which makes it a great alternative to heating homes that are located in remote areas or aren't connected to a power grid. If you do not have a backup source of heating in the event of a power outage or snow, then wood stoves shouldn't be your only option to warm your home.
The output of heat
Many wood stoves advertise their peak heat output in BTUs. This is misleading however, since the actual capacity to heat a wood stove is dependent on a variety of factors like the size of the room and how well it's insulated.
Climate also affects the heat requirements. To keep warm, colder regions need stoves that have higher BTU ratings.
Other factors that affect the production of heat include the kind of wood used and the frequency of refueling. Dry, seasoned wood produces more heat than freshly-cut and wet logs. The stove fan also assists in move the heat generated by the wood burner into the room, rather than having the hot air rise upwards.
It is important to remember that the peak output of a wood heater stove should not be a constant event as continuous high firing causes damage to the stove's interior and can cause carbon monoxide gas to leak into the home.
Regular refueling can improve the performance of a fireplace. Make sure that the log isn't too large and that it is placed on the glowing embers to ensure that it doesn't contact the glass or walls of the stove. Wood burner clearance sale 's also best to add smaller logs frequently rather than allowing too long between additions.
High efficiency stoves are engineered to provide a higher amount of heat output with the same amount of fuel, by providing pre-heated combustion air, as well as other design features. They typically produce less smoke, toxins and carbon monoxide than earlier models.
A few people also decide to install a back boiler stove as part of their heating system. This uses the heat generated by the wood burning stove to heat water in the hot water tank or central heating system, which allows the heat to be distributed throughout a home. This is a more efficient and cost-effective method of heating a home, although the installation process is quite lengthy. This method requires a separate flue, and the additional energy required to run a back boiler will increase the running costs of a wood stove.
Safety
Wood stoves and fireplaces can be a convenient and attractive way to heat your home. However, they are not without their risks. Sparks and embers can fly out of a flame and ignite carpeting or furniture and a hot chimney can lead to destruction to the structure of your house. These dangers can be minimized by using and maintaining the fireplace with wood burning.
Wood-burning stoves must be inspected and maintained regularly to ensure they are safe and in good working condition. This includes checking the chimney and flue at least once each year for signs of rust or wear and cleaning them. The chimney should be inspected for creosote about halfway through the season. This is highly flammable, and can cause an explosion in the chimney.
When purchasing a wood-burning stove be sure to choose one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another lab recognized for testing. This assures that the stove meets federal safety standards and is designed to vent properly. Also, you should inspect the hinges, legs and grates of the stove to ensure that they are in good condition and securely attached to the floor.
If you choose to install a wood-burning stove inside your home, make sure the floor underneath it is sturdy and made from non-combustible materials. You may also want to lay a sheet of non-combustible floor tile over the existing flooring, especially if you live in an old mobile home that has flooring that is combustible.
Always burn only seasoned and dry hardwoods. Wood that is damp and green produces excessive smoke and creosote, an ignitable byproduct that could build up in your chimney, releasing toxic chemicals into your home. Do not burn trash, cardboard, newspaper or other combustibles in your wood stove, as they could release dangerous fumes and could not completely burn.
Do not "over fire" your wood stovewhich is to you should not create a bigger fire than the stove is able to handle. Over-fired stoves can result in flames leaving the combustion chamber, causing damage to the chimney connector, the stove and chimney itself, as well as burning other combustible material in your home. Make sure the fire is completely snuffed out before leaving your home or going to sleep. Finally, you should always have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home.