Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove is a wonderful method to warm your home, and it can also warm the entire home. However, some of these appliances release harmful gases, like creosote which can be dangerous to the health of your family and property.
The proper care of these stoves is essential. The most important things to keep in mind include: not overheating the area, not messing around with the fire, and using dry firewood.
Fuel
Wood stoves burn a range of fuel types, including dry wood and manufactured solid fuels like briquettes and fire logs. These fuels that are clean burning are less polluting than traditional household coal and wet wood, therefore they are more eco-friendly and safer to use. They still emit harmful gases and smoke and require regular maintenance to perform at their best.
Read the instructions of the manufacturer prior to purchasing or using any type of fuel. Be sure that it's the correct fuel for your stove. The wrong fuel can cause damage to your stove and chimney, causing expensive repairs or invalidating the warranty. The use of a fuel that is not approved could also be unlawful, particularly in areas with smoke control. Look for the 'Ready To Burn logo, which indicates that the fuel is in compliance with the sulphur and smoke emission standards, and can be legally sold for domestic use. The logo is usually displayed alongside the price and brand details or on the packaging.
The fuels suitable for burning should be seasoned or kiln dried to reduce moisture content. This can increase the amount of heat produced and improve the efficiency of combustion. The kind of wood you choose must also be suited to your heating requirements. Softwoods like spruce and pine are good for heating, but hardwoods such as beech and oak produce a higher output of hot embers over longer periods. Fruitwoods such as cherry and apple not only offer efficient heating, but also enhance the ambience with their pleasant aromas.
If you have an appliance that runs on different fuels, you might think about a mixed-fuel fire. Combining wood with smokeless Briquettes will help maintain the flames for longer and keep your home warm. Briquettes are a great backup and can also stop a chimney fire by keeping the air moving.
A well-maintained stove will create more heat, burn less fuel and create fewer harmful particles. If you have a gas or oil-fired wood stove, make sure it is installed by a registered installer (on a competent person scheme like HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). A regularly serviced appliance is more cost-effective to run and protect your health and the environment by preventing harmful emissions.
Design
Wood stoves are an excellent source of heat, but their design is important to consider. Unwanted byproducts from combustion, such as carbon monoxide and smoke pose a risk to health and environmental impact. Proper operation and a well-designed design are the most important factors in reducing the emission.
Modern wood stoves are more eco green than older models. All EPA certified stoves must adhere to strict emission and energy efficiency regulations to maximize the amount of heat generated. Look for the metal EPA certification mark on the back of the stove or go through the EPA's latest database to determine the stove is certified. Going to local hearth stores who are aware of the performance characteristics of their selection is an excellent way to find out more about wood stoves and which size and capacity is most suitable for your space.
One of the main components of EPA emission regulations is controlling 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. Controlling airflow is vital to ensure that combustion is optimal and emissions are reduced.
A majority of modern stoves have a baffle to increase the time for combustion of the fire, which lowers emissions of smoke and harmful gases. Some wood stoves also use a catalytic converter to reduce NOx emissions. This system is more expensive and is utilized only in high-end wood burning stoves.
Stoves employ different types of air control systems to regulate air flow. The majority of wood stoves employ a basic passive air supply which requires the owner (you) to operate the stove properly to get the best performance. A few wood stoves also come with active air supplies, which are controlled by sensors that track the combustion process and adjust the flow of air based on the need.
Wood stoves are a great alternative heating solution for homes in remote areas or those who are not connected to the electricity grid. If you don't have a backup heating source in the event of an outage or snow, then wood stoves shouldn't be the only option to heat your home.
The output of heat
Many wood stoves advertise the maximum heat output in BTUs. This is misleading however, since the actual capacity of a wood stove is contingent on a variety of variables like the size of the room and the degree of insulation.
The climate can also affect the heating requirements. the full details require stoves with greater BTU rating to ensure the comfort.
The type of wood and the frequency you refuel your fireplace are other factors that affect the production of heat. Dry, seasoned firewood generates more heat than fresh cut and wet logs. The use of a stove fan also assists in transfer the warmth generated by the wood stove into the room, instead of having the hot air rise upwards.
It is vital to keep in mind that the highest output of a wood heater stove should not be a constant event since continuous high fire can cause damage to the stove's internals and may cause carbon monoxide gas to leak into the home.
Regular refueling can improve the efficiency of a fireplace. When adding a new log, ensure it's not large and set it on the embers glowing so that it doesn't touch the wall of the stove or the glass pane. Make smaller logs more often instead of taking too long between additions.
High efficiency stoves are designed to produce a greater amount of heat output with the same amount of fuel by providing pre-heated combustion air as well as other design features. These stoves typically produce less smoke, toxins and carbon monoxide than previous models.
Some people also opt to install a back boiler stove as part of their heating system. This uses the heat generated by the wood-burning stove to warm water in a hot water tank or central heating system, allowing heat to be distributed throughout the house. This is a cost-effective and cost-effective method to heat homes. However the installation process could take an extended time. This method requires an additional flue and the energy required to run the boiler will add to the overall cost.
Safety
Wood stoves and fireplaces are an attractive and convenient method of heating homes. However, they are not without risk. A fire can cause furniture or carpets to catch fire and a hot fireplace can cause structural damage to your home. The dangers can be reduced by using and maintaining an open fireplace that burns wood.
To keep wood-burning stoves safe and in good working order, they should be regularly inspected and maintained. This includes examining the chimney and flue for signs of wear and rust, and cleaning them at least twice per year. The chimney should be checked for creosote at the end of each season. It is extremely flammable and could cause a fire in the chimney.
When purchasing a fireplace with wood burning make sure you choose one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories or another recognized testing laboratory. This will guarantee that the stove is constructed to comply with federal safety standards and is specifically designed to allow for proper venting. Also, you should inspect the hinges, legs and grates of the stove to make sure they are in good working order and are securely fastened to the floor.
If you choose to install a wood-burning fireplace in your home, make sure the floor beneath it is a sturdy and constructed from non-combustible material. You can also install a non-combustible tile over your existing flooring when it is combustible.
Always burn only seasoned and dry hardwoods. Wood that is damp and green produces excessive smoke and creosote, a flammable byproduct that can build up in your chimney and release toxic chemicals into your home. Do not burn trash, cardboard, newspaper or other combustibles in your wood stove, since they can create dangerous fumes and could not completely burn.
Don't "over-fire" your wood stove, i.e. create a larger fire than the stove can handle. Overfiring can cause flames to escape from the combustion chamber and damage to the stove, chimney connector, and chimney itself. It could also ignite other combustible materials in your home. It is also crucial to make sure the fire is completely snuffed out before leaving your cabin or going to bed. In addition, you should have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home.