Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove is an excellent way to warm up your home and can also heat the entire house. However, some of these appliances emit harmful gases like creosote which could be harmful to your health and property.
The proper care of these stoves is vital. Some important things to consider include making sure the room isn't overheated making a mess of the fire and using correctly dried firewood.
Fuel
Wood stoves burn a variety of fuel types that include dry wood as well as manufactured solid fuels, such as briquettes and fire logs. These cleaner burning alternatives are healthier and better for the environment than traditional house coal or wet wood. They still emit some harmful gases and smoke, and require regular maintenance to work at their best.
Before you purchase or use any fuel, check the manufacturer's instructions and make sure that the fuel you choose to use is suitable for your stove. Unsuitable fuel can damage your chimney and stove and cause costly repairs or invalidating the warranty. It could be illegal to use fuel that is not approved particularly in smoke control zones. Check for the 'Ready to Burn logo, which indicates that the fuel meets the sulphur and smoke emission standards and can be legally sold for domestic use. The logo is typically displayed on the package or beside the name of the brand and price.
The fuels that are suitable for burning should be seasoned or kiln dried to reduce the 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 such as spruce and pine provide good value heat, but hardwoods such as beech and oak generate greater quantities of hot embers for longer durations. Fruitwoods like apple and cherry not only provide efficient heating but also improve the ambience of your home with their pleasant aromas.
If you own a stove that uses multiple fuels, you may be interested in a mixed fuel fire. Combining Smokeless Briquettes with wood will help maintain the flames for longer, and will keep your home warm. The briquettes can be used as a backup and can help to prevent a chimney fire by keeping the air moving.
A well-maintained stove will produce more heat, use less fuel, and produce fewer harmful particles. If you have a wood or gas-fired stove, ensure it is fitted by an authorized installer (on a competent person scheme like HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). Regularly serviced appliances are more efficient and protect your health and the environment by preventing harmful emission.
Design
The design of wood stoves is a crucial consideration for those considering their use as a primary or secondary heat source. Unwanted byproducts of combustion, like carbon monoxide and smoke, pose a risk to the environment and health. The key to reducing the emission of these gases is to ensure proper operation and careful design.
Modern wood stoves are designed to be more eco conscious than traditional models. All stoves certified by the EPA meet strict emission and energy efficiency standards that maximize the amount of heat they generate. Look for a metal EPA certification mark on the back of the stove or go through the EPA's latest database to determine if a particular wood stove is certified. Hearth-related stores in your area can also be a good source for information on wood stoves, such as what size and capacity is best for your space.
Controlling air flow through the stove is a key aspect of EPA emission regulations. The stove's firebox is surrounded by walls made of fireproof materials and air vents are placed within the walls to allow controlled airflow. The airflow control is necessary to ensure that the combustion process is efficient and that the emissions are minimized.
Modern stoves often have baffles that prolong the time the fire burns, reducing the amount of gas and smoke that can cause harm. Certain wood stoves also employ catalytic converters to cut down on NOx emissions. This type of system is more expensive and is usually only found in top-end wood stoves.
Stoves also employ different kinds of air control systems to regulate the airflow through the stove. The majority of wood stoves utilize the basic air supply that is passive which requires that the owner (you) control the stove in a way that allows maximum performance. Some wood stoves have active air sources that are controlled by sensors. These sensors monitor the combustion process and adjust the air supply when necessary.
Wood stoves can be a fantastic alternative heating solution for homes in remote areas or those that aren't connected to the electric grid. If you don't have a backup source of heating in case of an outage, or if there is an imminent snow storm, wood stoves shouldn't be the only option to heat your home.
The output of heat
Many wood stoves boast their peak heat output in BTUs. This is not accurate because the actual output of a wood-burning stove is dependent on a variety of factors including the dimensions of the room and the degree of insulation it has.
The climate of the area also plays a role in the heating requirements. To ensure comfort the colder regions require stoves with higher BTU ratings.
Other factors that affect the production of heat are the type of wood used and the frequency of refueling. Dry, seasoned firewood produces more heat than freshly cut and wet logs. A stove fan may help circulate the heat produced by the wood burner within the room rather than have the hot air rise.
It is vital to keep in mind that the maximum output of a wood heater stove is not to be reached often because continuous high-fire can cause damage to the stove's interior and may cause carbon monoxide gas to leak into the home.
The performance of a stove can be enhanced by regular refueling. When adding a new log, make sure it's not too large and place it on the embers glowing so that it doesn't touch the walls of the stove or the glass pane. It is also recommended to add smaller logs more frequently, rather than leaving too much time between additions.
High efficiency stoves are designed to provide a higher amount of heat output with the same amount of fuel by providing pre-heated combustion air and other design features. They produce less carbon monoxide, toxins, and smoke than older models.
Some people also opt to install a back boiler stove as part of their heating system. The heat generated by a wood burning stove is used to heat water for a central heating system or hot water tank. This lets the heat be distributed in the house. This is a reliable and cost-effective way to heat homes. However the installation process can take quite a long time. This method requires an additional flue and the energy needed to run the boiler will add to the total cost.
Safety
Fireplaces and wood stoves are a beautiful and efficient method of heating homes. However, they're not without risk. Sparks and embers can fly from a burning fire and ignite furniture or carpeting A burning chimney that is hot can cause damage to the structure of your home. A proper use and maintenance of a stove that burns wood reduces these dangers.
To ensure that wood-burning stoves remain safe and in good shape they must be regularly checked and maintained. This includes inspecting the chimney and flue at least once each year for signs of rust or wear, and cleaning them. The chimney should also be checked at least once a year for creosote buildup. This is extremely flammable and could cause chimney fires.
When buying a stove for wood burning make sure you choose one that is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another recognized testing lab. This will guarantee that the stove is constructed to meet federal safety standards, and is specifically designed to allow for proper venting. You should also examine the hinges, legs and grates of the stove to ensure they are in good condition and securely secured to the floor.
If you decide to install a wood stove in your cabin, make sure that the floor underneath it is insulated and non-combustible. Wood burner clearance sale can also install a non-combustible floor tile over the flooring you have in place in the event that it is inflammable.
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, paper or any other combustibles on your wood stove, since they can create dangerous fumes and may not fully burn.
Do not "over fire" your wood stove- that is, generate a larger flame than the stove is able to handle. Over-fired stoves can result in flames escaping from the combustion chamber and causing damage to the stove, chimney connector and the chimney itself, and also burning other combustible materials in your home. Also, ensure that the fire is completely smothered before leaving your home or retiring to sleep. Also, you must have functioning carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in your home.