Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove is a wonderful way to warm up your home and it can also warm the entire house. However, some of these devices emit harmful gases like creosote which could be harmful to the health of your family and property.
A proper care for these stoves is essential. Some important things to keep in mind include making sure that the room is not overheated making a mess of the fire and using correctly dried firewood that is properly dried.
Fuel
Wood stoves can burn a variety of fuels, including dry wood, as well as manufactured solid fuels such as briquettes or fire logs. These cleaner burning alternatives are healthier and more sustainable than traditional house coal or wet wood. They do emit harmful gases and smoke, and require regular maintenance to work at their best.
Make sure you read the manufacturer's guidelines prior to purchasing or using any kind of fuel. Make sure it is the right fuel for your stove. Incorrect fuels can cause damage to your stove or chimney which can result in costly repairs and voiding your warranty. The use of a fuel that is not approved could also be illegal, particularly in smoke control areas. Look for the 'Ready To Burn' logo, which confirms that the fuel is in compliance with the sulphur and smoke emission standards and can be legally sold for domestic use. The logo is often displayed along with the price and details about the brand or on the packaging.
Suitable fuels are seasoned (stored and split for several months before use) or kiln dried to reduce the moisture content which boosts heat output and efficiency in combustion. The type of wood chosen will also depend on your heating requirements. Softwoods like pine and spruce are good for heating however, hardwoods like oak and beech produce more hot embers over longer periods. Fruitwoods such as apple and cherry not only offer efficient heating, but also improve the ambience of your home with their pleasant aromas.
If you have an appliance that runs on multiple fuels, you may want to consider a mixed-fuel fire. Combining wood with smokeless Briquettes can allow the flame to last longer and keep your home warm. Briquettes can be used as a back-up and can also prevent 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 wood stove, ensure that it is installed by a licensed installer. A regularly serviced appliance is more economical to run and will protect your health and the environment by preventing harmful emissions.
Design
The design of wood stoves is an important factor to be considered when evaluating their use as a primary or secondary heat source. The unwelcome byproducts of combustion, such as carbon monoxide and smoke are a concern for environmental and health impacts. Correct operation and careful design are essential to reducing these emissions.
Modern wood stoves are designed to be more environmentally conscious than traditional models. All EPA certified stoves must meet strict energy efficiency and emission regulations to maximize the amount of heat generated. You can verify if a wood stove is certified by looking for a metal EPA label on the back of the stove or by checking the EPA database. Visit local hearth product retailers who are knowledgeable about the performance characteristics of their inventory is also a great way to learn more about wood stoves and what size and capacity is the best fit for your home.
One of the main components of EPA emission regulations is the control of air flow through the stove. The firebox of the stove is enclosed by walls made of fireproof material and air vents are placed in the walls to provide controlled airflow. The control of airflow is essential to ensure that the combustion process is efficient and that the emissions are minimized.
Many modern stoves use an air baffle that improves the time to burn the fire, which lowers the amount of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves also employ a catalytic converter to reduce NOx emissions. This kind of system is a little more expensive and is usually only found in top-end wood stoves.
Stoves also use different types of air control systems to regulate air flow through the stove. The majority of wood stoves still employ a basic passive air supply, which requires the operator (you) to operate the stove correctly to ensure maximum performance. Certain wood stoves have active air supply systems that are controlled by sensors. These sensors monitor the combustion process and adjust the air supply as necessary.
Wood stoves can be a fantastic alternative to heating homes in remote areas or who are not connected to the electricity grid. If you don't have a backup source of heat in case of an outage, or if there is an imminent snow storm, a wood stove shouldn't be your only option to warm your home.
Heat output
Many wood stoves advertise the maximum heat output in BTUs. This is misleading because the actual output of a wood-burning stove is dependent on many factors such as the dimensions of the room and how well insulated it is.
The climate can also affect the heat requirements. Regions that are colder require stoves with more BTU rating to maintain comfort.
The type of wood and the frequency at which you refuel your fireplace are also elements that affect the amount of heat produced. Dry, seasoned wood generates more heat than freshly-cut and wet logs. The stove fan also helps to transfer the warmth generated by the wood burner into the room, instead of having the hot air rise up.
It is vital to keep in mind that the maximum output of wood heaters should not be reached frequently because continuous high-fire can cause damage to the stove's internals and can cause carbon monoxide to escape into the home.
The performance of a stove can also be improved through regular refueling. Make sure that the log is not too big and is placed on the glowing embers to ensure that it doesn't get in the way of the glass or walls of the stove. It's also recommended to add smaller logs more often, rather than leaving too long between additions.
High efficiency stoves are designed to provide a higher amount of heat output from the same amount of fuel by providing prewarmed combustion air and other design features. These stoves produce less carbon monoxide, toxic gases and smoke than older models.
Some homeowners also choose to install a back boiler stove as part of their heating system. The heat produced by a wood burning stove is used to heat water for a central heating system or hot water tank. This allows the heat to be distributed in the house. This is a cost-effective and cost-effective method to heat the home. However the installation process could take quite a long time. This method requires a separate flue, and the additional energy required to run back boilers will raise the operating costs of wood stoves.
Safety
Fireplaces and wood stoves are attractive and a convenient way to heat a home. However, they're not without risk. Sparks and embers can fly out of a flame and ignite carpeting or furniture, and a hot chimney can lead to fire damage to the structure of your home. top wood burning stoves and maintenance of a wood-burning stove reduces the risk.
Wood-burning stoves need to be checked and maintained regularly to keep them secure and in good condition. This includes checking the flue and chimney at least twice every year for signs of rust or wear, and cleaning them. The chimney should be inspected for creosote at the end of each season. This is highly flammable, and can cause a fire in the chimney.
When buying a stove for wood burning make sure you choose one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another lab recognized for testing. This will guarantee that the stove is constructed to meet federal safety standards, and is designed to allow proper venting. It is also important to inspect the hinges, legs and grates on a stove to ensure that they are in good shape and securely secured to the floor.
If you decide to install a wood stove in your cabin, be sure that the floor underneath it is non-combustible and reinforced. It is also possible to lay a sheet of non-combustible floor tiles over the flooring that is in place, especially if you live in an old mobile home that has combustible floors.
Always burn only seasoned, dry hardwoods. Wood that is damp or green produces excessive smoke and creosote. This flammable byproduct can build in your chimney, which releases harmful chemicals. Don't burn trash, cardboard, newspaper or other combustibles in your wood stove, as they can create dangerous fumes and may not completely burn.
Never "over-fire" your wood stove, i.e. create a bigger fire than the stove is capable of handling. Over-fired stoves can lead to flames escape from the combustion chamber and cause damage to the stove, chimney connector and the chimney itself, as well as burning other combustible materials within your home. Also, make sure that the fire has been completely smothered prior to leaving your cabin or going to the bed. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should be in working order at all times.