Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove can be an ideal place to relax and warm a whole house. However, certain appliances release harmful gases, such as creosote that can be dangerous to your health and property.
It is important to maintain these stoves. Some important things to be aware of include making sure the room isn't overheated and not tampering with the fire, and using appropriately dried firewood that is properly dried.
Fuel
Wood stoves can burn a variety fuels which include dry wood, as well as manufactured solid fuels such as briquettes or fire logs. These alternative fuels that burn cleanly are less prone to pollution than traditional house coal and wet wood, therefore they are more eco-friendly and healthier to use. However, they do still release gasses and smoke, and require regular maintenance to keep them working at their best.
Before using or purchasing any fuel, make sure you read the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that the type is recommended for your stove. Incorrect fuel could damage your chimney and stove, causing expensive repairs or voiding the warranty. The use of a fuel that is not approved could be illegal, especially in smoke control areas. Look for the "Ready to Burn" logo. This confirms that the fuel is within limits of sulphur and smoke emission limitations and can be sold legally for domestic use. The logo is usually displayed along with the details of the price and brand or on the packaging.
The fuels that are suitable for use are seasoned (stored and split for several months prior to use) or kiln-dried to reduce the moisture content, which increases the amount of heat produced and improves the efficiency of combustion. The type of wood you select will also depend on your heating needs. Softwoods like pine and spruce offer good value heat, but hardwoods such as beech and oak generate greater quantities of hot embers over longer periods. Fruitwoods like apple and cherry can be used not only to heat the house but also provide a pleasant aroma.
If you have an appliance that is multi-fuel, you should consider a mixed fuel stove; Combining wood with smokeless briquettes will help keep the flames burning and warm up your home for a longer time. Briquettes can be used as a backup and can also prevent a chimney fire by keeping the air moving.
A well-maintained stove will create more heat, use less fuel, and produce fewer harmful particles. If you own an oil or gas-fired wood stove, make sure it is installed by a registered installer (on a competent person scheme like HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). Regularly serviced appliances are more efficient and help protect your health and the environment by preventing harmful emission.
Design
The design of wood stoves is a crucial consideration for those considering them as a primary or complementing heat source. Unwanted byproducts of combustion, like carbon monoxide and smoke can be harmful to environmental and health impacts. A well-planned and efficient operation are key factors in minimizing the emission.
Modern wood stoves are more eco green than older models. All EPA certified stoves must adhere to strict energy efficiency and emission regulations to maximize the amount of heat generated. cast iron wood burner can check whether a stove is certified by looking for a metal EPA label on the back of the stove or by checking the EPA database. Hearth stores in your area are also a great resource for learning more about wood stoves, and what size and capacity is best for your space.
One of the most important aspects of EPA emission regulations is controlling air flow through the stove. The stove's firebox is surrounded by walls made of fireproof material, and air vents are located in the walls to ensure controlled airflow. Controlling airflow is vital to ensure that combustion is at its best and emissions are minimal.
Many modern stoves use an air baffle that improves the time to burn the fire, which lowers emissions of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves utilize a catalyst converter to reduce NOx emission. This kind of system is a little more expensive and is usually only found in top-end wood stoves.
Stoves also employ different kinds of air control systems to regulate airflow through the stove. The majority of wood stoves use a basic passive air supply, which requires the operator (you) to operate the stove properly to ensure maximum performance. A few wood stoves also come with active air sources that are controlled by sensors that monitor the combustion process and adjust the amount of air based on the need.
One of the greatest benefits of wood stoves is that it doesn't require electricity to operate, which makes it an ideal alternative for heating homes that are located in remote areas or do not have access to an electric grid. If you don't have a backup heating source in the event of an outage or snow, then a wood stove shouldn't be your only option to warm your home.
The output of heat
A lot of wood stoves are advertised as having a peak heat output rate in BTUs. This is a mistake since the actual amount of heat produced of a wood-burning stove is dependent on many variables, including the size of the room, and how well it is insulated.
Climate also has an impact on the heat requirements. To ensure comfort, colder regions need stoves with higher BTU ratings.
Other factors that influence the production of heat are the type of wood used as well as the frequency of refueling. Dry, seasoned firewood creates more heat than fresh cut and wet logs. A stove fan may aid in the circulation of heat produced by the wood burner in the room rather than have the hot air rise up.
It is important to remember that the maximum output of a wood heater is not to be reached frequently as a continuous high-fire could damage the stove's internals, and result in carbon monoxide leakage into the home.
The performance of a stove can also be improved through regular refills. When adding a log make sure it's not too large and set it on the embers that are glowing so that it does not touch the walls of the stove or the glass pane. You can add smaller logs more frequently instead of being too long between additions.
High efficiency stoves are engineered to achieve a higher level of heat output from the same amount of fuel, by providing pre-heated combustion air and other design features. These stoves produce less carbon monoxide, toxins, and smoke than the older models.
Some people opt to install a boiler stove as a component 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 an efficient and cost-effective method of heating a home even though the installation process can be very extensive. This method requires a flue that is not already installed and the energy needed to run the boiler will add to the total cost.
Safety
Wood stoves and fireplaces are a convenient and attractive method of heating your home. However, they are not without risk. Sparks and embers could fly out of a flame and ignite carpeting or furniture, and a hot chimney can lead to fire damage to the structure of your house. Proper use and maintenance of a wood-burning stove reduces the risk.
To ensure that wood-burning stoves are safe and in good working order they must be regularly checked and maintained. This includes checking the chimney and flue for signs of rust and wear and cleaning them at least two times per year. The chimney should also be inspected at least once a year to check for creosote accumulation, which is highly flammable and can cause chimney fires.
When buying a wood-burning fireplace make sure you choose one that is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or another recognized testing laboratory. This ensures that the stove is in compliance with federal safety standards and is engineered to vent properly. Check the legs, hinges, and grates to ensure they are in good shape and securely secured to the floor of the stove.
If you choose to install a wood-burning fireplace in your home, make sure the floor beneath it is sturdy and made of non-combustible materials. You might also want to lay a layer of non-combustible floor tiles over the flooring you have, particularly when you live in an old mobile home that has flooring that is combustible.
Burn only hardwoods that are dry and well-seasoned. Green and damp wood produces excessive smoke and creosote, which is a flammable byproduct, which can build up in your chimney and release toxic chemicals into your home. Don't burn trash, cardboard, newspaper or other combustibles in your wood stove, as they can release dangerous fumes and could not burn completely.
Do not "over-fire" your wood stove, i.e. create a larger fire than the stove is capable of handling. Over-fired stoves can result in flames escaping from the combustion chamber and cause damage to the stove, chimney connector and chimney itself, and also burning other combustible material in your home. It is also crucial to make sure the fire is fully extinguished before leaving your cabin or going to bed. Finally, you should always have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your house.