Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove is a great way to warm your home and it can also warm the entire house. However, certain devices emit harmful gases such as creosote that can be dangerous to the health of your family and property.
It is important to maintain these stoves. Some of the most important points to remember are: not overheating the stove and not tinkering with the stove, and using dried firewood.
Fuel
Wood stoves burn a range of fuel types, including dry wood and manufactured solid fuels like briquettes and fire logs. These more clean burning options are healthier and more sustainable than traditional house coal or wet wood. They still emit harmful smoke and gases, and require regular maintenance to function at their peak.
Before using or purchasing 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, causing expensive repairs or voiding the warranty. It could be illegal to use fuel that is not approved, especially in smoke control zones. Look for the "Ready to Burn" logo. This confirms that the fuel is in compliance with limits of sulphur and smoke emission limits and can be legally purchased for domestic use. The logo is usually displayed along with the details of the price and brand or on the packaging.
Fuels that are suitable for burning must be dried or seasoned to reduce the moisture content. This will improve the amount of heat produced and improve the efficiency of combustion. The type of wood you select must also be suited to your heating requirements. Softwoods such as spruce and pine are good for heating but hardwoods like beech and oak generate greater quantities of hot embers for longer durations. Fruitwoods such as apple and cherry are not just used to heat your home and provide a pleasant scent.
If you have a stove that is able to use 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. The briquettes can be used as a backup and also help keep a chimney from burning by keeping the air moving.
A well-maintained stove will generate more heat, use less fuel, and produce less harmful particles. If you own an oil or gas-fired wood stove, make sure it is installed by an approved installer (on a competent person scheme like HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). A well-maintained appliance will be more economical to run and will protect your health and the environment by reducing harmful emissions.
Design
Wood stoves are a great source of heat, however their design is important to take into consideration. Unwanted byproducts of combustion, such as smoke and carbon monoxide, can be harmful to the environment and health. A well-planned and efficient operation are essential to reducing these emissions.
Modern wood stoves are much more environmentally green than older models. All stoves certified by the EPA meet strict emission and energy efficiency standards which maximize the amount of heat they generate. Look for the metal EPA certification label on the back of the stove or go through the EPA's latest database to determine the stove is certified. Local hearth products retailers are also a great source to learn more about wood stoves, such as the size and capacity that is best for your space.
One of the most important aspects of EPA emission regulations is controlling air flow through the stove. The firebox of the stove is surrounded by a wall of fireproof material, and air vents are positioned in the walls to provide controlled airflow. Airflow control is essential to ensure that combustion is efficient and emissions are minimal.
Modern stoves often have a baffle to increase the time for combustion of the fire, which reduces smoke output and harmful gases. Some wood stoves also use an catalytic converter to lower NOx emissions. This system is more expensive and used only in top-quality wood burning stoves.
Stoves also employ different kinds of air control systems to regulate the air flow through the stove. The majority of wood stoves still utilize a passive air supply which requires the owner (you) to operate the stove to get the best performance. Certain wood stoves have active air sources that are controlled by sensors. These sensors are able to monitor the combustion process and adjust the air supply as required.
Wood stoves can be a fantastic alternative to heating homes in remote areas or who are not connected to the electricity grid. However, if your home does not have a backup heat source to rely on in the event of an outage or an upcoming snowstorm, a wooden stove should not be the sole option for heating your home.
The output of heat
Many wood stoves boast their maximum heat output in BTUs. This is a mistake since the actual amount of heat produced of a wood-burning stove is dependent on a variety of factors such as the dimensions of the room and how well it is insulated.
The climate can also affect the requirements for heat. To maintain comfort in colder areas, you need stoves with higher BTU ratings.
Other factors that affect the production of heat include the type of wood used as well as the frequency of refilling. Dry, seasoned firewood generates more heat than freshly cut and wet logs. A stove fan can also aid in the circulation of heat produced by the wood burner in the room rather than have the hot air rise up.
It is essential to remember that the maximum output of a wood heater is not to be reached frequently because a continuous fire can damage the stove's internals and cause carbon monoxide leakage into the home.
Regular refueling can improve the efficiency of an fireplace. Make sure that the log is not too big and placed on the embers that are glowing, so it does not get in the way of the glass or walls of the stove. It's also best to add smaller logs frequently instead of allowing too much time between additions.
High efficiency stoves are designed to provide greater heat output using the same amount of fuel. This is accomplished by prewarming combustion air before heating it and employing other design features. They typically produce less smoke, toxins and carbon monoxide than older models.
Many people opt to install boiler stoves as part of their heating system. This uses the heat generated by the wood-burning stove to heat water in hot water tanks or a central heating system, allowing heat to be distributed throughout the house. This is a more efficient and economical method of heating a house even though the installation process is quite lengthy. This method requires a separate flue, and the additional energy required to run back boilers will increase the running costs of the wood stove.
Safety
Fireplaces and wood stoves are an attractive and convenient method of heating a home. They do come with risks. Sparks and embers can spout out of a flame and ignite furniture or carpeting A hot chimney can lead to damage to the structure of your house. The dangers can be reduced by maintaining and using 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 checking the flue and chimney for signs of rust and wear, and having them cleaned at least two times per year. The chimney should also be checked every season for creosote buildup, which is highly flammable and can cause chimney fires.
When you are buying a fireplace that burns wood, choose one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories or another recognized testing laboratory. This guarantees that the stove is in compliance with the safety standards set by the federal government and is engineered to vent properly. It is also important to examine the hinges, legs and grates on a stove to ensure that they are in good working order and securely attached to the floor.
If you opt to install a wood-burning stove in your home, ensure that the floor beneath it is reinforced and made from non-combustible materials. It is also possible to lay a layer of non-combustible floor tile over the flooring that is in place, especially in the case of an old mobile home with flooring that is combustible.
Only burn wood that is dry and well-seasoned. 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 cardboard or trash, paper, or any other combustibles as these can cause dangerous fumes and not even ignite.
Don't "over fire" your wood stovewhich is to create a larger fire than the stove can handle. Overfiring can cause flames to escape from the combustion chamber, causing damage to the stove, chimney connector, and the chimney itself. It may also cause the burning of other combustible materials within your home. Also, ensure that the fire has been completely extinguished before leaving your home or going to sleep. Also, you must have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home.