Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove is a wonderful way to warm up your home and can also warm the entire home. Some of these appliances emit harmful gases, such as creosote, which can be dangerous for health and property.
Proper care of these stoves is essential. The most important things to keep in mind are to avoid overheating the space and not tinkering with the stove, and using dried firewood.
Fuel
Wood stoves burn a variety of fuel types, including dry wood and manufactured solid fuels like briquettes and fire logs. These clean burning alternative fuels are more environmentally friendly than traditional house coal and wet wood, so are more sustainable and healthier to use. However, they do still release toxic gases and smoke. They also require regular maintenance to keep them operating at their peak.
Before using or purchasing any fuel, check the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that the type is recommended for your stove. Incorrect fuels can cause damage to your stove or chimney which can result in costly repairs and voiding your warranty. It's illegal to use fuel that is not approved particularly 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 is legally purchased for domestic use. The logo is often placed alongside the details of the price and brand or on the packaging.
Suitable fuels are prepared (stored and then split for a few months before use) or kiln-dried to decrease the moisture content which boosts heat output and efficiency in combustion. The type of wood selected should also meet your heating needs. Softwoods such as pine and spruce provide excellent value for money, but hardwoods like oak and beech produce more hot embers and do so for a longer time. Fruitwoods like apple and cherry can not only be used to heat your home but also provide an appealing scent.
If you have a stove that is able to use different fuels, you might want to consider a mixed-fuel fire. Combining Smokeless Briquettes with wood will allow the flame to last longer and keep your home warm. Briquettes are a great alternative and can keep a chimney from burning by keeping the air flowing.
A well-maintained stove will generate more heat, use less fuel and generate fewer harmful particles. If you have an oil or gas-fired wood stove, make sure it is fitted by an approved installer (on a competent person scheme like HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). Regularly maintained appliances are more efficient and safeguard the environment and your health by preventing harmful emissions.
Design
The design of wood stoves is an important aspect to consider when considering them as a primary or complementing source of heat. Smoke and carbon monoxide are undesirable byproducts that may have a negative impact on health and the environment. The key to reducing these emissions is correct operation and a careful design.
Best wood burning stoves are more eco green than older models. All EPA certified stoves must comply with strict energy efficiency and emission regulations to maximize the amount of heat generated. Look for the metal EPA certification label on the back of the stove, or check out the EPA's current database to determine whether a particular stove is certified. Hearth stores in your area can also be a good source for information on wood stoves, such as the size and capacity that is ideal for your home.
One of the main components of EPA emission regulations involves controlling air flow through the stove. The firebox of the stove is enclosed by walls that are fireproof, and there are air vents within these walls, which allow for controlled airflow. Airflow control is essential to ensure that the combustion is optimal and emissions are minimized.
Modern stoves often have a baffle to increase 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 type of system is a little more expensive and is generally only found in top-end wood stoves.
Stoves employ different types of air control systems to regulate the flow of air. The majority of wood stoves utilize a passive air supply, which requires the operator (you) to operate the stove in order to achieve peak performance. A few wood stoves come with active air supplies that are controlled by sensors that track the combustion process and adjust the amount of air as needed.
best wood burning stove of the biggest advantages of a wood stove is that it doesn't require electricity to operate, which makes it a great alternative to heating homes that are remote or do not have access to an electric power grid. However, if you do not have a backup heating source that you can rely on in the event of an outage or snow storms, a wood stove is not the only option for warming your home.
Heat output
Many wood stoves advertise an output of heat at the peak in BTUs. This is a false statement however, as the actual capacity to heat a wood stove is contingent on a variety of variables such as the size of the room as well as the degree of insulation.
The climate of the region can also influence the heating demands. To ensure comfort in colder areas, you need stoves with higher BTU ratings.
Other factors that influence the production of heat include the type of wood used and the frequency of fueling. Dry, seasoned firewood generates more heat than freshly cut and wet logs. The stove fan also assists in circulate the warmth produced by the wood burner throughout the room, rather than having the hot air rise up.
It is crucial to remember that the peak output of wood heater stoves is not to be reached often since continuous high fire can cause damage to the stove's internals and may cause carbon monoxide to escape into the home.
The performance of a stove could also be improved by regular refills. Make sure the log isn't too big and is placed on the glowing embers, so it does not contact the glass or walls of the stove. It's also best to add smaller logs more often, rather than leaving too much time between additions.
High efficiency stoves are engineered to produce a greater amount of heat output using 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 earlier models.
Some people choose to install boiler stoves as component of their heating system. The heat generated by a wood burning stove is used to heat water for central heating systems or hot water tank. This allows the heat to be distributed throughout the house. This is a more efficient and economical method to heat a home even though the installation process can be quite extensive. This method requires a separate flue and the additional energy needed to run back boilers will increase the overall running costs of the wood stove.
Safety
Wood stoves and fireplaces are a beautiful and efficient way to heat a home. They do come with risks. A fire can cause carpets or furniture to catch fire and a hot fireplace can cause structural damage to your home. These risks can be avoided by maintaining and using the fireplace with wood burning.
Wood-burning stoves should be inspected and maintained regularly to ensure they are safe and in good working condition. This includes inspecting the flue and chimney at least once a year for signs of wear or rust and cleaning them. The chimney should be checked for creosote at the end of each season. It is extremely flammable, and can cause a fire in the chimney.
When buying a stove for wood burning be sure to choose one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another recognized testing lab. This ensures that the stove meets federal safety standards and is engineered to vent properly. Check the hinges, legs and grates to ensure they are in good shape and securely attached to the floor of the stove.
If you choose to install a wood-burning stove inside your cabin, make sure the floor beneath it is reinforced and made from non-combustible material. You can also put tiles that are not combustible over your flooring in the event that it is fire-proof.
Always burn only seasoned and dry hardwoods. Wet and green woods can produce excessive smoke and creosote. This flammable byproduct could build within your chimney, which releases toxic chemicals. Avoid burning trash, cardboard, newspaper or other combustibles in your wood stove, since they can release dangerous fumes and could not completely burn.
Never "over fire" your wood stove- that is, you should not create a bigger fire than the stove can handle. Overfiring can cause flames to escape from the combustion chamber, which can damage to the chimney, stove connector, and the chimney itself. It could also ignite other combustible materials within your home. Also, ensure that the fire is completely smothered prior to leaving your cabin or retiring to bed. Finally, you should always have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home.