Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove is an excellent way to warm up your home and it can also warm the entire house. However, some of these appliances emit harmful gases like creosote, which could be harmful to health and property.
It is important to take care of these stoves. A few important factors to keep in mind include making sure the room isn't overheated, not messing with the fire and using correctly dried firewood.
Fuel
Wood stoves can burn a variety fuels that include dry wood, as well as manufactured solid fuels like briquettes or fire logs. These clean burning alternative fuels are less prone to pollution than traditional household coal and wet wood, therefore they are more sustainable and healthier to use. They still emit harmful gases and smoke, and require regular maintenance to function at their peak.
Before using or purchasing any fuel, read the instructions of the manufacturer and make sure that the type is recommended for your stove. The wrong fuel can cause damage to your chimney and stove, causing expensive repairs or voiding the warranty. It's illegal to use fuel that is not approved particularly in smoke control zones. Check 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 alongside the price and details about the brand or on the packaging.
Suitable fuels are prepared (stored and split for several months prior to use) or kiln-dried to reduce the moisture content, which increases heat output and efficiency in combustion. The type of wood you select must also be suited to your heating needs. Softwoods such as spruce and pine provide good value heat but hardwoods like beech and oak produce greater quantities of hot embers over a longer period of time. Fruitwoods such as apple and cherry are not just used to heat the house, but also add a pleasant aroma.
If you own an appliance that is multi-fuel, you should consider a mixed fuel fire; combining wood with smokeless briquettes can help maintain the flames and warm your home for a longer period of time. 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 produce more heat, use less fuel, and produce less harmful particles. If you have a gas or wood stove, make sure that it is installed by an authorized installer. A well-maintained appliance is more economical to run and will safeguard your health and the environment by preventing harmful emissions.
Design
Wood stoves are an excellent source of heat, but their design is important to consider. Smoke and carbon monoxide are unwanted byproducts that can have a negative impact on health and the environment. A well-planned and efficient operation are essential to reducing the emission.
Modern wood stoves are designed to be more environmentally conscious than traditional models. All EPA certified stoves must meet strict emission and energy efficiency regulations to maximize the amount of heat produced. You can determine 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. Hearth-related stores in your area are also a great source to learn more about wood stoves, including the size and capacity that is ideal for your home.
A key part of the EPA emission regulations is controlling the flow of air through the stove. The stove's firebox is surrounded by walls made of fireproof material and air vents are placed in the walls to ensure controlled airflow. Controlling airflow is crucial to ensure that the combustion is at its best and emissions are reduced.
A lot of modern stoves come with baffles that prolong the amount of time that the fire burns which reduces the amount fumes and harmful gases. Some wood stoves also use an catalytic converter to lower NOx emissions. This method is more costly and is used only in top-quality wood burning stoves.
Stoves also employ different kinds of air control systems to regulate the airflow through the stove. The majority of wood stoves utilize a passive air supply that requires the user (you) to operate the stove in order to achieve peak performance. Some stoves feature active air supply systems that are controlled by sensors. These sensors are able to monitor the combustion process and adjust the air supply as necessary.
One of the greatest benefits of a wood stove is that it doesn't require electricity to operate, which makes it a great alternative for heating homes that are remote or without access to an electric grid. If you don't have a backup source of heat in case of an outage, or if there is snow, then the wood stove isn't the only option to heat your home.
The output of heat
A lot of wood stoves advertise their maximum heat output in BTUs. This is misleading because the actual output of a wood-burning stove depends on many variables including the size of the room and how well insulated it is.
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 variables that affect the production of heat include the kind of wood used and the frequency of fueling. Dry, seasoned wood creates more heat than freshly-cut and wet logs. A stove fan may assist in spreading the heat generated by the wood burner in the room, rather than having the hot air rise.
It is important to remember that the maximum output of a wood heating stove should not be exceeded frequently as a continuous high-fire can damage the stove's internals and lead to carbon monoxide leakage into the home.
corner wood burner refueling can improve the performance of a fireplace. When adding a log ensure it's not large and set it on the embers glowing so that it does not touch the walls of the stove or the glass pane. It's also best to add smaller logs more frequently rather than allowing too much time between additions.
High efficiency stoves are designed for a higher heat output with the same amount of fuel. This is accomplished by prewarming combustion air before heating it and using other design features. They produce less carbon monoxide, toxins, and smoke than earlier 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 central heating systems or a hot water tank. This allows the heat to be distributed throughout the home. This is a reliable and cost-effective method to heat homes. However the installation process can take a long time. This method requires a separate flue and the additional energy needed to run a back boiler will increase the running costs of wood stoves.
Safety
Wood stoves and fireplaces are a beautiful and efficient method of heating homes. However, they are not without risk. A fire can cause furniture or carpets to catch fire and a hot fireplace can cause structural damage to your home. The dangers can be reduced by maintaining and using the fireplace with wood burning.
Wood-burning stoves need to be checked and maintained regularly to keep them safe and in good condition. This includes examining the chimney and flue for signs of wear and rust, and having them cleaned at least twice per year. The chimney should be checked for creosote about halfway through the season. It is extremely flammable, and can cause an explosion in the chimney.
When buying a stove for wood burning, look for one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another lab recognized for testing. This will assure you that the stove has been constructed to meet the safety standards of the federal government, and is designed to allow proper venting. You should also examine the hinges, legs and grates on a stove to ensure they are in good condition and securely secured to the floor.
If you choose to install a wood stove in your cabin, be sure that the floor underneath it is non-combustible and reinforced. You might also want to lay a sheet of non-combustible floor tiles over the flooring you have, particularly if you live in an old mobile home that has combustible floors.
Burn only seasoned, dry hardwoods. Dry and damp wood creates excessive smoke and creosote. This is a flammable byproduct that can build up in your chimney and release harmful chemicals into your home. Do not burn cardboard or trash, paper or any other combustibles as these can cause dangerous fumes, and could not even ignite.
Never "over-fire" your wood stove, i.e. create a bigger fire than the stove is capable of handling. Over firing can result in flames leaving the combustion chamber and cause damage to the stove, chimney connector and chimney itself, and also burning other combustible material in your home. Also, make sure that the fire is completely extinguished prior to leaving your cabin or going to sleep. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be in working order at all times.