Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove is a great method to warm your home and can also warm the entire house. Some of these devices emit harmful gasses like creosote which could be harmful to the health of your family and your property.
A proper care for the stoves is crucial. Some important things to remember include: not overheating the area or tinkering with the fire, and using dry firewood.
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 clean burning alternative fuels are less prone to pollution than traditional house coal and wet wood, therefore they are more eco-friendly and healthier to use. However, they emit some smoke and harmful gases and require regular maintenance to keep them operating at their best.
Make sure you read the manufacturer's guidelines prior to buying or using any kind of fuel. Make sure it's the right one for your stove. Unsuitable fuel can damage your stove and chimney and cause costly repairs or voiding the warranty. Using an unapproved fuel could also be unlawful, particularly in areas with smoke control. Look for the 'Ready to Burn logo, which indicates that the fuel is in compliance with the sulphur and smoke emission standards, and can be legally sold for domestic use. The logo is usually placed on the packaging or alongside the brand name and price.
The fuels suitable for combustion should be seasoned or kiln dried to reduce moisture content. This can increase heat output and combustion efficiency. The type of wood you select must also be suited to your heating requirements. Softwoods such as pine and spruce offer an excellent value for money however, hardwoods such as oak or beech generate more hot embers and do so for a longer time. Fruitwoods like apple and cherry can not only be used to heat the home and provide a pleasant aroma.
If you have a multi-fuel stove, consider a mixed fuel stove; mixing smokeless briquettes with wood will help keep the flames burning and warm your home for a longer time. Briquettes can be a great backup and can also prevent a chimney-fire by keeping the air flowing.
A well-maintained stove will produce more heat and burn less fuel while producing fewer harmful particles. If you own an oil or gas-fired wood stove, make sure it is fitted by an authorized installer (on a competent person scheme such as HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). Regularly maintained appliances are more efficient and safeguard your health and the environment by preventing harmful emissions.
Design
The design of wood stoves is an important consideration for those considering them as a primary or supplementary heating source. The unwelcome byproducts of combustion, such as smoke and carbon monoxide, can be harmful to health and environmental impact. The key to reducing these emissions is correct operation and careful design.
Modern wood stoves are designed to be more environmentally conscious than traditional models. All EPA certified stoves must comply with strict energy efficiency and emission regulations to maximize the amount of heat generated. 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 can also be a good source for information on wood stoves, such as the size and capacity that is ideal for your home.
Controlling the flow of air through the stove is an essential part of EPA emission regulations. The firebox of the stove is enclosed by walls of fireproof material and air vents are located in the walls to provide controlled airflow. The control of airflow is essential to ensure that the combustion process is in the best possible way and emissions are minimized.
Many modern stoves have baffles that increase the amount of time that the fire burns and reduces the amount of fumes and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves utilize catalyst converters to cut down on NOx emission. This is more costly and is used only in high-end wood burning stoves.
Stoves use different types air control systems to regulate air flow. Most wood stoves use a basic air supply that is passive which requires that the owner (you), operate the stove properly to ensure the best performance. Some wood stoves 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.
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 heating source to rely on in the event of an outage or in case of a snowstorm, a wood stove is not the only option for warming your home.
Heat output
A lot of wood stoves are advertised as having an output of heat at the peak in BTUs. This is misleading as the actual heat output of a wood-burning stove depends on many factors such as the size of the room and the degree of insulation it has.
The climate can also affect the heating requirements. Regions that are colder require stoves with greater BTU rating to maintain the temperature.
Other variables that affect the production of heat include the kind of wood used and the frequency of refilling. Dry, seasoned wood generates more heat than freshly cut and wet logs. The stove fan can also help move the heat generated by the wood stove into the room, instead of having the hot air rise up.
It is important to remember that the peak output of wood heaters should not be a constant event since continuous high fire can cause damage to the stove's internals and can cause carbon monoxide gas to leak into the home.
Regular refueling can also improve the efficiency of the fireplace. When adding a new 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 instead of allowing too long between additions.
High efficiency stoves are engineered to produce a higher heat output with the same amount fuel. This is achieved by prewarming combustion air and employing other design features. These stoves often produce less smoke, toxins, and carbon monoxide than older models.
Some people choose to install the boiler stove as component of their heating system. The heat produced by a wood-burning stove is used to heat water for central heating systems or a hot water tank. This lets the heat be distributed throughout the house. This is a reliable and cost-effective method of heating the home. However, the installation process can take an extended time. This method requires an additional flue and the energy required to run the boiler will add to overall costs.
Safety
Fireplaces and wood stoves can be a convenient and attractive method of heating your home. However, they are not without risk. Sparks and embers can spout from a burning fire and ignite carpeting or furniture, and a hot chimney could cause destruction to the structure of your house. Proper use and maintenance of a wood-burning stove reduces these dangers.
To ensure that wood-burning stoves remain safe and in good shape, 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 be checked for creosote about halfway through the season. This is highly explosive and can lead to a chimney fire.
When purchasing shed wood burner with wood burning make sure you choose one that has been endorsed by Underwriters Laboratories or another recognized testing laboratory. This ensures that the stove complies with the safety standards set by the federal government and is designed to ventilate properly. Also, you should inspect the hinges, legs and grates of the stove to ensure they are in good shape and securely attached to the floor.
If you decide to put in a wood stove in your cabin, be sure that the floor underneath it is reinforced and non-combustible. You can also lay tiles that are not combustible over your existing flooring in the event that it is combustible.
Only burn wood that is seasoned and dry. Dry and damp wood creates an excessive amount of smoke and creosote. It is which is a flammable byproduct, which can build up in your chimney and release toxic chemicals into your home. Do not burn cardboard, paper, trash, or any other combustibles, as they can create dangerous fumes and not even ignite.
Don't "over-fire" your wood stove, i.e. create a larger fire than the stove can handle. Over-fired stoves can result in flames escape from the combustion chamber, causing damage to the chimney connector, the stove and the chimney itself, as well as burning other combustible materials in your home. Also, ensure that the fire is completely smothered before leaving your home or going to sleep. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be working at all times.