Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove is an ideal place to warm up and also warm a whole house. However, certain devices emit harmful gases such as creosote that could be harmful to health and property.
Proper care of these stoves is essential. Some important things to consider include making sure the room isn't overheated making a mess of the fire, and using appropriately dried firewood.
Fuel
Wood stoves can be used to burn a variety of fuels that include dry wood, as well as manufactured solid fuels like briquettes or fire logs. These fuels that are clean burning are less prone to pollution than traditional household coal and wet wood, so are more sustainable and healthier to use. However, they release gasses and smoke, and require regular maintenance to keep them operating at their best.
Read the instructions of the manufacturer prior to purchasing or using any type of fuel. Make sure it is the right fuel for your stove. Unsuitable fuel can damage your chimney and stove, causing expensive repairs or invalidating the warranty. Utilizing a fuel that has not been approved may also be illegal, particularly in smoke control areas. Look for the "Ready to Burn" logo. This confirms that the fuel is within smoke emission and sulphur limit limits and is legally purchased for domestic use. The logo is often displayed along with the price and details about the brand or on the packaging.
The fuels that are suitable for use are prepared (stored and split for several months prior to use) or kiln-dried to decrease the moisture content, which increases heat output and efficiency in combustion. The type of wood you select should also meet your heating requirements. Softwoods such as pine and spruce are an excellent value for money but hardwoods like oak and beech generate more hot embers and operate over a longer period of time. Fruitwoods such as cherry and apple not only offer efficient heating, but also enhance the ambience by releasing pleasant aromas.
If you have 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 back-up and can also prevent a chimney fire by keeping the air moving.
A well-maintained stove will generate more heat, use less fuel and generate less harmful particles. If small wood burning heater have a gas or oil-fired wood stove, ensure it is installed by a registered installer (on a competent person scheme such as HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). A properly maintained appliance is more economical to run and will protect your health and the environment by reducing harmful emissions.
Design
The design of wood stoves is an important consideration for those considering their use as a primary or complementing source of heat. Smoke and carbon monoxide are undesirable byproducts that could cause harm to health and the environment. The key to reducing the emissions is to operate with a proper manner and careful design.
Modern wood stoves are designed to be more eco conscious than traditional models. All EPA certified stoves must comply with strict energy efficiency and emission regulations to maximize the amount of heat generated. Look for a metal EPA certification label on the back of the stove, or check out the EPA's current database to see whether a particular stove is certified. Visit local hearth product retailers who know the performance characteristics of their selection is a great way to learn more about wood stoves and which size and capacity may be the best fit for your home.
One of the most important aspects of EPA emission regulations involves controlling air flow through the stove. The firebox of the stove is enclosed by a wall of fireproof materials, and air vents are positioned within the walls to allow controlled airflow. Controlling airflow is vital to ensure that the combustion is efficient and emissions are reduced.
Many modern stoves use an air baffle that improves the time for combustion of the fire, which reduces the amount of smoke and harmful gases. Some wood stoves also use a catalytic converter to reduce NOx emissions. This type of system is more expensive and is typically only used in high-end wood stoves.
Stoves also utilize different types of air control systems to regulate airflow through the stove. Most wood stoves have an inherently passive air supply and require that the owner (you) control the stove correctly to achieve maximum efficiency. Certain wood stoves have active air sources that are controlled by sensors. These sensors monitor the combustion process, and adjust the air supply as needed.
Wood stoves can be a fantastic alternative to heating homes in remote areas or those without access to the electric grid. However, if you do not have a backup heating source that you can rely on during a power outage or an upcoming snowstorm, a wooden stove should not be the sole option for heating your home.
Heat output
A lot of wood stoves advertise their peak heat output in BTUs. This is misleading because the actual output of a wood-burning stove is dependent on many variables, including the size of the room and the degree of insulation it has.
The climate of the area is also a factor in heat demands. To maintain comfort in colder areas, you need stoves with higher BTU ratings.
The type of wood you use and the frequency with which you replenish your fireplace are also factors that influence heat production. Dry, seasoned firewood produces more heat than fresh cut and wet logs. A stove fan may assist in spreading the heat generated by the wood stove in the room rather than have the hot air rise.
It is important to remember that the peak output of wood heaters should not be reached frequently since continuous high fire can cause damage to the stove's interior and can cause carbon monoxide to leak into the home.
Regular refueling can also improve the performance of a fireplace. When adding a log ensure that 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 designed to provide a higher heat output with the same amount fuel. This is achieved by prewarming combustion air and using other design features. These stoves often produce less smoke, toxins and carbon monoxide than previous models.
Many people opt 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 a central heating system or hot water tank. This lets the heat be distributed in the house. This is a more efficient and economical method of heating a home however the process of installation 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 convenient and attractive way of heating your home. They are not without risks. A fire could cause furniture or carpets to catch fire, and a hot fireplace can cause structural damage to your home. These risks can be avoided by maintaining and using a wood-burning fireplace.
To keep wood-burning stoves safe and in good shape, they should be regularly inspected and maintained. This includes examining the chimney and flue for signs of rust and wear, and having them cleaned at least two times per year. The chimney should also be examined halfway through the season for creosote buildup. This is highly flammable and can cause chimney fires.
When you are buying a fireplace that burns wood select one that has been endorsed by Underwriters Laboratories or another recognized testing laboratory. This guarantees that the stove is in compliance with the safety standards of the federal government and is designed to ventilate properly. 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 insulated and non-combustible. You can also put a non-combustible floor tile over your flooring when it is fire-proof.
Only burn hardwoods that are dry and seasoned. Green and damp wood produces an excessive amount of smoke and creosote. It is an ignitable byproduct that could build up in your chimney, releasing toxic chemicals into your home. Avoid burning cardboard, paper, trash or any other combustibles, as these can cause dangerous fumes, and could not even ignite.
Don't "over-fire" your wood stove, i.e. create a larger fire than the stove is capable of handling. Over-fired stoves can lead to flames escape from the combustion chamber and cause damage to the chimney connector, the stove and the chimney itself, as well as burning other combustible materials in your home. It is also essential to make sure the fire is completely snuffed out before leaving your home or going to bed. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should be functioning throughout the day.