9 Things Your Parents Teach You About Wood Heater Stove
Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove provides a warm and cozy space to warm up and also provide warmth to a whole house. Certain stoves emit harmful gases, such as creosote, which could be harmful to the health of your family and your property.
A proper care for these stoves is essential. Some of the most important points to remember include: not overheating the area or tinkering with the fire, and using dry firewood.
Fuel
Wood stoves burn a range of fuel types which include dry wood and manufactured solid fuels such as briquettes and fire logs. These cleaner burning alternatives are healthier and more eco-friendly than traditional household coal or wet wood. However, they do still release toxic gases and smoke. They also require regular maintenance to keep them working at their best.
Read the instructions of the manufacturer prior to buying or using any kind of fuel. Make sure it is the right one for your stove. Incorrect fuels can cause damage to your chimney or stove and cause costly repairs and voiding your warranty. The use of a fuel that is not approved could also be unlawful, particularly in areas with smoke control. Look for the "Ready to Burn" logo. This confirms that the fuel is in compliance with smoke emission and sulphur limit limits and is legally purchased for domestic use. The logo is usually displayed on the packaging or alongside the name of the brand and its price.
The fuels that are suitable for use must be prepared (stored and then split for several months prior to use) or kiln-dried to reduce the moisture content which improves heat output and efficiency in combustion. The kind of wood you choose must also be suited to your heating needs. Softwoods like pine and spruce offer an excellent value for money however hardwoods such as oak and beech generate more hot embers and do so over a longer period of time. Fruitwoods such as apple and cherry are not just used to heat your home, but also add an appealing scent.
If you have a stove that uses different fuels, you might be interested in a mixed fuel fire. Combining wood with smokeless Briquettes will allow the flame to last longer and help keep your home warm. Briquettes are a great alternative and can prevent a chimney-fire by ensuring that the air is flowing.
A well-maintained stove will create more heat, burn less fuel and create less 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 serviced appliances are more efficient and protect 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 minimizing these emissions is correct operation and careful design.
Modern wood stoves are much more environmentally friendly than older models. All EPA certified stoves must adhere to strict emission and energy efficiency regulations to maximize the amount of heat generated. Look for an cast iron wood burning stove EPA certification mark on the back of the stove, or go through the EPA's latest database to determine if a particular wood stove is certified. Visit local hearth product retailers who know the performance of their inventory is also a great way to learn more about wood stoves and what size and capacity may be most suitable for your space.
Controlling the flow of air through the stove is an essential element of EPA emission regulations. The stove's firebox is surrounded by fireproof walls, and there are air vents in these walls to allow for controlled airflow. The airflow control is necessary to ensure that the combustion process is optimal and that the emissions are minimized.
Modern stoves often have a baffle to increase the combustion time of the fire, which lowers smoke output and harmful gases. Some wood stoves also use catalytic converters to cut down on NOx emissions. This kind of system is more expensive and is usually only used in high-end wood stoves.
Stoves also use different types of air control systems to regulate the airflow through the stove. The majority of freestanding wood burner stoves still use a basic passive air supply, which requires the operator (you) to operate the stove properly to ensure maximum performance. Some wood stoves are also available with active air supply, which are controlled by sensors that track the combustion process and adjust the flow of air according to the needs.
One of the biggest advantages of a wood burning stoves small stove is that it doesn't require electricity to operate, which makes it an ideal alternative for heating homes that are remote or aren't connected to a power grid. If you don't have a backup source of heating in the event of an outage or an imminent snow storm, a wood stove shouldn't be your sole option for heating your home.
The output of heat
Many wood stoves boast their peak heat output in BTUs. This is a mistake because the actual output of a wood-burning stove is dependent on many variables such as the size of the room and the degree of insulation it has.
The climate of the area also plays a role in heating demands. Colder regions require stoves with greater BTU rating to maintain the temperature.
Other factors that affect the production of heat include the kind of wood burning stove in conservatory used and the frequency of refueling. Dry, seasoned wood creates more heat than freshly-cut and wet logs. A stove fan can help circulate the heat produced by the wood burner within the room, rather than having the hot air rise up.
It is important to remember that the maximum output of a wood heater stove is not to be reached often because continuous high-fire can cause damage to a stove's innards and can cause carbon monoxide gas to leak 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 glowing embers so that it doesn't touch the glass or the walls of the stove. You can add smaller logs more frequently, rather than taking too long between additions.
High efficiency stoves are designed for a higher heat output with the same amount fuel. This is accomplished by prewarming combustion air before heating it and using other design features. These stoves often produce less smoke, toxins, and carbon monoxide than older models.
Some people opt to install a boiler stove as a part of their heating system. The heat generated 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 throughout the home. This is an efficient and cost-effective method of heating a home however the process of installation can be very extensive. This method requires a separate flue and the additional energy required to run back boilers will increase the running costs of the indoor wood burning stove stove.
Safety
Wood stoves and fireplaces are attractive and a convenient method of heating a home. However, they aren't without risk. Sparks and embers can fly out of a fire and ignite furniture or carpeting A hot chimney could cause fire damage to the structure of your house. These dangers can be minimized by using and maintaining an open fireplace that burns wood.
To ensure that wood-burning stoves are safe and in good working order they must be regularly checked and maintained. This includes examining the chimney and flue for signs of rust and wear and cleaning them at least two times per year. The chimney should also be inspected every season to check for creosote accumulation, which is highly flammable and may cause chimney fires.
When you are buying a wood-burning stove make sure you choose one that is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another lab that is recognized as a testing lab. This ensures that the stove is in compliance with federal safety standards and is engineered to vent properly. It is also important to examine the hinges, legs and grates on a stove to ensure they are in good shape and securely attached to the floor.
If you decide to install a wood-burning stove inside your cabin, make sure the floor beneath it is a sturdy and constructed from non-combustible materials. You can also install tiles that are not combustible over your flooring when it is inflammable.
Always burn only seasoned, dry hardwoods. Wood that is damp and green produces excessive smoke and creosote, an ignitable byproduct that could build up in your chimney and release toxic chemicals into your home. Avoid burning cardboard, paper, trash or any other combustibles on your wood stove, as they can create dangerous fumes and could not fully burn.
Never "over-fire" your wood stove, i.e. create a bigger fire than the stove can handle. Over-fired stoves can lead to flames escape from the combustion chamber, causing damage to the chimney connector, the stove and the chimney itself, and also burning other combustible materials within your home. Also, ensure that the fire has been completely smothered prior to leaving your cabin or retiring to the bed. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be functioning throughout the day.