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 house. However, some of these appliances release harmful gases, like creosote, which can be hazardous to the health of your family and property.
It is crucial to maintain these stoves. The most important things to keep in mind include: not overheating the stove 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 fuels that are clean burning are less polluting than traditional house coal and wet wood, so are more eco-friendly and safer to use. However, they emit gasses and smoke, and require regular maintenance to ensure they are operating at their best.
Before you purchase or use any fuel, read the instructions of the manufacturer and ensure that the fuel you choose to use is suitable for your stove. Unsuitable fuels could damage your chimney or stove which can result in costly repairs and voiding your warranty. Utilizing a fuel that has not been approved may be illegal, especially in areas that control smoke. Look 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 typically displayed on the packaging or alongside the name of the brand and price.
Fuels that are suitable for burning must be seasoned or kiln dried to reduce moisture content. This will improve the amount of heat produced and improve the efficiency of combustion. The type of wood selected should also meet your heating needs. Softwoods like pine and spruce offer good value for money, but hardwoods like oak and beech generate more hot embers and operate over a longer period of time. Fruitwoods such as apple and cherry can not only be used to heat the house and provide an appealing scent.
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 keep your home warm for a longer period of time. The 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 produce more heat, burn less fuel, and produce fewer harmful particles. If freestanding wood burner have a wood or gas-fired stove, make sure it is installed by an approved installer (on a competent person scheme like HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). Regularly maintained appliances are more efficient and protect the environment and your health by preventing harmful emission.
Design
Wood stoves are an excellent source of heat, but their design is important to take into consideration. Carbon monoxide and smoke are unwanted byproducts that can cause harm to health and the environment. The key to minimizing these emissions is correct operation and a careful design.
Modern wood stoves are more environmentally green than older models. All EPA certified stoves must adhere to strict energy efficiency and emission regulations to maximize the amount of heat generated. Look for an iron EPA certification label on the back of the stove or go through the EPA's latest database to see if a particular wood stove is certified. Visit local hearth product retailers who are knowledgeable about the performance characteristics of their products is a great way to learn more about wood stoves and what size and capacity may be the best fit for your home.
Controlling air flow through the stove is an essential element of EPA emission regulations. The firebox of the stove is enclosed by fireproof walls and there are air vents within these walls that allow for controlled airflow. Controlling airflow is vital to ensure that combustion is optimal and emissions are minimal.
A lot of modern stoves come with baffles that extend the amount of time that the fire burns and reduces the amount of gas and smoke that can cause harm. Certain wood stoves include a catalytic converter to reduce NOx emissions. This method is more expensive and used only in high-end wood burning stoves.
Stoves also use different types of air control systems to regulate air flow through the stove. Most wood stoves have a basic passive supply of air which requires that the operator (you) control the stove correctly to achieve maximum efficiency. A few wood stoves also come with active air sources that are controlled by sensors that track the combustion process and adjust the supply of air based on the need.
One of the most significant advantages of a wood stove is that it doesn't require electricity to run, which makes it an excellent alternative heating option for homes that are remote or do not have access to an electric power grid. However, if you do not have a backup heating source to depend on during an outage or in case of an upcoming snowstorm, a wooden stove should not be your sole option for heating your home.
The output of heat
Many wood stoves advertise the maximum heat output in BTUs. This is misleading however, as the actual heating capacity of a wood stove is contingent on a variety of factors such as the size of the room as well as the degree of insulation.
Climate also has an impact on the heat requirements. To maintain comfort the colder regions require stoves that have higher BTU ratings.
Other factors that affect heat production include the type of wood used and the frequency of fueling. Dry, seasoned wood creates more heat than freshly cut and wet logs. The stove fan can also help move the heat generated by the wood burner into the room instead of having the hot air rise up.
It is important to remember that the peak output of a wood heater stove is not to be reached often because continuous high-fire can cause damage to the stove's internals and can cause carbon monoxide to escape into the home.
Regular refueling can improve the performance of the fireplace. When adding a log, ensure that it's not too large and set it on the embers glowing so that it doesn't touch the wall of the stove or the glass pane. You can add smaller logs more frequently, rather than waiting too long between additions.
High efficiency stoves are engineered to achieve a higher level of heat output from the same amount of fuel, by supplying pre-heated combustion air, as well as other design features. These stoves often produce less smoke, toxins and carbon monoxide than previous models.
Some people also opt to install a back boiler stove as part of their heating system. The heat produced by the wood burning stove to warm water in hot water tanks or a central heating system, allowing the heat to be distributed throughout the house. This is an efficient and cost effective way 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 wood stoves.
Safety
Wood stoves and fireplaces are attractive and a convenient way to heat a home. However, they're not free of dangers. A fire can cause carpets or furniture to catch fire and a hot fireplace can cause structural damage to your home. Proper use and maintenance of a stove that burns wood reduces these dangers.
To keep wood-burning stoves safe and in good shape, they should be regularly inspected and maintained. This includes checking the flue and chimney at least once each year for signs of rust or wear and cleaning them. The chimney should be checked for creosote about halfway through the season. It is extremely explosive and can lead to a chimney fire.
When purchasing a wood-burning stove be sure to choose one that is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another lab recognized for testing. This will ensure that the stove is constructed to meet the safety standards of the federal government, and is specifically designed to allow for proper venting. Check the hinges, legs, and grates to ensure they are in good condition and securely attached to a stove's floor.
If you decide to put in a wood stove in your cabin, ensure that the floor underneath it is non-combustible and reinforced. It is also possible to lay a sheet of non-combustible floor tiles over the flooring that is in place, especially if you live in an old mobile home with combustible floors.
Only burn hardwoods that are dry and seasoned. Wood that is damp or green produces excessive smoke and creosote. This flammable byproduct may build up inside your chimney, which releases toxic chemicals. Do not burn cardboard or paper, trash, or any other combustibles as these can cause dangerous fumes, and could not even burn.
Do not "over fire" your wood stove -which is to create a larger fire than the stove can handle. Over-fired stoves can result in flames leaving the combustion chamber, causing damage to the stove, chimney connector and chimney itself, and also burning other combustible material in your home. Also, ensure that the fire has been completely snuffed out prior to leaving your cabin or going to bed. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should be functioning at all times.