Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove provides an ideal place to warm up and also heat a whole home. However, some of these devices emit harmful gases like creosote which can be dangerous to your health and property.
It is crucial to maintain these stoves. Some important things to remember include: not overheating the stove or tinkering with the fire, and using dry firewood.
Fuel
Wood stoves burn a variety of fuel types which include dry wood and manufactured solid fuels, such as briquettes and fire logs. These alternative fuels that burn cleanly are less polluting than traditional household coal and wet wood, therefore they are more sustainable and safer to use. However, they emit some toxic gases and smoke. They also require regular maintenance to keep them operating at their best.
Check the manufacturer's instructions before purchasing or using any kind of fuel. Make sure it's the right one for your stove. Incorrect fuels can cause damage to your stove or chimney which can result in costly repairs and invalidating your warranty. It could be illegal to use unapproved fuel, especially in smoke control zones. Look for the "Ready to Burn" logo. This confirms that the fuel is within the sulphur limits and smoke emission limits and is legally sold for domestic use. The logo is usually placed on the packaging or alongside the name of the brand and price.
The appropriate fuels are prepared (stored and then split for several months prior to use) or kiln-dried to decrease the moisture content which improves heat output and combustion efficiency. The type of wood chosen must also be suited to your heating requirements. Softwoods such as pine and spruce are excellent value for money, however, hardwoods such as oak or beech generate more hot embers and do so over a longer time. small wood burning stove like apple and cherry are not just used to heat the home, but also add a pleasant aroma.
If you have a multi-fuel stove, think about a mixed fuel fire; combining wood with smokeless briquettes can help maintain the flames and warm up your home for a longer time. The briquettes are a good backup and can also keep a chimney from burning 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 installed by a registered installer (on a competent person scheme such as HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). A well-maintained appliance will be more economical to run and protect your health and the environment by preventing harmful emissions.
Design
Wood stoves are an excellent source of heat, but their design is important to take into consideration. Unwanted byproducts of combustion, like carbon monoxide and smoke, are a concern for health and environmental impact. Proper operation and a well-designed design are essential to reducing these emissions.
Modern wood stoves are designed to be more eco conscious than traditional models. All EPA-certified stoves comply with strict emission and energy efficiency regulations which maximize the amount of heat they produce. Look for a metal EPA certification mark on the back of the stove, or look through the EPA's current database to see the stove is certified. Visiting local hearth products retailers who know the performance of their products is an excellent way to find out more about wood stoves and which size and capacity might be the best fit for your home.
One of the most important aspects of EPA emission regulations is controlling air flow through the stove. The firebox of the stove is surrounded by walls that are fireproof, and there are air vents inside these walls, which allow for controlled airflow. The airflow control is necessary to ensure that the combustion process is efficient and that the emissions are minimized.
A majority of modern stoves have a baffle to increase the time for combustion of the fire, which lowers the amount of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves include an catalytic converter to lower NOx emissions. This system is more expensive and used only in high-end wood burning stoves.
Stoves use different types air control systems to regulate air flow. The majority of wood stoves still utilize a passive air supply which requires the owner (you) to operate the stove properly in order to achieve peak performance. A few wood stoves are also available with active air sources that are controlled by sensors that track the combustion process and adjust the amount of air according to the needs.
One of the most significant advantages of a wood stove is that it does not require electricity to run, which makes it an excellent alternative to heating homes that are located in remote areas or aren't connected to an electric grid. If you don't have a backup heating source in case of an outage or snow, then the wood stove isn't your only option to warm your home.
Heat output
Many wood stoves are advertised with a peak heat output rate in BTUs. This is not accurate since the actual amount of heat produced of a wood-burning fireplace is contingent on many factors such as the size of the room and how well it is insulated.
The climate of the area also plays a role in heating demands. To ensure comfort the colder regions require stoves with higher BTU ratings.
Other variables that affect heat production include the type of wood used as well as the frequency of refueling. Dry, seasoned firewood generates more heat than freshly cut and wet logs. The use of a stove fan also helps to circulate the warmth produced by the wood stove into the room, rather than having the hot air rise up.
It is crucial to remember that the highest output of wood heater stoves is not to be reached often as continuous high firing causes damage to the stove's interior and may cause carbon monoxide to escape into the home.
The performance of a stove can also be improved by regular refueling. When adding a log ensure it's not large and set it on the glowing embers so that it doesn't touch the wall 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 greater heat output using the same amount fuel. This is accomplished by prewarming combustion air before heating it and employing other design features. They typically produce less smoke, toxins and carbon monoxide than previous models.
Some homeowners also choose to install a back boiler stove as part of their heating system. It uses the heat produced by the wood-burning stove to heat water in hot water tanks or a central heating system, which allows the heat to be distributed throughout a house. This is an efficient and cost-effective method of heating a home. However, the installation process can take quite a long time. This method requires a separate flue and the additional energy needed to run a back boiler will increase the overall running costs of wood stoves.
Safety
Wood stoves and fireplaces are attractive and a convenient way to heat a home. However, they're not without risk. Sparks and embers can spout out of a fire and ignite carpeting or furniture A burning chimney that is hot can cause fire destruction to the structure of your house. The proper use and maintenance of a wood-burning stove minimizes these dangers.
To keep wood-burning stoves safe and in good working order, they should be regularly inspected and maintained. This includes examining the chimney and flue for signs of rust and wear, and cleaning them at least twice per year. The chimney should be checked for creosote at the end of each season. It is extremely flammable and could cause an explosion in the chimney.
When purchasing a wood-burning stove make sure you choose one that is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another lab recognized for testing. This assures that the stove is in compliance with the safety standards set by the federal government and is engineered to vent properly. Check the legs, hinges and grates to make sure they are in good shape and securely attached to the floor of the stove.
If you choose to install a wood stove in your cabin, make sure that the floor beneath it is reinforced and non-combustible. You might also want to lay a piece of non-combustible floor tiles over the flooring that is in place, especially in the case of an old mobile home that has flooring that is combustible.
Always burn only seasoned and dry hardwoods. Green and damp wood produces excessive smoke and creosote, an ignitable byproduct that could build up in your chimney and release toxic chemicals into your home. Do not burn cardboard, paper, trash or any other combustibles because they can release dangerous fumes and not even burn.
Never "over-fire" your wood stove, i.e. create a larger fire than your stove can handle. Over-fired stoves can result in flames escaping from the combustion chamber, causing damage to the chimney connector, the stove and the chimney itself, and also burning other combustible material in your home. It is also essential to make sure the fire is completely extinguished prior to leaving your home or going to sleep. Also, you must have functioning carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in your house.