Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove is an excellent way to warm up your home, and it can also be used to heat your entire home. Some of these devices emit harmful gasses, such as creosote, which can be dangerous for the health of your family and your property.
A proper care for these stoves is vital. Some important things to be aware of include: avoiding overheating the room, not messing with the fire and using properly 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 cleaner burning alternatives are healthier and more eco-friendly than traditional household coal or wet wood. However, they emit gasses and smoke, and require regular maintenance to keep them operating at their best.
Before you purchase or use any fuel, make sure you read the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that the type is recommended for your stove. Unsuitable fuels can damage your chimney or stove and cause costly repairs and voiding your warranty. It's illegal to use fuel that is not approved particularly in smoke control zones. Look for the 'Ready to Burn' logo, which confirms that the fuel meets the smoke emission and sulphur limits, and can be legally sold for domestic use. The logo is usually displayed along with the details of the price and brand or on the packaging.
The fuels that are suitable for use are prepared (stored and split for several months before use) or kiln-dried to reduce the moisture content which improves heat output and efficiency in combustion. The type of wood chosen must also be suited to your heating needs. Softwoods like spruce and pine offer good value heat however, hardwoods like beech and oak produce greater quantities of hot embers over a longer period of time. Fruitwoods such as cherry and apple can not only be used to heat your home and provide an appealing scent.
If you have an appliance that runs on multiple fuels, you might want to consider a mixed-fuel fire. Combining Smokeless Briquettes with wood will allow the flame to last longer, and will keep your home warm. Briquettes are a great backup and can also keep a chimney from burning by ensuring that the air is moving.
A well-maintained stove will produce more heat, burn less fuel and generate less harmful particles. If you have a gas or wood stove, ensure that it is installed by a licensed installer. Regularly serviced appliances are more efficient and protect the environment and your health by preventing harmful emission.
Design
The design of wood stoves is a crucial aspect to consider when considering their use as a primary or supplementary heating source. Smoke and carbon monoxide are undesirable byproducts that could be harmful to health and the environment. The key to minimizing these emissions is correct operation and a careful design.
Modern wood stoves are designed to be more eco conscious than traditional models. All EPA-certified stoves meet strict emission and energy efficiency regulations which maximize the quantity of heat they generate. You can determine whether a stove is certified by looking for an iron EPA label on the back or by looking through the EPA database. Local hearth products retailers can also be a great source for information on wood stoves, including what size and capacity is best for your space.
Controlling the flow of air through the stove is a key aspect of EPA emission regulations. The firebox of the stove is surrounded by fireproof walls, and there are air vents within these walls, which allow for controlled airflow. Controlling airflow is crucial to ensure that the combustion is at its best and emissions are reduced.
A majority of modern stoves have a baffle to increase the combustion time of the fire, which reduces the amount of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves also employ an catalytic converter to lower NOx emissions. This is more expensive and is utilized only in top-quality wood burning stoves.
Stoves utilize different air control systems to regulate air flow. The majority of wood stoves employ a basic passive air supply which requires the owner (you) to operate the stove correctly to ensure maximum performance. Certain wood stoves have active air sources that are controlled by sensors. These sensors are able to monitor the combustion process and adjust the air supply when necessary.
One of the greatest benefits of wood stoves is that it doesn't require electricity to operate, making it a great alternative for heating homes that are located in remote areas or do not have access to a power grid. But, if you do not have a backup heat source to rely on during an outage or in case of an upcoming snowstorm, a wooden stove should not be the only option for heating your home.
Heat output
Many wood stoves are advertised with the maximum heat output in BTUs. This is a false statement however, since the actual heating capacity of a wood stove is dependent on a variety of factors like the size of the room as well as the degree of insulation.
The climate also has an impact on the heat requirements. To maintain comfort in colder areas, you need stoves that have higher BTU ratings.
Other factors that affect heat production include the kind of wood used and the frequency of refueling. Dry, seasoned firewood produces more heat than fresh cut and wet logs. The use of a stove fan can also help circulate the warmth produced by the wood burner throughout the room, rather than having the hot air rise.
It is important to remember that the maximum power of a wood heater should not be reached often as a continuous high-fire can damage the stove's internals, and result in carbon monoxide leakage into the home.
Regular refueling can also improve the performance of the fireplace. When adding a new log, make sure it's not too large and then place it on the glowing embers so that it doesn't 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 greater heat output using the same amount of fuel. This is achieved by prewarming combustion air and employing other design features. These stoves emit less carbon monoxide, toxins and smoke than earlier models.
Some homeowners also choose to install a back boiler stove as part 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 allows the heat to be distributed throughout the house. This is a reliable and cost-effective way to heat the home. However the installation process can take a long time. This method requires an additional flue, and the energy needed to run a boiler will increase the overall cost.
Safety
Fireplaces and wood stoves are a convenient and attractive way of heating your home. However, they're not free of dangers. woodburning fireplace and embers can spout out of a flame and ignite carpeting or furniture, and a burning chimney that is hot can cause destruction to the structure of your house. The proper use and maintenance of a stove that burns wood reduces these dangers.
To ensure that wood-burning stoves are safe and in good shape, they should be regularly checked and maintained. This includes examining the flue and chimney for signs of rust and wear, and having them cleaned at least once a year. The chimney should also be checked at least once a year for creosote buildup, which is highly flammable and can cause chimney fires.
When you are buying a wood-burning stove, look for one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another lab that is recognized as a testing lab. This will guarantee that the stove has been constructed to meet federal safety standards, and is designed for proper venting. Also, you should examine the hinges, legs and grates of a stove to ensure that they are in good shape and securely attached to the floor.
If you choose to install a wood stove in your cabin, be sure that the floor beneath it is reinforced and non-combustible. You can also put a non-combustible floor tile over the flooring you have in place if it is inflammable.
Only burn wood that is dry and well-seasoned. Wet and green woods produces excessive smoke and creosote. This flammable byproduct may build within your chimney, which releases toxic chemicals. Don't burn cardboard, paper, trash or any other combustibles inside your wood stove as they can create dangerous fumes and may not fully burn.
Never "over fire" your wood stovethat is, to you should not create a bigger fire than the stove can handle. Over-fired stoves can lead to flames escape from the combustion chamber and cause damage to the stove, chimney connector and the chimney itself, as well as burning other combustible material in your home. Make sure the fire has been completely smothered prior to leaving your cabin or going to bed. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should be in working order at all times.