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 home. However, some of these appliances emit harmful gases such as creosote that can be hazardous to the health of your family and property.
A proper care for these stoves is vital. Some important things to keep in mind include making sure that the room is not overheated, not messing with the fire, and using appropriately dried firewood that is properly dried.
Fuel
Wood stoves burn a range of fuel types, including dry wood and manufactured solid fuels like briquettes and fire logs. These clean burning alternative fuels are less polluting than traditional household coal and wet wood, which means they are more sustainable and safer to use. However, they emit smoke and harmful gases and require regular maintenance to keep them working at their peak.
Before purchasing or using any fuel, make sure you read the manufacturer's directions and ensure that the fuel is suitable for your stove. Incorrect fuels can cause damage to your stove or chimney, leading to expensive repairs and invalidating your warranty. It is illegal to use fuel that is not approved, especially in smoke control zones. Look for the "Ready to Burn" logo. This indicates that the fuel is within the sulphur limits and smoke emission limitations and can be legally purchased for domestic use. The logo is usually placed alongside the price and brand details or on the packaging.
The fuels suitable for burning should be seasoned or kiln dried to reduce the moisture content. This can increase the amount of heat produced and improve the efficiency of combustion. The kind of wood you choose must also be suited to your heating needs. Softwoods like pine and spruce offer good value for money, however, hardwoods such as oak or beech generate more hot embers and operate over a longer period of time. Fruitwoods like apple and cherry can not only be used to heat the home but also provide an appealing scent.
If you have a stove that is able to use multiple fuels, you may want to consider a mixed-fuel fire. Combining wood with smokeless Briquettes can help maintain the flames for longer, and will keep your home warm. Briquettes can be used as a backup and can also keep a chimney from burning by keeping the air moving.
A well-maintained stove will generate more heat, use less fuel, and produce less harmful particles. If you have a gas or wood-burning stove, make sure it is installed by a licensed installer. A properly maintained appliance is more economical to run and protect your health and the environment by preventing harmful emissions.
Design
Wood stoves are a fantastic source of heat, but their design is important to think about. Smoke and carbon monoxide are undesirable byproducts that could have a negative impact on health and the environment. A well-planned and efficient operation are key factors in minimizing the emission.
Modern wood stoves are more environmentally sustainable than older models. All EPA certified stoves must comply with strict emission and energy efficiency regulations to maximize the amount of heat produced. Look for an iron EPA certification label on the back of the stove, or look through the EPA's current database to determine the stove is certified. Hearth-related stores in your area are also a great resource for learning more about wood stoves, and what size and capacity is the best fit for your space.
Controlling air flow through the stove is an essential aspect of EPA emission regulations. The stove's firebox is surrounded by walls that are fireproof, and there are air vents within these walls that allow for controlled airflow. The airflow control is necessary to ensure that the combustion process is efficient and emissions are minimized.
Modern stoves often have a baffle to increase the time to burn the fire, which reduces smoke output and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves utilize catalyst converters to decrease NOx emission. This type of system is more expensive and is usually only found in top-end wood stoves.
Stoves also utilize different types of air control systems to regulate airflow in the stove. Most wood stoves use the basic passive air supply, which requires that the user (you) manage the stove in a way that allows maximum performance. Certain wood stoves have active air sources that are controlled by sensors. These sensors monitor the combustion process and adjust the air supply when needed.
One of the biggest advantages of wood stoves is that it doesn't require electricity to run, which makes it an excellent alternative for heating homes that are isolated or without access to a grid. If you don't have a backup source of heat in case of an outage, or if there is an imminent snow storm, wood stoves shouldn't be your sole option for heating your home.
The output of heat
A lot of wood stoves advertise their peak heat output in BTUs. This is a false statement however, since the actual capacity of the wood stove is dependent on a variety of variables such as the size of the room as well as how well it's insulated.
The climate also affects the heat requirements. Colder regions require stoves with a higher BTU rating to ensure the comfort.
The type of wood and the frequency with which you refill your fireplace are other factors that affect the production of heat. Dry, seasoned firewood 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 have the hot air rise.
small wood burning heater is important to keep in mind that the maximum power of a wood heating stove should not be exceeded frequently, 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 efficiency of the fireplace. When adding a log, ensure it's not large and place it on the embers that are glowing so that it does not touch the walls of the stove or the glass pane. It is also recommended to add smaller logs frequently, rather than leaving too long between additions.
High efficiency stoves are designed to provide more heat output from the same amount fuel. This is achieved by prewarming combustion air, and employing other design features. These stoves emit less carbon monoxide, toxins, and smoke than older models.
Some people opt to install boiler stoves as part of their heating system. The heat produced by a wood-burning stove is used to heat water for central heating systems or a hot water tank. This lets the heat be distributed in the house. This is an efficient and cost-effective method to heat a home. However the installation process can take an extended time. This method requires a flue that is not already installed and the energy needed to run the boiler will add to overall costs.
Safety
Wood stoves and fireplaces are attractive and a convenient method of heating a home. However, they are not without risk. A fire can cause carpets or furniture to catch fire, and a hot fireplace can cause structural damage to your home. These dangers can be minimized by maintaining and using the fireplace with wood burning.
To keep wood-burning stoves safe and in good working order, they should be regularly inspected and maintained. This includes inspecting the flue and chimney at least once each year for signs of wear or rust and cleaning them. The chimney should be checked for creosote at the end of each season. This is highly flammable, and can cause an explosion in the chimney.
When you are buying a wood-burning stove make sure you choose one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another lab recognized for testing. This guarantees that the stove is in compliance with federal safety standards and is engineered to vent properly. Check the hinges, legs 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 layer of non-combustible floor tile over the flooring you have, particularly in the case of an old mobile home with flooring that is combustible.
Burn only seasoned, dry hardwoods. Green and damp wood produces excessive smoke and creosote. This is a flammable byproduct that can build up in your chimney, releasing toxic chemicals into your home. Do not burn trash, cardboard, newspaper or any other combustibles inside your wood stove, as they could release dangerous fumes, and they may not burn completely.
Never "over fire" your wood stove -- that is, create a larger fire than the stove can handle. Over firing can result in flames leaving the combustion chamber, causing damage to the stove, chimney connector and chimney itself, and also burning other combustible materials within your home. It is also important to make sure the fire is fully extinguished before leaving your cabin or going to bed. Also, you must have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home.