Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove
A wood stove is an excellent method to warm your home, and it can also be used to heat your entire house. However, some of these appliances release harmful gases, like creosote, which could be harmful to your health and property.
A proper care for these stoves is vital. Some important things to remember are: not overheating the stove or tinkering with the stove, and using dried firewood.
Fuel
Wood stoves can be used to burn a variety of fuels that include dry wood as well as manufactured solid fuels such as briquettes or fire logs. These more clean burning options are healthier and better for the environment than traditional household coal or wet wood. However, they release gasses and smoke, and require regular maintenance to keep them operating at their best.
Before you purchase or use any fuel, read the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that the fuel is suitable for your stove. Unsuitable fuels can damage your stove or chimney and cause costly repairs and invalidating your warranty. It is illegal to use unapproved fuel particularly in smoke control zones. Check for the 'Ready to Burn logo, which indicates that the fuel is in compliance with the smoke emission and sulphur limits, and can be legally sold for domestic use. indoor wood burning stove is often displayed alongside the details of the price and brand or on the packaging.
The fuels that are suitable for use must be seasoned (stored and then split for several months before use) or kiln-dried to decrease the amount of moisture which boosts heat output and efficiency in combustion. The kind of wood you choose will also depend on your heating requirements. Softwoods like spruce and pine provide good value heat, but hardwoods such as beech and oak generate a higher output of hot embers over a longer period of time. Fruitwoods like apple and cherry not only offer efficient heating, but also improve the ambience of your home by releasing pleasant aromas.
If you have a stove that is able to use different fuels, you might want to consider a mixed-fuel fire. Combining Smokeless Briquettes with wood will aid in keeping the flames going for longer and keep your home warm. Briquettes are a great backup and can also prevent a chimney-fire by keeping the air flowing.
A stove that is maintained will produce more heat and burn less fuel, while also releasing less harmful particles. If you have a gas or oil-fired wood stove, ensure that it is installed by an authorized installer (on a competent person scheme like HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). Regularly serviced appliances are more efficient and help protect the environment and your health by preventing harmful emissions.
Design
Wood stoves are a fantastic source of heat, but their design is crucial to think about. Smoke and carbon monoxide are undesirable byproducts that could have a negative impact on health and the environment. Correct operation and careful design are the most important factors in reducing these emissions.
Modern wood stoves are more eco friendly than older models. All EPA certified stoves must meet strict emission and energy efficiency regulations to maximize the amount of heat generated. You can determine whether a wood stove is certified by looking for a metal EPA label on the back or checking the EPA database. Local hearth products retailers are also a great source to learn more about wood stoves, such as the size and capacity that is ideal for your home.
Controlling the flow of air through the stove is a crucial part of EPA emission regulations. The stove's firebox is enclosed by fireproof walls, and there are air vents in these walls to allow for controlled airflow. Controlling airflow is vital to ensure that the combustion is at its best and emissions are minimized.
Modern stoves often have a baffle that increases the time to burn the fire, which lowers emissions of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves include an catalytic converter to lower NOx emissions. This type of system is more expensive and is generally only used in high-end wood stoves.
Stoves also use different types of air control systems to regulate the airflow in the stove. The majority of wood stoves utilize an inherently passive supply of air which requires that the user (you) control the stove in a way that allows maximum efficiency. Certain wood stoves have active air supplies that are controlled by sensors. These sensors monitor the combustion process and adjust the air supply when needed.
Wood stoves are an excellent alternative to heating homes in remote areas or that aren't connected to the electric grid. If you do not have a backup heating source in the event of a power outage, or if there is an imminent snow storm, the wood stove isn't the only option to heat your home.
Heat output
Many wood stoves advertise their peak heat output in BTUs. This is not accurate because the actual output of a wood-burning stove is dependent on a variety of factors such as the size of the room and the degree of insulation it has.
The climate also affects the requirements for heat. To keep warm in colder areas, you need stoves that have higher BTU ratings.
The type of wood you use and the frequency you refuel your fireplace are additional factors that influence heat production. Dry, seasoned wood generates more heat than freshly-cut and wet logs. The stove fan also assists in move the heat generated by the wood burner throughout the room instead of having the hot air rise up.
It is vital to keep in mind that the maximum output of a wood heater stove should not be a constant event since continuous high fire can cause damage to a stove's innards and can cause carbon monoxide gas to leak into the home.
The performance of a stove can also be improved by regular fueling. Make sure that the log isn't too big and that it is placed on the embers that are glowing, so it does not touch the glass or the walls of the stove. It is also recommended to add smaller logs more frequently, rather than leaving 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, and employing other design features. These stoves often produce less smoke, toxins and carbon monoxide than older models.
Some people opt to install boiler stoves as component of their heating system. It uses the heat produced by the wood-burning stove to heat the water in the hot water tank or central heating system, which allows the heat to be distributed throughout a home. This is a reliable and cost-effective way to heat homes. However, the installation process can take quite a long time. This method requires an additional flue and the energy required to run the boiler can increase the overall cost.
Safety
Wood stoves and fireplaces are an attractive and convenient method of heating a home. However, they are not without risk. A fire could cause carpets or furniture to catch fire, and a hot fireplace can cause structural damage to your home. Proper use and maintenance of a wood-burning stove reduces the risk.
To ensure that wood-burning stoves are safe and in good shape they must be regularly inspected and maintained. This includes checking the flue and chimney for signs of rust and wear, and cleaning them at least once a year. The chimney must be inspected for creosote half-way through the season. This is highly flammable and could cause a chimney fire.
When purchasing a wood-burning stove be sure to choose one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another lab recognized for testing. This will ensure that the stove has been constructed to comply with federal safety standards and is specifically designed to allow for proper venting. Check the legs, hinges and grates to ensure they are in good condition and securely attached to the floor of the stove.
If you decide to install a wood-burning stove inside your cabin, make sure the floor underneath it is sturdy and made of non-combustible materials. You might also want to lay a piece of non-combustible floor tiles on top of the existing flooring, especially if you live in an old mobile home that has flooring that is combustible.
Always burn only seasoned and dry hardwoods. Wood that is damp and green produces excessive smoke and creosote, which is a flammable byproduct, which can build up in your chimney and release harmful chemicals into your home. Don't burn trash, cardboard, newspaper or any other combustibles inside your wood stove, since they could release dangerous fumes and may not fully burn.
Do not "over-fire" your wood stove, i.e. create a bigger fire than the stove is capable of handling. Over firing can result in flames escaping from the combustion chamber and causing damage to the stove, chimney connector and the chimney itself, and also burning other combustible material in your home. It is also important to ensure that the fire is completely snuffed out before leaving your cabin or going to bed. Also, you must have functioning carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in your house.