Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove

A wood stove is a cozy place to warm up and also warm a whole house. Certain stoves emit harmful gases like creosote which could be harmful to health and property.

It is important to maintain these stoves. Some important things to keep in mind include: avoiding overheating the room making a mess of the fire and using correctly dried firewood that is properly dried.

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 cleaner burning alternatives are healthier and more sustainable than traditional household coal or wet wood. However, they do still release toxic gases and smoke. They also require regular maintenance to ensure they are operating at their best.

Before you purchase or use any fuel, read the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that the type is recommended for your stove. Unsuitable fuel can damage your stove and chimney, causing expensive repairs or invalidating the warranty. Using an unapproved fuel could also be illegal, particularly in areas that control smoke. Look for the 'Ready To Burn' logo, which confirms that the fuel is in compliance with sulphur and smoke emission limits, and can be legally sold for domestic use. The logo is usually displayed along with the price and brand details or on the packaging.

Fuels that are suitable for burning should be seasoned or kiln dried to reduce the moisture content. This will increase the amount of heat produced and improve the efficiency of combustion. The type of wood you select should also suit your heating needs. Softwoods such as spruce and pine are good for heating but hardwoods like oak and beech produce greater quantities of hot embers for longer durations. Fruitwoods such as cherry and apple can be used not only to heat your home and provide an appealing scent.

If you have an appliance that runs on multiple fuels, you may think about a mixed-fuel fire. Combining wood with smokeless Briquettes can help maintain the flames for longer, and will keep your home warm. Briquettes are a great alternative and can prevent a chimney-fire by ensuring that the air is flowing.

A well-maintained stove will create more heat, use less fuel, and produce fewer harmful particles. If you own a wood or gas-fired stove, make sure it is installed by an authorized installer. A properly maintained appliance will be more economical to run and will safeguard your health and the environment by preventing harmful emissions.

Design

The design of contemporary wood burning stoves stoves is a crucial aspect to consider when considering their use as a primary or complementing heating source. Carbon monoxide and smoke are unwanted byproducts that can be harmful to health and the environment. The key to reducing these emissions is correct operation and a well-planned design.

Modern cheap wood burner stoves are much more environmentally green than older models. All EPA certified stoves must meet strict emission and energy efficiency regulations to maximize the amount of heat produced. Look for a metal EPA certification label on the back of the stove or go through the EPA's latest database to determine the stove is certified. Going to local hearth stores who know the performance of their products is a great way to learn more about wood stoves and what size and capacity is the best fit for your home.

A key part of the EPA emission regulations is the control of the flow of air through the stove. The firebox of the stove is surrounded by walls made of fireproof materials and air vents are located in the walls to ensure controlled airflow. The control of airflow is essential to ensure that the combustion process is efficient and emissions are reduced.

Modern stoves often have a baffle to increase the combustion time of the fire, which lowers emissions of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves utilize catalyst converters to decrease NOx emissions. This system is more expensive and used only in top-quality freestanding wood burning stove burning stoves.

Stoves also utilize different types of air control systems to regulate airflow through the stove. The majority of wood stoves still utilize a passive air supply, which requires the operator (you) to operate the stove to ensure maximum performance. Certain wood stoves have active air supplies that are controlled by sensors. These sensors monitor the combustion process, and adjust the air supply as needed.

One of the greatest benefits of wood stoves is that it doesn't require electricity to run, which makes it a great alternative heating option for homes that are isolated or without access to an electric grid. If you don't have a backup source of heating in case of an outage or a snowstorm, then a wood stove shouldn't be the only option to heat your home.

The output of heat

A lot of wood stoves advertise their maximum heat output in BTUs. This is not accurate because the actual output of a wood-burning stove is dependent on many factors, including the size of the room, and how well it is insulated.

The climate of the area is also a factor in the heating requirements. The colder regions require stoves with a greater BTU rating to maintain the temperature.

The type of wood you use and the frequency at which you replenish your fireplace are also elements that affect the amount of heat produced. Dry, seasoned firewood generates more heat than freshly cut and wet logs. The use of a stove fan also assists in circulate the warmth produced by the wood stove into the room, instead of having the hot air rise up.

It is important to remember that the highest output of a wood heater stove should not be a constant event since continuous high fire can cause damage to the stove's internals and may cause carbon monoxide to escape into the home.

Regular refueling can also enhance the performance of a fireplace. When adding a new log, make sure it's not too large and set it on the embers that are glowing so that it doesn't touch the walls of the stove or the glass pane. You can add smaller logs more frequently instead of taking too long between additions.

High efficiency stoves are designed to achieve a higher level of heat output from the same amount of fuel, by providing pre-heated combustion air, as well as other design features. They produce less carbon monoxide, toxins and smoke than earlier models.

A few people also decide to install a back boiler stove as part of their heating system. The heat produced by the wood-burning stove to heat the water in a hot water tank or central heating system, which allows the heat to be distributed throughout a home. This is an efficient and economical method to heat a home however the process of installation can be quite extensive. This method requires a flue that is not already installed and the energy needed to run the boiler can increase the overall cost.

Safety

Fireplaces and wood stoves are a convenient and attractive way to heat your home. However, they aren't without risk. A fire could cause furniture or carpets to catch fire and a fireplace that is hot can cause structural damage to your home. A proper use and maintenance of a wood-burning stove minimizes the dangers.

To ensure that wood-burning stoves are safe and in good condition, they should be regularly inspected and maintained. This includes checking the chimney and flue for signs of wear and rust, and having them cleaned at least once a year. The chimney should also be examined at least once a year for creosote buildup. This is highly flammable and can cause chimney fires.

When buying a wood-burning fireplace make sure you choose one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories or another recognized testing laboratory. This ensures that the stove complies 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 secured to the floor of the stove.

If you decide to install a wood stove in your cabin, be sure that the floor beneath it is insulated and non-combustible. It is also possible to lay a sheet of non-combustible floor tiles on top of the flooring you have, particularly in the case of an old mobile home that has flooring that is combustible.

Always burn only seasoned, dry hardwoods. Wood that is damp or green can produce excessive smoke and creosote. This flammable byproduct can build within your chimney, releasing toxic chemicals. Avoid burning cardboard, paper, trash or any other combustibles inside your wood stove as they can create dangerous fumes and could not completely burn.

Don't "over fire" your wood stove -- that is, generate a larger flame than the stove is able to handle. Overfiring can cause flames escape from the combustion chamber, causing damage to the chimney, stove connector, as well as the chimney itself. It could also ignite other combustible materials in your home. Also, ensure that the fire has been completely smothered prior to leaving your cabin or going to bed. Finally, you should always have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home.