How a Wood Burning Stove Works

Wood burning stoves are wonderful additions to any home. They are best used with properly seasoned wood.

Older stoves that did not have secondary combustion admitted air below and above the fuel. This resulted in energy loss as well as chimney tarring and air pollution.

Modern wood stoves employ a superior combustion method that splits the air supply into two phases. This enables more efficient heating while reducing emissions.

Efficient Combustion

The efficiency of the combustion of a wood stove is an indication of how well your wood is turned into heat. It differs from the efficiency of heating transfer, which is the amount of heat that is transferred from your stove to the room. A wood-burning stove with high combustion and heating efficiency will use less fuel, and generate less waste such as carbon monoxide and steam.

Modern wood stoves have a high efficiency in combustion, due to their modern design. They can maximize the burning and use less wood. They also have lower emissions and are especially effective when using EPA certified stoves which require a catalytic combustor, which cleans the emissions as they leave the stove. These cleaner stoves are a good option for homeowners who wish to minimize their environmental impact while still enjoying the warmth of wood stoves.

The improvement of the efficiency of your wood stove is a matter of proper operation and maintenance. The most important factor is to ensure the combustion process is controlled. This is accomplished by maintaining a proper flame in the stove through regular additions of small pieces of wood regularly. This will help prevent the accumulation of flammable creosote in the chimney, which can cause the stove to become less efficient.

A wood stove's efficiency is also affected by the use of dried and seasoned firewood that has less than 20%. Dry wood that is seasoned and dried will not only provide more heat for the same fuel, but it will also create less air pollution and produce less smoke.

The Environmental Protection Agency has established guidelines that restrict the amount of smoke and other harmful substances a new stove releases within an hour. To meet the EPA guidelines, the majority of modern wood stoves use secondary combustion or catalytic combustor in order to regulate combustion and limit the amount of pollution they emit. To find a wood stove that meets the EPA emission standards, look for one with an EPA certification sticker and an emission limit of less than 4 grams per hour.

Catalytic Combustion

Catalytic wood stoves use a special honeycombed combustor made from ceramic coated with noble metals like palladium or platinum. The combustor is similar to the catalyst in your car that cleans the exhaust. When smoke passes through the combustor at high temperatures, noble metals react with particles and the chemicals in the smoke to break them down into harmless end products like water and carbon dioxide.

This lets the stove emit less carbon dioxide and burn cleaner than non-catalytic models, without losing efficiency or heat output. The combustor 913875.Xyz is most efficient when the flue gas temperature is at or above 1,000 degF. The combustor won't work properly if the flame is burned in a low-flame.

The combustor could be damaged by burning foreign substances like trash, Www.913875.Xyz paper logs painted or treated wood. The burning of these substances can result in "masking" that covers the cells of the combustor with a substance that prevents it from performing according to its intended. Masking can also occur due to closing the bypass damper soon or refueling with wet wood. If the combustor 913875 - www.913875.xyz - cell is not regularly cleaned of fly-ash and creosote it could cause smoke leakage.

The combustor, when properly operated and positioned, will provide years of reliable operation. It requires little maintenance, aside from cleaning off the soot from its surface after a prolonged burn and dusting it periodically with a soft dry bristled brush.

The combustor is equipped with a bypass damper that can be open to start a fire and shut to load the stove. Check the bypass for the "operate catalyst" indicator, which will indicate the combustor is operating within its optimal temperature range. The operating range of your combustor could be decreased if you close the bypass damper prematurely. Closing the bypass damper too early will reduce the inlet temperature to the combustor, and could cause damage to it. If you're not sure how to operate the bypass damper, check the instruction manual for your stove or contact our customer service department for assistance.

Airflow Controls

Controlling air flow is essential to ensure that your wood stove burns safely and efficiently. The primary, secondary and tertiary air systems cooperate to enable your fire to burn efficiently. Each of these systems plays a distinct role in the combustion process.

The air control is located either beneath or inside the stove's door. It regulates the amount of air that is able to enter the firebox. More air means a faster-burning fire but it also increases the risk of creosote and chimney smokiness buildup. Ideally, the air control should be opened wide for a short period when lighting your wood stove.

When you have reached the desired heat level You can gradually close the primary air control until the desired temperature is attained. The chimney or stove should not emit any smoke since this could indicate inefficient combustion.

Secondary airflow controls are used to inject oxygen into the top of your stove, typically as air jets that are placed over your fire. This is the most crucial aspect of controlling the flame. Your fire could burn too fast and create excessive quantities of smoke if it is not controlled.

Tertiary airflow is the final stage of your stove's airflow system and is fed into the updraft section or chimney. This creates a strong draft in the flue, which allows your fire to function at its peak.

It is essential to remember that your wood stove has been specifically designed and optimized for burning wood for fire. Any other combustion fuel will not be able to burn in your wood stove, and may result in high levels emissions and possibly chimney fires. The best type of combustible to use is well-seasoned hardwood that has been dried for at minimum six months, but softwood works just as well. Avoid using cardboard and paper since they could release toxic fumes or 913875.xyz cause creosote and ash to build within your stove. It is also recommended to avoid placing any firewood or other combustibles on the top of your fire in case this causes the fire to explode.

Safety

Wood-burning stoves are a great alternative to electricity, particularly when your area is susceptible to frequent power outages. They can be dangerous when employed in a wrong manner. They can produce harmful chemicals that could affect your health. They also can create a fire hazard and lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. You can reduce the risk by implementing a few basic safety measures.

Use only clean, dry firewood in your wood-burning stove. Never make use of gasoline, kerosene, charcoal starter fluid wrapping paper or other flammable materials to start or rekindle fire. Never ignite treated or painted wood. Keep the flue wide open to allow plenty of oxygen to enter. Add wood in small amounts and www.913875.xyz don't let the fire burn to ashes. If you're in a smoke-control area do not set up an indoor fire.

Make sure that your stove and chimney are properly installed. A poorly installed wood stove can cause a fire in the chimney, which can release toxic gasses into your home. Cleaning and inspecting the chimney is also essential. Check that the chimney flue is not able to leak, which could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Place your wood in a shed or under a sheet of tarp. This will help the wood to dry and get into the season quicker. It is also important to keep the firewood from other sources of heat to minimize the risk of fire. It is also a good idea to set your stove on a non-flammable surface, such as a tile floor.

It is important to supervise your children around the stove, especially if you have youngsters. They might attempt to touch the flame or play with the hot ash which could be risky. You should also keep all flammable items at least three feet from the stove. You should also think about installing a heat shield to protect walls and other surfaces from damage. You should also encourage your family to participate in fire drills at home. This will allow you to escape your home in the situation of an emergency. For more tips on keeping your home safe read our article on escape routes to a fire in the event of a home fire.