valuetruck6

Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove A wood stove provides an ideal place to warm up and also warm a whole house. However, certain appliances release harmful gases, like creosote, which could be harmful to the health of your family and property. It is important to maintain these stoves. Some of the most important points to remember include: not overheating the area or tinkering with the stove, and using dried firewood. Fuel Wood stoves can be used to burn a variety of fuels which include dry wood as well as manufactured solid fuels such as briquettes or fire logs. These cleaner burning alternatives are healthier and more eco-friendly than traditional household coal or wet wood. They do emit harmful gases and smoke and require regular maintenance in order to function at their peak. 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. The wrong fuel can cause damage to your stove and chimney and cause costly repairs or invalidating the warranty. It's illegal to use fuel that is not approved particularly in smoke control zones. Look for the “Ready to Burn” logo. This means that the fuel is within smoke emission and sulphur limit limits and is legally sold for domestic use. The logo is often placed alongside the price and brand details or on the packaging. The appropriate fuels should be prepared (stored and split for several months prior to use) or kiln dried to reduce the moisture content which improves heat output and efficiency in combustion. The type of wood you select will also depend on your heating needs. Softwoods like pine and spruce provide good value heat however, hardwoods like oak and beech produce a higher output of hot embers over a longer period of time. Fruitwoods like apple and cherry are not just used to heat the house and provide a pleasant scent. If you have a stove that uses multiple fuels, you might think about a mixed-fuel fire. Combining wood with smokeless Briquettes can allow the flame to last longer and help keep your home warm. The briquettes can be used as a back-up and can help to keep a chimney from burning by keeping the air moving. A well-maintained stove will produce more heat and burn less fuel, while producing fewer harmful particles. If you own an oil or gas-fired wood stove, ensure that it is installed by an approved installer (on a competent person scheme such as HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). Regularly serviced appliances are more efficient and safeguard the environment and your health by preventing harmful emission. Design Wood stoves are a great source of heat, but their design is something to think about. Unwanted byproducts from combustion, such as smoke and carbon monoxide, pose a risk to health and environmental impact. Correct operation and careful design 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 energy efficiency and emission regulations to maximize the amount of heat generated. Look for the metal EPA certification label on the back of the stove or check out the EPA's current database to determine the stove is certified. Visiting local hearth products retailers who are knowledgeable about the performance characteristics of their inventory is also an excellent way to learn more about wood stoves and which size and capacity is the best fit for your home. One of the most important aspects of EPA emission regulations involves controlling air flow through the stove. The stove's firebox is enclosed by fireproof walls, and there are air vents inside these walls, which allow for controlled airflow. Controlling airflow is crucial to ensure that combustion is at its best and emissions are minimal. Modern stoves often have an air baffle that improves the combustion time of the fire, which reduces the amount of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves include catalytic converters to cut down on NOx emissions. This type of system is more expensive and is usually only used in high-end wood stoves. Stoves also utilize different types of air control systems to regulate the airflow through the stove. The majority of wood stoves employ a basic passive air supply which requires the owner (you) to operate the stove properly in order to achieve peak performance. Some stoves feature active air supply systems that are controlled by sensors. These sensors are able to monitor the combustion process and adjust the air supply when required. Wood stoves are an excellent alternative heating solution for homes in remote areas or who are not connected to the electricity grid. However, if your home does not have a backup heat source that you can rely on during a power interruption or an upcoming snowstorm, a wooden stove should not be the sole option for heating your home. Heat output Many wood stoves advertise their maximum heat output in BTUs. This is misleading because the actual output of a wood-burning stove is dependent on a variety of factors including the dimensions of the room and how well insulated it is. The climate of the area also plays a role in the heating demands. To ensure comfort, colder regions need stoves that have higher BTU ratings. The type of wood you use and the frequency with which you refill your fireplace are also factors that influence heat production. fireplacesandstoves , seasoned firewood produces more heat than fresh cut and wet logs. The use of a stove fan can also help transfer the warmth generated by the wood burner into the room, rather than having the hot air rise. It is vital to keep in mind that the maximum output of wood heater stoves should not be a constant event as continuous high firing causes damage to the stove's internals and can cause carbon monoxide gas to leak into the home. Regular refueling can also enhance the efficiency of the fireplace. When adding a log make sure it's not too large and place it on the glowing embers so that it doesn't touch the wall of the stove or the glass pane. Make smaller logs more often, rather than being too long between additions. High efficiency stoves are engineered to provide a higher amount of heat output using the same amount of fuel by supplying pre-heated combustion air and other design features. These stoves typically produce less smoke, toxins and carbon monoxide than earlier models. Some homeowners also choose to install a back boiler stove as part of their heating system. The heat produced by the wood burning stove to warm water in the hot water tank or central heating system, which allows the heat to be distributed throughout a home. This is an efficient and cost effective way of heating a house, although the installation process is quite lengthy. This method requires an additional flue and the energy required to run a boiler will increase overall costs. Safety Fireplaces and wood stoves are a practical and attractive method of heating your home. They are not without risks. A fire could cause carpets or furniture to catch fire and a hot fireplace can cause structural damage to your home. The dangers can be reduced by maintaining and using the fireplace with wood burning. Wood-burning stoves need to be checked and maintained regularly to ensure they are safe and in good working condition. This includes inspecting the flue and chimney at least twice each year for signs of wear or rust and cleaning them. 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 stove for wood burning be sure to choose one that is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another lab that is recognized as a testing lab. This will ensure that the stove has been constructed to meet the safety standards of the federal government, and is designed for proper venting. Check the legs, hinges and grates to ensure they are in good condition and securely secured to the floor of the stove. If you choose to install a wood-burning fireplace in your home, ensure that the floor underneath it is reinforced and made of non-combustible materials. You may also want to lay a layer of non-combustible floor tiles on top of 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 can cause excessive smoke and creosote. This flammable byproduct can build up inside your chimney, releasing harmful chemicals. Do not burn cardboard or paper, trash or any other combustibles as these can cause dangerous fumes, and could not even burn. Do not “over fire” your wood stove- that is, create a larger fire than the stove is able to handle. Over firing can result in flames leaving the combustion chamber and cause damage to the chimney connector, the stove and the chimney itself, as well as burning other combustible material in your home. Make sure the fire has been completely snuffed out before leaving your home or retiring to sleep. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must be in working order throughout the day.