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Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove A wood stove is a great way to warm up your home and it can also warm the entire house. Certain stoves emit harmful gases, such as creosote, which could be harmful to the health of your family and your property. It is essential to take care of these stoves. Some of the most important points to consider include making sure that the room is not overheated, not messing with the fire and using correctly dried firewood. Fuel Wood stoves burn a range of fuel types that include dry wood as well as manufactured solid fuels, such as briquettes and fire logs. These alternative fuels that burn cleanly are less polluting than traditional household coal and wet wood, so are more eco-friendly and healthier to use. They still emit harmful smoke and gases, and require regular maintenance to work at their best. Check the manufacturer's instructions before purchasing or using any kind of fuel. Make sure it is the right one for your stove. Incorrect fuel could damage your stove and chimney which can result in costly repairs or invalidating the warranty. The use of a fuel that is not approved could be illegal, especially in areas with smoke control. Look for the “Ready to Burn” logo. This means that the fuel is in compliance with limits of sulphur and smoke emission limits and can be sold legally for domestic use. The logo is often placed alongside the price and details about the brand or on the packaging. Suitable fuels should be seasoned (stored and then split for a few months before use) or kiln-dried to decrease the amount of moisture which boosts heat output and efficiency in combustion. The type of wood you select must also be suited to your heating requirements. Softwoods such as pine and spruce provide an excellent value for money however, hardwoods such as oak or beech generate more hot embers, and they do so over a longer time. Fruitwoods like apple and cherry do not just offer efficient heating, but also enhance the ambience with their pleasant aromas. If you have an appliance that runs on multiple fuels, you might be interested in a mixed fuel fire. Combining wood with smokeless Briquettes will aid in keeping the flames going for longer, and will keep your home warm. The briquettes are a good backup option and can help keep a chimney from burning by ensuring that the air is moving. A stove that is well-maintained will produce more heat and burn less fuel, while releasing fewer harmful particles. If you have a gas or oil-fired wood stove, ensure it is installed by an approved installer (on a competent person scheme like HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). A regularly serviced appliance will be more economical to run and will safeguard your health and the environment by reducing harmful emissions. Design The design of wood stoves is an important consideration for those considering their use as a primary or supplementary heat source. Carbon monoxide and smoke are unwanted byproducts that can have a negative impact on health and the environment. Proper operation and a well-designed design are the most important factors in reducing the emission. Modern wood stoves are designed to be more environmentally conscious than traditional models. All stoves certified by the EPA meet strict emission and energy efficiency regulations that optimize the amount of heat they generate. Look for a metal EPA certification mark on the back of the stove, or look through the EPA's current database to determine the stove is certified. Visiting local hearth products retailers who are knowledgeable about the performance capabilities of their products is an excellent way to find out more about wood stoves and what size and capacity may be the best fit for your home. Controlling air flow through the stove is an essential element of EPA emission regulations. The firebox of the stove is enclosed by walls that are fireproof, and there are air vents within these walls that allow for controlled airflow. Controlling airflow is vital to ensure that combustion is optimal and emissions are reduced. Modern stoves often have a baffle that increases the combustion time of the fire, which lowers the amount of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves include an catalytic converter to lower NOx emissions. This system is more costly and is used only in top-quality wood burning stoves. Stoves utilize different air control systems to regulate the flow of air. The majority of wood stoves utilize the basic air supply that is passive, which requires that the operator (you) manage the stove correctly to achieve 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 required. One of the greatest benefits of a wood stove is that it does not require electricity to run, which makes it an excellent alternative heating option for homes that are remote or aren't connected to a power grid. However, if you do not have a backup energy source that you can rely on during an outage or in case of snow storms, a wood stove is not the only option for heating your home. Heat output Many wood stoves advertise their peak heat output in BTUs. This is misleading, however, as the actual capacity to heat a wood stove is dependent on a variety of variables like the size of the room and how well it's insulated. Climate also has an impact on the heating requirements. Regions that are colder require stoves with greater BTU rating to ensure the temperature. Other factors that influence heat production include the type of wood used as well as the frequency of refueling. Dry, seasoned firewood generates more heat than freshly cut and wet logs. A stove fan can also assist in spreading the heat generated by the wood burner within the room, rather than having the hot air rise. It is crucial to remember that the maximum output of a wood heater should not be reached often because a continuous fire can damage the stove's internals, and result in carbon monoxide leaking into the home. Regular refueling can improve the performance of an fireplace. When adding a new log, ensure that it's not too large and place it on the embers that are glowing so that it doesn't touch the wall of the stove or glass pane. Make smaller logs more often, rather than waiting too long between additions. High efficiency stoves are designed for a higher heat output with the same amount fuel. This is achieved by prewarming combustion air before heating it and employing other design features. These stoves often produce less smoke, toxins and carbon monoxide than earlier models. Some people choose to install the boiler stove as part of their heating system. The heat generated by a wood-burning stove is used to heat water for central heating systems or hot water tank. This lets the heat be distributed throughout the house. This is a more efficient and cost-effective method to heat a home however the process of installation is quite lengthy. This method requires a separate flue, and the additional energy needed to run back boilers will raise the operating costs of a wood stove. Safety Wood stoves and fireplaces are a convenient and attractive way to heat your home. However, they are not without their risks. A fire could cause furniture or carpets to catch fire, and a hot fireplace can cause structural damage to your home. These dangers can be minimized by using and maintaining an open fireplace that burns wood. To ensure that wood-burning stoves are safe and in good working order, they should be regularly checked and maintained. This includes inspecting the chimney and flue at least two times a year for signs of wear or rust and cleaning them. The chimney should also be inspected every season for creosote buildup, which is extremely flammable and could cause chimney fires. When buying a stove for wood burning, look for one that is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another lab recognized for testing. This will assure you that the stove has been constructed to meet the safety standards of the federal government, and is designed to allow proper venting. 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 decide to put in a wood stove in your cabin, be sure that the floor underneath it is reinforced and non-combustible. You might also want to lay a sheet of non-combustible floor tiles over the flooring that is in place, especially when you live in an old mobile home that has flooring that is combustible. Only burn hardwoods that are dry and well-seasoned. Dry and damp wood creates an excessive amount of smoke and creosote. It is a flammable byproduct that can build up in your chimney, releasing toxic chemicals into your home. Do not burn cardboard, paper, trash or any other combustibles on your wood stove as they can release dangerous fumes, and they may not fully burn. Don't “over-fire” your wood stove, i.e. create a bigger fire than the stove can handle. Over-fired stoves can result in flames escaping from the combustion chamber, causing damage to the chimney connector, the stove and the chimney itself, as well as burning other combustible materials in your home. Make sure corner wood burner fireplacesandstoves is completely extinguished before leaving your home or retiring to the bed. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be working at all times.