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Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove A wood stove can be a warm and cozy space to warm up and can warm a whole house. Some of these appliances emit harmful gases, such as creosote, which can be dangerous for the health of your family and your 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, including dry wood, as well as manufactured solid fuels, such as briquettes or fire logs. These fuels that are clean burning are more environmentally friendly than traditional house coal and wet wood, therefore they are better for the environment and safer to use. They still emit some harmful gases and smoke and require regular maintenance to work at their best. Before you purchase or use any fuel, read the manufacturer's directions and make sure that the fuel you choose to use is suitable for your stove. Unsuitable fuels could damage your stove or chimney, leading to expensive 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 meets sulphur and smoke emission limits and can be legally sold for domestic use. The logo is usually placed on the packaging, or along with the name of the brand and its price. Fuels that are suitable for burning should be seasoned or kiln dried to reduce moisture content. This will increase the amount of heat produced and improve the efficiency of combustion. The kind of wood you choose will also depend on your heating requirements. Softwoods like pine and spruce provide good value heat but hardwoods like beech and oak produce greater quantities of hot embers for longer durations. Fruitwoods such as cherry and apple can be used not only to heat the home, but also add a pleasant aroma. If you have an appliance that runs on different fuels, you might want to consider a mixed-fuel fire. Combining wood with smokeless Briquettes will allow the flame to last longer, and will keep your home warm. The briquettes can be used as a back-up and also help in preventing a fire from a chimney by keeping the air moving. A stove that is well-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 approved installer (on a competent person scheme like HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). A well-maintained appliance is more cost-effective to run and protect your health and the environment by preventing harmful emissions. Design The design of wood stoves is an important aspect to consider when considering them as a primary or complementing heating source. Smoke and carbon monoxide are undesirable byproducts that could cause harm to health and the environment. Correct operation and careful design are the most important factors in reducing the emission. Modern wood stoves are much more environmentally sustainable than older models. All EPA certified stoves must comply with strict emission and energy efficiency regulations to maximize the amount of heat produced. Look for an iron EPA certification label on the back of the stove, or go through the EPA's latest database to determine whether a particular stove is certified. Local hearth products retailers are also a great resource for learning more about wood stoves, including what size and capacity is ideal for your home. One of the main components of EPA emission regulations is the control of the flow of air through the stove. The stove's firebox is surrounded 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 the combustion process is optimal and emissions are minimized. A majority of modern stoves have a baffle that increases the time for combustion of the fire, which lowers the amount of smoke and harmful gases. Some wood stoves use catalyst converters to cut down on NOx emission. This method is more expensive and is utilized only in top-quality wood burning stoves. Stoves also employ different kinds of air control systems to regulate the airflow through the stove. The majority of wood stoves still employ a basic passive air supply which requires the owner (you) to operate the stove properly to ensure maximum performance. A few wood stoves come with active air supplies, which are controlled by sensors that track the combustion process and adjust the supply of air according to the needs. One of the most significant advantages of wood stoves is that it does not require electricity to run, which makes it an ideal alternative for heating homes that are isolated or without access to an electric grid. If you do not have a backup source of heating in the event of a power outage or an imminent snow storm, the wood stove isn't your sole option for heating your home. The output of heat A lot of wood stoves are advertised with an output of heat at the peak in BTUs. This is a false statement, however, as the actual capacity of a wood stove is contingent on a variety of factors like the size of the room as well as how well it's insulated. Climate can also affect the requirements for heat. To maintain comfort, colder regions need stoves that have higher BTU ratings. Other factors that affect heat production include the kind of wood used and the frequency of fueling. Dry, seasoned firewood produces more heat than fresh cut and wet logs. The stove fan also helps to circulate the warmth produced by the wood burner into the room, instead of having the hot air rise upwards. It is crucial to remember that the peak output of wood heaters should not be a constant event since continuous high fire can cause damage to the stove's interior and can cause carbon monoxide to leak into the home. Regular refueling can improve the performance of the fireplace. When adding a new log, make sure it's not too large and place it on the embers glowing so that it doesn't touch the wall of the stove or the glass pane. It's also recommended to add smaller logs more often, rather than leaving too much time between additions. High efficiency stoves are engineered to produce greater heat output using the same amount of fuel. This is accomplished by prewarming combustion air before heating it and using other design features. They produce less carbon monoxide, toxins and smoke than older models. Many people opt to install boiler stoves as element 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 allows the heat to be distributed throughout the house. This is a more efficient and cost-effective method of heating a home, although the installation process can be very extensive. This method requires a separate flue, and the additional energy needed to run a back boiler will raise the operating costs of the wood stove. Safety Wood stoves and fireplaces are a practical and attractive way of heating your home. large wood burning stove do come with risks. Sparks and embers could fly from a burning fire and ignite carpeting or furniture, and a burning chimney that is hot can cause destruction to the structure of your home. These risks can be avoided by maintaining and using an open fireplace that burns wood. Wood-burning stoves should be inspected and maintained regularly to ensure they are safe and in good working condition. This includes examining the chimney and flue for signs of wear and rust, and cleaning them at least two times per year. The chimney should be inspected for creosote half-way through the season. It is extremely flammable, and can cause an explosion in the chimney. When buying a wood-burning fireplace, choose one that is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or another recognized testing laboratory. This guarantees that the stove complies with the safety standards set by the federal government and is engineered to vent properly. Also, you should check the legs, hinges and grates of a stove to ensure they are in good shape and are securely fastened to the floor. If you opt to install a wood-burning stove inside your home, ensure that the floor beneath it is a sturdy and constructed of non-combustible materials. You can also put tiles that are not combustible over the flooring you have in place in the event that it is inflammable. Only burn wood that is seasoned and dry. Green and damp wood produces excessive smoke and creosote. This is an ignitable byproduct that could build up in your chimney and release toxic chemicals into your home. Do not burn cardboard, trash, paper, or any other combustibles because they can release dangerous fumes, and may not even burn. Do not “over-fire” your wood stove, i.e. create a larger fire than the stove can handle. Overfiring can cause flames to escape from the combustion chamber, causing damage to the chimney, stove connector, and chimney itself. It can also burn other combustible materials within your home. Also, ensure that the fire has been completely smothered before leaving your home or retiring to bed. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must be working at all times.