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Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove A wood stove is an ideal place to relax and warm a whole house. However, some of these devices emit harmful gases like creosote, which can be hazardous to health and property. The proper care of these stoves is vital. A few important factors to consider include: avoiding overheating the room, not messing with the fire, and using appropriately 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 fuels that are clean burning are less prone to pollution than traditional house coal and wet wood, so are more sustainable and safer to use. They still emit harmful smoke and gases, and require regular maintenance to work at their best. Before purchasing or using any fuel, make sure you 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 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 limitations and can be sold legally for domestic use. The logo is usually placed alongside the price and brand details or on the packaging. The fuels that are suitable for use must be seasoned (stored and split for several months before use) or kiln-dried to reduce the moisture content which boosts the amount of heat produced and improves the efficiency of combustion. The type of wood you select should also suit your heating needs. Softwoods like pine and spruce offer good value heat, but hardwoods such as beech and oak generate greater quantities of hot embers over a longer period of time. Fruitwoods like apple and cherry can be used not only to heat your home and provide an appealing scent. If you have a multi-fuel stove, consider a mixed fuel fire; combining wood with smokeless briquettes can help to keep the flames going and keep your home warm for a longer time. Briquettes can be used as a backup 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 own a wood or gas-fired stove, ensure that it is installed by an authorized installer (on a competent person scheme such as HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). Regularly serviced appliances are more efficient and help protect the environment and your health by preventing harmful emissions. Design The design of wood stoves is an important factor to be considered when evaluating their use as a primary or supplementary heating source. Smoke and carbon monoxide are undesirable byproducts that may cause harm to health and the environment. The key to minimizing the emission of these gases is to ensure proper operation and a careful design. Modern wood stoves are designed to be more environmentally conscious than traditional models. All EPA certified stoves must adhere to strict energy efficiency and emission regulations to maximize the amount of heat produced. You can verify if a wood stove is certified by looking for the metal EPA label on the back or checking the EPA database. Hearth-related stores in your area can also be a great source to learn more about wood stoves, including what size and capacity is the best fit for your space. A key part of the EPA emission regulations is the control of air flow through the stove. The firebox of the stove is enclosed by walls of fireproof materials, and air vents are placed within the walls to allow controlled airflow. Controlling airflow is vital to ensure that the combustion process is efficient and that emissions are minimized. A majority of modern stoves have a baffle to increase the combustion time of the fire, which reduces the amount of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves utilize a catalyst converter to reduce NOx emission. This is more costly and is used only in top-quality wood burning stoves. Stoves also use different types of air control systems to regulate the air flow through the stove. The majority of wood stoves employ a basic passive air supply that requires the user (you) to operate the stove to ensure maximum performance. Certain wood stoves have active air supply systems that are controlled by sensors. These sensors are able to monitor the combustion process and adjust the air supply when needed. Wood stoves are an excellent alternative to heating homes in remote areas or those without access to the electric grid. If you don't have a backup source of heating in the event of an outage or snow, then a wood stove shouldn't be 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 not accurate since the actual amount of heat produced of a wood-burning fireplace is contingent on many variables such as the size of the room and how well it is insulated. Climate can also affect the heating requirements. To ensure comfort, colder regions need stoves with higher BTU ratings. Other factors that affect heat production include the type of wood used as well as the frequency of refueling. Dry, seasoned firewood creates more heat than fresh cut and wet logs. The use of a stove fan also helps to transfer the warmth generated by the wood stove into the room, rather than having the hot air rise. It is vital to keep in mind that the peak output of wood heater stoves should not be reached frequently because continuous high-fire can cause damage to the stove's internals and can cause carbon monoxide gas to leak into the home. The performance of a stove could also be improved by regular refills. 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 walls of the stove or the glass pane. It's also best to add smaller logs frequently instead of allowing too much time between additions. High efficiency stoves are engineered to achieve a higher level of heat output with the same amount of fuel by providing pre-heated combustion air as well as other design features. They typically produce less smoke, toxins and carbon monoxide than previous models. A few people also decide to install a back boiler stove as part of their heating system. The heat generated by a wood burning stove is used to heat water for a central heating system or hot water tank. This allows the heat to be distributed throughout the house. This is an efficient and cost-effective way to heat the home. However, the installation process can take quite a long time. This method requires a separate flue and the additional energy needed to run back boilers can raise the operating costs of wood stoves. Safety Fireplaces and wood stoves are a practical and attractive way of heating your home. However, they're not without their risks. Sparks and embers can fly from a burning fire and ignite carpeting or furniture A burning chimney that is hot can cause damage to the structure of your home. The proper use and maintenance of a stove that burns wood reduces these dangers. To ensure that wood-burning stoves are safe and in good condition, they should be regularly inspected and maintained. This includes inspecting the chimney and flue at least two times each year for signs of wear or rust and cleaning them. The chimney must be inspected for creosote about halfway through the season. This is highly flammable and could cause a fire in the chimney. When the advantage are buying a wood-burning stove be sure to choose one that is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another recognized testing lab. This assures that the stove complies with the safety standards set by the federal government and is designed to ventilate properly. Check the legs, hinges and grates to ensure they are in good shape and securely fastened to the floor of the stove. If you decide to install a wood-burning stove inside your cabin, make sure the floor underneath it is reinforced and made from non-combustible material. You may also want to lay a piece of non-combustible floor tiles over the flooring you have, particularly when you live in an old mobile home that has combustible floors. Burn only hardwoods that are dry and well-seasoned. Wood that is damp or green can produce excessive smoke and creosote. This flammable byproduct could build up inside your chimney, which releases toxic chemicals. Avoid burning cardboard, paper, trash or any other combustibles inside your wood stove, since they can create dangerous fumes and could not completely burn. Never “over-fire” your wood stove, i.e. create a larger fire than your stove can handle. Over-fired stoves can lead to flames escape from the combustion chamber, causing damage to the stove, chimney connector and chimney itself, as well as burning other combustible materials in your home. It is also crucial to make sure the fire is completely extinguished before leaving your cabin or going to bed. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must be functioning at all times.