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Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove A wood stove is a great method to warm your home and can also heat the entire house. However, certain devices emit harmful gases like creosote which can be hazardous to the health of your family and property. It is essential to maintain these stoves. The most important things to keep in mind are: not overheating the space, not messing around with the fire, and using properly-dried firewood. Fuel Wood stoves burn a variety of fuel types, including dry wood and manufactured solid fuels like briquettes and fire logs. These more clean burning options are healthier and more eco-friendly than traditional house coal or wet wood. They still emit some harmful smoke and gases, and require regular maintenance to function at their peak. Before purchasing or using any fuel, read the manufacturer's directions and ensure that the type is recommended for your stove. Unsuitable fuels could damage your chimney or stove and cause costly repairs and voiding your warranty. It is illegal to use unapproved fuel particularly in smoke control zones. Look for the “Ready to Burn” logo. This means that the fuel is in compliance with limits of sulphur and smoke emission limitations and can be sold legally for domestic use. The logo is usually placed on the package or beside the name of the brand and its price. Fuels that are suitable for burning must be dried out or seasoned to reduce moisture content. This can increase the heat output and efficiency of combustion. The kind of wood you choose will also depend on your heating needs. Softwoods such as pine and spruce are good value for money, however, hardwoods such as oak or beech generate more hot embers and operate over a longer time. Fruitwoods like apple and cherry do not just provide effective heating but can improve the ambience of your home by their pleasant scents. If you have a multi-fuel stove, think about a mixed fuel fire. Combining wood with smokeless briquettes will help keep the flames burning and warm your home for a longer time. Briquettes can be used as a back-up and also help prevent a chimney fire by keeping the air moving. A well-maintained stove will create more heat, burn less fuel and generate fewer harmful particles. If you have a gas or wood stove, ensure that it is installed by a licensed installer. Regularly serviced appliances are more efficient and protect your health and the environment by preventing harmful emission. Design The design of wood stoves is an important consideration for those considering them as a primary or supplementary heat source. Carbon monoxide and smoke are undesirable byproducts that may be harmful to health and the environment. The key to minimizing these emissions is correct operation and careful design. Modern wood stoves are designed to be more environmentally conscious than traditional models. All EPA-certified stoves comply with strict emission and energy efficiency regulations that optimize the quantity of heat they generate. You can determine whether a stove is certified by looking for an iron EPA label on the back or by looking through the EPA database. Local hearth products retailers can also be a great source to learn more about wood stoves, such as the size and capacity that is best for your space. Controlling air flow through the stove is a crucial element of EPA emission regulations. The firebox of the stove is surrounded by walls of fireproof material, and air vents are positioned in the walls to provide controlled airflow. Controlling airflow is vital to ensure that the combustion is efficient and emissions are reduced. Modern stoves often have a baffle that increases the combustion time of the fire, which decreases emissions of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves also employ an catalytic converter to lower NOx emissions. second hand wood burning stoves is more expensive and is utilized only in high-end wood burning stoves. Stoves also utilize different types of air control systems to regulate the air flow through the stove. Most wood stoves use a basic passive air supply and require that the owner (you) control the stove in a way that allows maximum performance. Some wood stoves come with active air supply, which are controlled by sensors that monitor the combustion process and adjust the supply of air as needed. One of the biggest advantages of a wood stove is that it does not require electricity to operate, making it a great alternative to heating homes that are remote or without access to an electric grid. But, if you do not have a backup heat source that you can rely on in the event of an outage or in case of a snowstorm, a wood stove should not be the sole option for heating your home. Heat output Many wood stoves advertise their peak heat output in BTUs. This is not true however, as the actual capacity to heat a wood stove is contingent on a variety of variables such as the size of the room and how well it's insulated. The climate of the region can also influence heating demands. Colder regions require stoves with a higher BTU rating to maintain the comfort. The type of wood used and the frequency with which you refuel your fireplace are additional factors that affect the production of heat. Dry, seasoned firewood produces more heat than freshly cut and wet logs. The use of a stove fan also helps to move the heat generated by the wood burner into the room, instead of having the hot air rise up. It is vital to keep in mind that the peak output of wood heater stoves should not be a constant event since continuous high fire can cause damage to the stove's interior and may cause carbon monoxide to escape into the home. Regular refueling can also improve the performance of the fireplace. Make sure that the log isn't too large and placed on the embers that are glowing so that it doesn't get in the way of the glass or walls of the stove. Add smaller logs more frequently instead of waiting too long between additions. High efficiency stoves are designed to provide a higher amount of heat output from the same amount of fuel by providing prewarmed combustion air, as well as other design features. cheap wood burner produce less carbon monoxide, toxins and smoke than earlier models. Some homeowners also choose to install a back boiler stove as part of their heating system. The heat produced 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 way to heat a home, although the installation process can be quite extensive. This method requires a separate flue, and the additional energy required to run back boilers can raise the operating costs of wood stoves. Safety Wood stoves and fireplaces can be a convenient and attractive way of heating your home. However, they're not free of dangers. A fire could cause furniture or carpets to catch fire and a fireplace that is hot can cause structural damage to your home. Proper use and maintenance of a wood-burning stove reduces the risk. Wood-burning stoves must be inspected and maintained regularly to ensure they are safe and in good condition. This includes checking the chimney and flue at least two times every year for signs of rust or wear and cleaning them. The chimney should be checked for creosote half-way through the season. This is highly flammable, and can cause a fire in the chimney. When purchasing a fireplace with wood burning, choose one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories or another recognized testing laboratory. This will guarantee that the stove is constructed to comply with federal safety standards and is designed for proper venting. You should also inspect the hinges, legs and grates of the stove to ensure they are in good shape and are securely fastened to the floor. If you choose to install a wood stove in your cabin, make sure that the floor beneath it is non-combustible and reinforced. You can also lay a non-combustible tile over the flooring you have in place when it is fire-proof. Burn only seasoned, dry hardwoods. Green and damp wood produces excessive smoke and creosote. This flammable byproduct can build up inside your chimney, releasing toxic chemicals. Do not burn cardboard or paper, trash or any other combustibles because they can release dangerous fumes, and could not even ignite. Don't “over-fire” your wood stove, i.e. create a bigger fire than the stove can handle. Over firing can result in flames leaving the combustion chamber and cause damage to the chimney connector, the stove and the chimney itself, and also burning other combustible materials in your home. Make sure the fire has been completely snuffed out before leaving your home or going to the bed. Also, you must have functioning carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in your home.