7 Things You'd Never Know About Woodburner Stove
The Benefits of a Woodburner Stove Wood stoves employ continuous air flow to produce fire and heat. Fresh air is drawn into the stove through adjustable dampers which are often located within the door of the stove. The exhaust gases are drawn through a chimney and safely leave your home. Modern wood stoves that are not catalytic rely on secondary combustion to make them efficient. However, they will inevitably build up creosote if not properly used. Energy Efficiency Modern woodburner stoves are engineered for optimum heating efficiency and the combustion process being optimized to burn firewood efficiently possible. This means that a greater proportion of the fuel is converted into heat and less is wasted in the form of smoke or gas that is not burned. The BTU per hour is the most important factor to take into account when choosing the best woodburner. This number gives an idea of the amount of heat the stove can produce. It's typically a good indication of its ability to provide a comfortable heat source for your home. When comparing wood stoves it's important to consider the combustion efficiency and heating transfer efficiency. The combustion efficiency is an indication of how much fuel is transformed into heat. The heating transfer efficiency is an indication of how your stove is able to convert this heat into warmth to warm the air inside your home. Stoves equipped with a catalytic combustion system can achieve high levels of efficiency because the combustor re-burns some of the gases that escape during the initial combustion. This helps to reduce the amount of creosote that is flammable in the chimney and cleans the exhaust gasses. Modern non-catalytic stoves can still be extremely efficient, but they tend to burn a bit hotter and have lower efficiency at low temperatures. It is important to remember that the energy efficiency that a stove can attain is contingent on the condition and quality of the fuel it uses. Dry and seasoned firewood is more suitable than green wood, which has more moisture. It is also a good idea to select an appliance designed specifically for logs. The burning of other kinds of combustibles could cause issues with the combustion process, which can lead to excessive emissions or even a chimney fire. Always ensure that your stove is properly insulated, and that the windows and doors are shut tightly when not in use. It's a good idea to have the flue vent professionally cleaned regularly as well. You should also regularly clean the interior of your stove. It is recommended that you vacuum out the chimney once every couple of weeks. Clean Burning If used properly when it is used correctly, a wood burner can be the most environmentally friendly fuel option. It is a renewable fuel that is mostly carbon-neutral (the amount of carbon dioxide released during combustion is similar to the amount that the tree absorbs over its lifespan). It also avoids dependence on large energy companies, which are often subject to price hikes or worse, have exclusive rights in certain areas, making you exposed to their tariffs. In addition, you'll be in a position to monitor the amount of wood in your stove and buy it when you need it. A lot of new stoves that burn logs, like the Stovax range of stoves, make use of a superior system of combustion that has been optimized to ensure high heat efficiency and flames that are clean and safe to burn. The triple air system provides the fire with air in two distinct stages, which allows for faster ignition of the top layer of logs and a more controlled flame picture. It also increases the efficiency of thermal heating and reduces emissions. The best way to maximise the clean burning of a woodburner stove is to make use of dried logs that have been stored and stacked for a certain amount of time prior to using. These logs have a lower water content and require less energy to move. Additionally when you stack your logs correctly and ensure that they are properly seasoned prior to burning, you can achieve an impressive level of efficiency that can reach up to 80 percent. Wood smoke is a source of harmful pollutants, including fine particle pollution and volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides and benzene, that can all contribute to breathing problems. These pollutants are associated with respiratory and heart problems. The good part is that modern log burners are a lot more efficient than the log burners of the past. They, when combined with a good air quality monitor, can reduce the harmful gases to close-to-zero levels. It's worth noting that if you reside in an area that is a Smoke Control Area It is important to check with your local authority prior to purchasing any stove, as you may require a Defra approved stove in order to legally use it. Defra approved stoves are certified to operate under the Clean Air Act which makes it illegal to emit smoke out of chimneys in some areas. Low Carbon Wood stoves are an eco-friendly alternative to heating your home with fossil fuels. They aid in reducing carbon emissions, which are a leading cause of global climate change. Modern wood burners that are energy efficient produce significantly less greenhouse emissions and particulates than previous wood burning stoves and can be used to heat your home, in addition to cooking. The key to obtaining the most sustainable use from your wood stove is to ensure that the logs are dry prior to burning them. It can take a while to dry wood, but it is worth the effort. If you have the space for an outdoor log store and manage to keep your logs dry, then you can save money on heating bills and also benefit from Government assistance through the Renewable Heat Incentive. Utilizing a woodburner stove couple of times a week can make a huge difference to your household cost of energy. But, it is important to remember that it is only a secondary source of heat and is not the sole method. It is best to use it only when you really require it, and make sure that your stove is a high-efficiency model with low emissions. You can be confident that an EPA-certified stove will comply with the low emission standards necessary to safeguard your health as well as the environment. One method to determine whether you own an approved wood burning stove that is EPA-certified is to examine the metal tag on it check the owner's manual or refer to the EPA's list of certified wood stoves. Another reason to consider a wood-burning stove that is certified by the EPA is the fact that it can help in the preservation of forests and biodiversity. Forests play an essential role in regulating the climate of the earth, and if they are managed sustainably they can absorb the carbon dioxide released when wood is burned. Eco-friendly stoves, which only burn locally harvested wood that is sustainably sourced, will give a boost to sustainable forest management. This approach is built on the principles of circular economy, and ensures that forests are valued for both their environmental benefits and timber supply. Safety Wood stoves can create a warm and comfortable atmosphere in a space. They can also be a great place for family and friends to get together. However, they also emit various dangerous gases into the air, particularly if not properly used or with poor quality logs. Additionally, wood stove burning may cause smoky conditions that impact indoor air quality. To lessen the impact on your lungs, and to ensure you have a clean, safe burning stove it is important to follow a few simple tips for use. Use only properly dried and seasoned hardwood and be sure to examine the stove on a regular basis to ensure that all logs have a strong flame. It is also a good idea, to make use of hearth mats that are specifically designed to guard your floor from fire-related damage and also withstand the constant heat of the stove. Another key point is to never use lighter fluid. It is a hazardous substance that is best used to ignite a fire within an open fire, not in an enclosed wood burner. The use of this substance could cause the wood to burn at a rapid rate, which could result in the formation of dangerous volatile compounds that if inhaled can cause harm to your health. Keep children and pets away from the wood stove when being used. Make use of a hearth mat that can be put beneath your stove to keep burning embers from falling to the floor and creating damage. It is also recommended to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors within your home. You should also have your chimney checked every year to make sure it is functioning properly. A certified professional can inspect the chimney to make sure there is no creosote buildup and that it isn't leaking. A modern wood-burning stove that has built-in automation and monitoring such as the Catalyst smart wood stove, is an excellent option for those looking for a high-performance, efficient, yet environmentally sustainable method to heat their home. This kind of stove can eliminate the problems associated with older traditional stoves. It regulates the fire to ensure that it is burning at an right level, and prevents overfiring.