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Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove A wood stove is an excellent way to warm up your home and it can also be used to heat your entire home. Certain stoves emit harmful gasses like creosote which can be dangerous for health and property. It is crucial to take care of these stoves. Some of the most important points to keep in mind include making sure the room isn't overheated and not tampering with the fire and using correctly 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 sustainable than traditional house coal or wet wood. However, they do still release toxic gases and smoke. They also require regular maintenance to keep them operating at their best. Check the manufacturer's instructions before purchasing or using any kind of fuel. Make sure it is the correct fuel for your stove. Incorrect fuels can cause damage to your chimney or stove and cause costly repairs and invalidating your warranty. It is illegal to use unapproved fuel particularly in smoke control zones. Look for the “Ready to Burn” logo. This indicates that the fuel is in compliance with smoke emission and sulphur limit limits and can be legally sold for domestic use. The logo is often displayed along with the price and brand details or on the packaging. The fuels suitable for burning must be seasoned or kiln dried to reduce moisture content. This will improve heat output and combustion efficiency. The type of wood selected will also depend on your heating requirements. Softwoods such as spruce and pine are good for heating, but hardwoods such as oak and beech produce more hot embers over longer periods. Fruitwoods such as cherry and apple can not only be used to heat the house, but also add an appealing scent. If you have a stove that uses multiple fuels, you might be interested in a mixed fuel fire. Combining wood with smokeless Briquettes will allow the flame to last longer and help keep your home warm. The briquettes are a good backup and can also prevent a chimney-fire by keeping the air flowing. A well-maintained stove will generate more heat, burn less fuel and generate fewer harmful particles. If you have a wood or gas-fired stove, ensure that it is fitted by an authorized installer (on a competent person scheme such as HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). A regularly serviced appliance is more economical to run and will safeguard your health and the environment by reducing harmful emissions. Design Wood stoves are a great source of heat, but their design is important to consider. The unwelcome byproducts of combustion, like carbon monoxide and smoke, can be harmful to the environment and health. The key to minimizing the emissions is to operate with a proper manner and a well-planned design. Modern wood stoves are much more environmentally friendly than older models. All EPA certified stoves must adhere to strict energy efficiency and emission regulations to maximize the amount of heat produced. Look for the metal EPA certification mark on the back of the stove, or check out the EPA's current database to determine if a particular wood stove is certified. Hearth-related stores in your area can also be a great resource for learning more about wood stoves, such as what size and capacity is best for your space. Controlling the flow of air through the stove is an essential element of EPA emission regulations. The firebox of the stove is enclosed by walls of fireproof materials, and air vents are located within the walls to allow controlled airflow. Controlling airflow is crucial to ensure that combustion is at its best and emissions are minimized. A majority of modern stoves have a baffle that increases the time for combustion of the fire, which decreases emissions of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves also employ catalytic converters to cut down on NOx emissions. This kind of system is more expensive and is typically only used in high-end wood stoves. Stoves use different types air control systems to regulate air flow. The majority of wood stoves use a basic passive air supply, which requires the operator (you) to operate the stove correctly to ensure maximum performance. Some wood stoves are also available with active air supplies that are controlled by sensors that track the combustion process and adjust the flow of air according to the needs. Wood stoves are a great alternative heating solution for homes in remote areas or that aren't connected to the electric grid. If you don't have a backup heating source in the event of an outage, or if there is an imminent snow storm, the wood stove isn't the only option to heat your home. The output of heat A lot of wood stoves are advertised as having the maximum heat output in BTUs. This is misleading however, as the actual heating capacity of a wood stove is dependent on a variety of factors like the size of the room and the degree of insulation. Climate also has an impact on the requirements for heat. To keep warm the colder regions require stoves that have higher BTU ratings. The type of wood you use and the frequency with which you refill your fireplace are additional factors that influence heat production. Dry, seasoned firewood generates more heat than fresh cut and wet logs. The stove fan also assists in circulate the warmth produced by the wood burner into the room, rather than having the hot air rise upwards. It is vital to keep in mind that the highest output of wood heater stove s should not be a constant event because continuous high-fire can cause damage to a stove's innards and may cause carbon monoxide to leak into the home. Regular refueling can also improve the efficiency of the fireplace. Make sure that the log isn't too large and is placed on the glowing embers, so it does not touch the glass or the walls of the stove. It is also recommended to add smaller logs frequently instead of allowing too long between additions. High efficiency stoves are designed to provide greater heat output using the same amount fuel. This is achieved by prewarming combustion air and employing other design features. They typically produce less smoke, toxins, and carbon monoxide than older models. A few people also decide 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 a hot water tank. This allows the heat to be distributed throughout the house. This is an efficient and cost effective way of heating a home even though the installation process can be very extensive. This method requires a separate flue, and the additional energy required to run back boilers can raise the operating costs of a wood stove. Safety Wood stoves and fireplaces are a convenient and attractive way of heating your home. However, they aren't free of dangers. Sparks and embers can spout out of a flame and ignite furniture or carpeting and a burning chimney that is hot can cause destruction to the structure of your home. These dangers can be minimized by using and maintaining the fireplace with wood burning. To ensure that wood-burning stoves are safe and in good shape They should be regularly inspected and maintained. This includes inspecting the chimney and flue at least once each year for signs of rust or wear and cleaning them. The chimney must be inspected for creosote half-way through the season. It is extremely explosive and can lead to a chimney fire. When buying a wood-burning fireplace, choose one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories or another recognized testing laboratory. This will ensure that the stove has been constructed to comply with federal safety standards and is specifically designed to allow for proper venting. Also, you should inspect the hinges, legs and grates of the stove to make sure they are in good working order and are securely fastened to the floor. If you decide to install a wood stove in your cabin, ensure that the floor beneath it is insulated and non-combustible. It is also possible to lay a layer of non-combustible floor tiles over the flooring that is in place, especially in the case of an old mobile home with combustible floors. Only burn hardwoods that are dry and well-seasoned. Dry and damp wood creates excessive smoke and creosote. This is a flammable byproduct that can build up in your chimney and release harmful chemicals into your home. Avoid burning trash, cardboard, paper or any other combustibles inside your wood stove, since they can release dangerous fumes and may not completely burn. Don't “over-fire” your wood stove, i.e. create a larger fire than the stove can handle. Over firing can result in flames leaving the combustion chamber, causing damage to the chimney connector, the stove and chimney itself, as well as burning other combustible materials within your home. Make sure the fire has been completely snuffed out prior to leaving your cabin or going to the bed. Finally, you should always have functioning carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in your house.