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Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove A wood stove is a cozy place to warm up and also provide warmth to a whole house. However, certain devices emit harmful gases like creosote, which could be harmful to the health of your family and property. A proper care for the stoves is crucial. A few important factors to keep in mind include making sure that the room is not overheated, not messing with the fire and using correctly dried firewood that is properly dried. Fuel Wood stoves can burn a variety of fuels which include dry wood as well as manufactured solid fuels like briquettes or fire logs. These cleaner burning alternatives are healthier and better for the environment than traditional household coal or wet wood. They still emit some harmful smoke and gases, and require regular maintenance in order to work at their best. Before using or purchasing any fuel, check the manufacturer's instructions and make sure that the fuel is suitable for your stove. Incorrect fuel could damage your chimney and stove and cause costly repairs or invalidating the warranty. It is illegal to use fuel that is not approved particularly in smoke control zones. Look for the 'Ready to Burn logo, which demonstrates that the fuel is in compliance with sulphur and smoke emission limits, and can be legally sold for domestic use. The logo is usually placed alongside 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 can increase the amount of heat produced and improve the efficiency of combustion. The type of wood selected should also meet your heating needs. Softwoods such as pine and spruce offer an excellent value for money however, hardwoods such as oak or beech generate more hot embers and do so for a longer time. Fruitwoods such as apple and cherry do not just offer efficient heating, but also enhance the ambience with their pleasant aromas. If you have a multi-fuel stove, think about a mixed fuel stove; mixing smokeless briquettes with wood can help maintain the flames and warm up your home for a longer time. Briquettes can be a great alternative and can prevent a chimney-fire by ensuring that the air is flowing. A well-maintained stove will create more heat, use less fuel and create less harmful particles. If you have an oil or gas-fired wood stove, ensure it is installed by an authorized installer (on a competent person scheme like HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). A properly maintained appliance will be more economical to run and protect your health and the environment by reducing harmful emissions. Design Wood stoves are a fantastic source of heat, however their design is crucial to consider. Carbon monoxide and smoke are undesirable byproducts that could be harmful to health and the environment. The key to reducing 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 comply with strict emission and energy efficiency regulations that maximize the amount of heat they generate. You can determine whether 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, and the size and capacity that is the best fit for your space. Controlling air flow through the stove is an essential aspect of EPA emission regulations. The stove's firebox is enclosed by fireproof walls and there are air vents within these walls, which allow for controlled airflow. Controlling airflow is vital to ensure that the combustion process is in the best possible way and emissions are reduced. Many modern stoves use a baffle that increases the time to burn the fire, which reduces smoke output and harmful gases. Some wood stoves use catalyst converters to decrease NOx emissions. This type of system is more expensive and is generally only found in top-end wood stoves. Stoves employ different types of air control systems to regulate air flow. The majority of wood stoves employ a basic passive air supply, which requires the operator (you) to operate the stove correctly in order to achieve peak performance. Some wood stoves also come with active air sources that are controlled by sensors that monitor the combustion process and adjust the supply of air as needed. Wood stoves can be a fantastic alternative for heating homes in remote areas or those that aren't connected to the electric grid. However, if your home does not have a backup heat source that you can rely on during a power outage or in case of a snowstorm, a wood stove is not the only option for heating your home. Heat output Many wood stoves boast their maximum heat output in BTUs. This is a false statement however, as the actual heating capacity of a wood stove is dependent on a number of factors such as the size of the room as well as the degree of insulation. The climate of the region also plays a role in heating demands. Colder regions require stoves with greater BTU rating to maintain the comfort. Other factors that affect heat production include the type of wood used and the frequency of refueling. Dry, seasoned firewood produces more heat than freshly cut and wet logs. A stove fan may assist in spreading the heat generated by the wood burner in the room instead of having the hot air rise up. It is crucial to keep in mind that the maximum output of a wood heater is not to be reached frequently because a continuous fire can cause damage to the stove's internals and cause carbon monoxide to leak into the home. Regular refueling can also enhance the efficiency of a fireplace. Make sure that the log is not too big and is placed on the glowing embers to ensure that it doesn't contact the glass or walls of the stove. It's also best to add smaller logs frequently instead of allowing too long between additions. High efficiency stoves are designed to provide a higher amount of heat output using the same amount of fuel, by providing pre-heated combustion air and other design features. They produce less carbon monoxide, toxins, and smoke than the older models. Some people also opt to install a back boiler stove as part of their heating system. It uses the heat produced by the wood-burning stove to warm water in a hot water tank or central heating system, allowing the heat to be distributed throughout a home. This is an efficient and cost-effective method of heating a home however the process of installation can be very extensive. This method requires a flue that is not already installed and the energy required to run a boiler will increase overall costs. Safety Wood stoves and fireplaces are a convenient and attractive way of heating your home. However, they are not without risk. A fire could cause furniture or carpets to catch fire and a hot fireplace can cause structural damage to your home. The proper use and maintenance of a stove that burns wood reduces the risk. Wood-burning stoves need to be checked and maintained regularly to keep them safe and in good condition. This includes examining the flue and chimney for signs of rust and wear, and having them cleaned at least two times per year. The chimney should also be checked at least once a year for creosote buildup, which is highly flammable and may cause chimney fires. When purchasing a wood-burning stove make sure you choose one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another lab that is recognized as a testing lab. This guarantees that the stove meets the safety standards set by the federal government and is designed to ventilate properly. Check wood heater stove , hinges and grates to make sure they are in good shape and securely secured to the floor of the stove. If you opt to install a wood-burning stove in your cabin, make sure the floor underneath it is sturdy and made of non-combustible materials. It is also possible to lay a sheet of non-combustible floor tile over the existing flooring, especially in the case of an old mobile home with flooring that is combustible. Always burn only seasoned, dry hardwoods. Wood that is damp or green can cause excessive smoke and creosote. This flammable byproduct can build up inside your chimney, which releases harmful chemicals. Avoid burning trash, cardboard, newspaper or any other combustibles on your wood stove, as they can release dangerous fumes and may not burn completely. Don't “over fire” your wood stove -that is, to create a larger fire than the stove can handle. Over firing can result in flames escape from the combustion chamber and causing damage to the chimney connector, the stove and the chimney itself, and also burning other combustible materials in your home. It is also essential to make sure the fire is fully extinguished before leaving your cabin or going to bed. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors should be working at all times.