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wood heater stove fireplacesandstoves and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove A wood stove is an excellent method to warm your home, and it can also be used to heat your entire house. However, some of these appliances emit harmful gases like creosote, which can be hazardous to your health and property. The proper care of the stoves is crucial. Some of the most important points to consider include making sure that the room is not overheated making a mess of the fire and using correctly dried firewood. Fuel Wood stoves can burn a variety fuels, including dry wood as well as manufactured solid fuels, such as briquettes or fire logs. These clean burning alternative fuels are less polluting than traditional house coal and wet wood, which means they are more sustainable and healthier to use. They do emit harmful gases and smoke and require regular maintenance in order to perform at their best. Before purchasing or using any fuel, read the instructions of the manufacturer and make sure that the type is recommended for your stove. The wrong fuel can cause damage to your chimney and stove and cause costly repairs or voiding the warranty. Utilizing a fuel that has not been approved may be illegal, especially in smoke control areas. Look for the 'Ready To Burn logo, which demonstrates that the fuel meets sulphur and smoke emission limits and can be legally sold for domestic use. The logo is usually displayed on the packaging, or along with the name of the brand and price. Fuels that are suitable for burning must be dried or seasoned to reduce the moisture content. This will increase the amount of heat produced and improve the efficiency of combustion. The kind of wood you choose must also be suited to your heating requirements. Softwoods such as spruce and pine are good for heating, but hardwoods such as beech and oak produce greater quantities of hot embers over longer periods. 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 own a stove that is able to use multiple fuels, you may think about a mixed-fuel fire. Combining wood with smokeless Briquettes can allow the flame to last longer and keep your home warm. The briquettes can be used as a backup and can also prevent a chimney fire by keeping the air moving. A well-maintained stove will create more heat, burn less fuel and generate less harmful particles. If you own a wood or gas-fired stove, ensure that it is fitted by a registered installer (on a competent person scheme such as HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). A well-maintained appliance is more cost-effective to run and will protect your health and the environment by reducing harmful emissions. Design Wood stoves are a great source of heat, however their design is something to think about. Unwanted byproducts of combustion, like smoke and carbon monoxide, are a concern for the environment and health. A well-planned and efficient operation are essential to reducing the emission. Modern wood stoves are more eco sustainable than older models. All EPA certified stoves must meet strict energy efficiency and emission regulations to maximize the amount of heat generated. You can verify if a wood stove is certified by looking for a metal EPA label on the back or by looking through the EPA database. Local hearth products retailers can also be a great resource for learning more about wood stoves, and the size and capacity that is best for your space. One of the most important aspects of EPA emission regulations is controlling the flow of air through the stove. The stove's firebox is surrounded by walls that are fireproof, and there are air vents in these walls, which allow for controlled airflow. Controlling airflow is crucial to ensure that combustion is optimal and emissions are minimal. Modern stoves often have a baffle to increase the time to burn the fire, which reduces emissions of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves also employ a catalytic converter to reduce NOx emissions. This type of system is more expensive and is usually only used in high-end wood stoves. Stoves employ different types of air control systems to regulate air flow. The majority of wood stoves still 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 have active air supplies that are controlled by sensors. These sensors monitor the combustion process, and adjust the air supply when required. One of the most significant advantages of a wood stove is that it doesn't require electricity to operate, making it an excellent alternative for heating homes that are isolated or do not have access to a power grid. However, if your home does not have a backup heating source to rely on during an outage or a snowstorm, a wood stove should not be your sole option for heating your home. The output of heat Many wood stoves advertise the maximum heat output in BTUs. This is a mistake because the actual output of a wood-burning stove depends on many factors including the dimensions of the room and the degree of insulation it has. The climate of the region can also influence heating demands. To maintain comfort, colder regions need stoves that have higher BTU ratings. The type of wood used and the frequency with which you refill your fireplace are additional factors that influence heat production. Dry, seasoned firewood creates more heat than fresh cut and wet logs. A stove fan may help circulate the heat produced by the wood burner in the room, rather than having the hot air rise. It is essential to keep in mind that the maximum power of a wood heating stove is not to be reached frequently as a continuous high-fire can damage the stove's internals, and result in carbon monoxide to leak into the home. The performance of a stove can be enhanced by regular refills. Make sure that the log isn't too large and placed on the embers that are glowing so that it doesn't contact the glass or walls of the stove. Add smaller logs more frequently instead of taking too long between additions. High efficiency stoves are designed to provide greater heat output using the same amount fuel. This is accomplished by prewarming combustion air, and by incorporating other features into the design. They produce less carbon monoxide, toxins, and smoke than the older models. Many people opt to install the boiler stove as part of their heating system. This uses the heat generated by the wood burning stove to heat the water in the hot water tank or central heating system, which allows the heat to be distributed throughout a home. This is an efficient and cost-effective method of heating a house even though the installation process can be very extensive. This method requires a separate flue, and the additional energy needed to run back boilers can increase the overall running costs of the wood stove. Safety Fireplaces and wood stoves are attractive and a convenient method of heating a home. However, they are not free of dangers. A fire can 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 wood-burning stove reduces the risk. Wood-burning stoves should be inspected and maintained regularly to keep them safe and in good working condition. This includes checking the chimney and flue for signs of rust and wear and cleaning them at least once a year. The chimney should also be examined halfway through the season to check for creosote accumulation, which is highly flammable and can cause chimney fires. When you are buying a wood-burning stove, look for one that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another recognized testing lab. This will assure you that the stove is constructed to meet the safety standards of the federal government, and is designed to allow proper venting. Also, you should check the legs, hinges and grates on a stove to ensure they are in good working order and securely attached to the floor. If you decide to install a wood-burning fireplace in your home, ensure that the floor underneath it is sturdy and made from non-combustible materials. You can also install a non-combustible tile over your existing flooring if it is fire-proof. Burn only seasoned, dry hardwoods. Wood that is damp or green can produce excessive smoke and creosote. This flammable byproduct could build within your chimney, which releases toxic chemicals. Avoid burning cardboard, trash, paper or any other combustibles, as these can cause dangerous fumes and not even burn. Never “over-fire” your wood stove, i.e. create a bigger fire than the stove is capable of handling. Over-fired stoves can lead to flames escape from the combustion chamber, causing damage to the stove, chimney connector and the chimney itself, and also burning other combustible materials in your home. It is also important to make sure the fire is fully extinguished before leaving your home or going to bed. Also, you must have functioning carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in your home.