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Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove A wood stove can be an ideal place to warm up and can warm a whole house. Some of these devices emit harmful gases, such as creosote, which is dangerous to health and property. Proper care of the stoves is crucial. Some important things to remember are: not overheating the space or tinkering with the stove, and using dried firewood. Fuel Wood stoves burn a variety of fuel types, including dry wood and manufactured solid fuels, such as briquettes and fire logs. These fuels that are clean burning are less polluting than traditional household coal and wet wood, which means they are more sustainable and healthier to use. They do emit harmful smoke and gases, and require regular maintenance to function at their peak. Before using or purchasing any fuel, read the instructions of the manufacturer and ensure that the fuel is suitable for your stove. Incorrect fuel could damage your stove and chimney which can result in costly repairs or voiding the warranty. It is illegal to use fuel that is not approved particularly in smoke control zones. Look for the “Ready to Burn” logo. This means that the fuel is within sulphur limits and smoke emission limits and can be legally purchased for domestic use. The logo is usually placed on the packaging or alongside the name of the brand and its price. The fuels that are suitable for use should be prepared (stored and split for several months before use) or kiln-dried to decrease the amount of moisture which improves heat output and combustion efficiency. The type of wood selected must also be suited to your heating needs. Softwoods like pine and spruce are good for heating however, hardwoods like oak and beech produce greater quantities of hot embers over a longer period of time. Fruitwoods such as apple and cherry do not just offer efficient heating, but also improve the ambience of your home with their pleasant aromas. If you have 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 help keep your home warm. Briquettes can be a great backup option and can help keep a chimney from burning by keeping the air flowing. A well-maintained stove will produce more heat, use less fuel and create less harmful particles. If you own a wood or gas-fired stove, make sure that it is installed by a registered installer. A properly maintained appliance will be more economical to run and will protect your health and the environment by reducing harmful emissions. Design The design of wood stoves is a crucial factor to be considered when evaluating their use as a primary or secondary heating source. Carbon monoxide and smoke are undesirable byproducts that may have a negative impact on health and the environment. Proper operation and a well-designed design are key factors in minimizing the emission. Modern wood stoves are much more environmentally friendly than older models. All stoves certified by the EPA meet strict emission and energy efficiency regulations that optimize the quantity of heat they generate. You can verify if a wood stove is certified by looking for a metal EPA label on the back or checking the EPA database. Hearth stores in your area are also a great source for information on wood stoves, including the size and capacity that is ideal for your home. A key part of the EPA emission regulations involves controlling air flow through the stove. The stove's firebox is surrounded by fireproof walls and there are air vents inside these walls to allow for controlled airflow. The airflow control is necessary to ensure that the combustion process is efficient and that emissions are reduced. A majority of modern stoves have a baffle to increase the time for combustion of the fire, which reduces the amount of smoke and harmful gases. Some wood stoves use catalyst converters to decrease NOx emission. This is more expensive and is utilized only in high-end wood burning stoves. Stoves utilize different air control systems to regulate the flow of air. The majority of wood stoves still employ a basic passive air supply which requires the owner (you) to operate the stove properly to ensure maximum performance. Some wood stoves also come with active air supplies, which are controlled by sensors that monitor the combustion process and adjust the flow of air according to the needs. One of the biggest advantages of wood stoves is that it does not require electricity to operate, which makes it an ideal alternative to heating homes that are isolated or aren't connected to an electric power grid. If you do not have a backup heating source in the event of an outage, or if there is a snowstorm, then the wood stove isn't your sole option for heating your home. The output of heat Many wood stoves are advertised with a peak heat output rate in BTUs. This is misleading, however, as the actual capacity to heat the wood stove is dependent on a variety of factors such as the size of the room as well as how well it's insulated. Climate also affects the heating requirements. Colder regions require stoves with more BTU rating to maintain comfort. The type of wood used and the frequency you refuel your fireplace are other factors that affect the production of heat. Dry, seasoned firewood generates more heat than fresh cut and wet logs. The stove fan can also help move the heat generated by the wood burner throughout the room instead of having the hot air rise upwards. It is vital to keep in mind that the highest output of wood heater stoves should not be a constant event as continuous high firing causes damage to the stove's interior and can cause carbon monoxide to leak into the home. The performance of a stove can also be improved through regular fueling. Make sure that the log isn't too big and that it is placed on the glowing embers, so it does not contact the glass or walls of the stove. Add smaller logs more frequently instead of waiting too long between additions. High efficiency stoves are engineered to produce a higher heat output with the same amount fuel. This is achieved by prewarming combustion air, and by incorporating other features into the design. These stoves produce less carbon monoxide, toxins and smoke than older models. A few people also decide to install a back boiler stove as part of their heating system. The heat produced by the wood burning stove to warm water in hot water tanks or a central heating system, allowing the heat to be distributed throughout a house. This is an efficient and cost effective way of heating a house even though the installation process can be quite extensive. This method requires an additional flue, and the energy required to run the boiler will add to the overall cost. Safety Wood stoves and fireplaces are a practical and attractive way of heating your home. However, they are not without risk. A fire could cause carpets or furniture to catch fire, and a hot fireplace can cause structural damage to your home. These dangers can be minimized by using and maintaining an open fireplace that burns wood. To keep wood-burning stoves safe and in good shape They should be regularly checked and maintained. This includes inspecting the chimney and flue at least twice each year for signs of rust or wear, and cleaning them. The chimney must be inspected for creosote at the end of each season. This is highly flammable, and can cause an explosion in the chimney. When you are buying a wood-burning stove make sure you choose one that is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another lab that is recognized as a testing lab. small wood burner will guarantee that the stove is constructed to comply with federal safety standards and is designed to allow proper venting. You should also 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 stove in your cabin, be sure that the floor beneath it is non-combustible and reinforced. You may also want to lay a piece of non-combustible floor tile over the flooring that is in place, especially in the case of an old mobile home that has combustible floors. Only burn hardwoods that are dry and seasoned. Green and damp wood can cause excessive smoke and creosote. This flammable byproduct could build in your chimney, which releases harmful chemicals. Do not burn cardboard, paper, trash or any other combustibles inside your wood stove, since they can create dangerous fumes, and they may not completely burn. Do not “over-fire” your wood stove, i.e. create a bigger fire than the stove can handle. Over-fired stoves can result in flames escape from the combustion chamber and cause damage to the stove, chimney connector and the chimney itself, as well as burning other combustible materials within your home. It is also important to make sure the fire is fully extinguished before leaving your home or going to sleep. Finally, you should always have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home.