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Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove A wood stove is an excellent method to warm your home, and it can also warm the entire house. Certain stoves emit harmful gases like creosote which could be harmful to the health of your family and your property. It is essential to take care of these stoves. A few important factors to keep in mind include: avoiding overheating the room, not messing with the fire and using properly dried firewood. Fuel Wood stoves can be used to burn a variety of fuels, including dry wood, as well as manufactured solid fuels, such as briquettes or fire logs. These alternative fuels that burn cleanly are less polluting than traditional house coal and wet wood, which means they are better for the environment and healthier to use. They do emit harmful smoke and gases, and require regular maintenance to perform at their best. Make sure you read the manufacturer's guidelines prior to purchasing or using any type of fuel. Be sure that it's the right one for your stove. The wrong fuel can cause damage to your stove and chimney, causing expensive repairs or voiding the warranty. It is illegal to use fuel that is not approved, especially in smoke control zones. Look for the “Ready to Burn” logo. This confirms that the fuel is in compliance with limits of sulphur and smoke emission limits and can be sold legally for domestic use. The logo is usually displayed on the packaging, or along with the name of the brand and price. Suitable fuels are seasoned (stored and then split for a few months prior to use) or kiln-dried to decrease the moisture content which boosts heat output and combustion efficiency. The type of wood chosen must also be suited to your heating requirements. Softwoods like pine and spruce offer excellent value for money, however, hardwoods such as oak or beech generate more hot embers and do so for a longer time. Fruitwoods like apple and cherry can be used not only to heat the home but also provide a pleasant aroma. If you have an appliance that runs on different fuels, you might want to consider a mixed-fuel fire. Combining wood with smokeless Briquettes can help maintain the flames for longer and help keep your home warm. Briquettes can be used as a backup and also help prevent a chimney fire by keeping the air moving. A well-maintained stove will create more heat, burn less fuel, and produce less harmful particles. If you own a gas or oil-fired wood stove, make sure it is installed by a registered installer (on a competent person scheme such as HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). Regularly serviced appliances are more efficient and safeguard your health and the environment by preventing harmful emissions. Design Wood stoves are an excellent source of heat, but their design is important to consider. The unwelcome byproducts of combustion, such as carbon monoxide and smoke can be harmful to environmental and health impacts. The key to reducing these emissions is correct operation and a careful design. Modern wood stoves are more eco sustainable than older models. All EPA-certified stoves comply with strict emission and energy efficiency standards which maximize the amount of heat they generate. Look for an iron EPA certification mark on the back of the stove or go through the EPA's latest database to determine if a particular wood stove is certified. Visiting local hearth products retailers who are aware of the performance characteristics of their products is a great way to learn more about wood stoves and which size and capacity might be the best fit for your home. Controlling air flow through the stove is a key part of EPA emission regulations. The firebox of the stove is enclosed by walls of fireproof material and air vents are placed within the walls to allow controlled airflow. The airflow control is necessary to ensure that the combustion process is optimal and that emissions are reduced. Modern stoves often have a baffle to increase the time for combustion of the fire, which reduces emissions of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves include an catalytic converter to lower NOx emissions. This method is more expensive and is utilized only in top-quality wood burning stoves. Stoves also employ different kinds of air control systems to regulate airflow in the stove. Most wood stoves use the basic passive air supply which requires that the user (you) manage the stove in a way that allows the best performance. Certain wood stoves have active air supplies that are controlled by sensors. These sensors monitor the combustion process and adjust the air supply as needed. Wood stoves can be a fantastic alternative heating solution for homes in remote areas or those that aren't connected to the electric grid. But, if website link do not have a backup heat source to depend on in the event of an outage or an upcoming snowstorm, a wooden stove is not the only option for heating your home. The output of heat Many wood stoves are advertised as having an output of heat at the peak in BTUs. This is misleading because the actual output of a wood-burning stove depends on many variables including the dimensions of the room and how well insulated it is. 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 used and the frequency with which you replenish your fireplace are additional elements that affect the amount of heat produced. Dry, seasoned wood creates more heat than freshly-cut and wet logs. A stove fan may assist in spreading the heat generated by the wood stove in the room rather than have the hot air rise up. It is crucial to keep in mind that the maximum power of a wood heating stove is not to be reached frequently because a continuous 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 refueling. Make sure the log is not too big and placed on the glowing embers, so it does not get in the way of the glass or walls of the stove. You can add smaller logs more frequently, rather than being too long between additions. High efficiency stoves are designed to achieve a higher level of heat output from the same amount of fuel by providing pre-heated combustion air and other design features. These stoves emit less carbon monoxide, toxins and smoke than older models. Many people opt to install boiler stoves as component of their heating system. The heat generated by a wood burning stove is used to heat water for central heating systems or hot water tank. This allows the heat to be distributed throughout the house. This is a reliable and cost-effective way to heat the home. However, the installation process can take a long time. This method requires a separate flue and the additional energy needed to run back boilers will raise the operating costs of the wood stove. Safety Fireplaces and wood stoves are a convenient and attractive way to heat your home. They are not without risks. A fire could cause carpets or furniture to catch fire, and a hot fireplace can cause structural damage to your home. The dangers can be reduced by using and maintaining a wood-burning fireplace. To keep wood-burning stoves safe and in good shape, they should be regularly checked and maintained. This includes checking the chimney and flue at least twice a year for signs of rust or wear, and cleaning them. The chimney should be checked for creosote half-way through the season. It is extremely flammable and could cause an explosion in the chimney. When you are buying a fireplace that burns wood make sure you choose one that is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or another recognized testing laboratory. This ensures that the stove is in compliance with the safety standards set by the federal government and is designed to ventilate properly. You should also examine the hinges, legs and grates on a stove to ensure they are in good working order and securely attached to the floor. If you decide to put in a wood stove in your cabin, be sure that the floor underneath it is reinforced and non-combustible. You can also put a non-combustible tile over your flooring when it is inflammable. Burn only 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, releasing toxic chemicals into your home. Do not burn cardboard, paper, trash, or any other combustibles as they can create dangerous fumes, and could not even ignite. Do not “over fire” your wood stovewhich is to generate a larger flame than the stove can handle. Overfiring can cause flames to escape from the combustion chamber, which can damage to the chimney, stove connector, and the chimney itself. It can also burn other combustible materials within your home. It is also important to make sure the fire is fully extinguished prior to leaving your home or going to sleep. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be functioning at all times.