Maintaining an Indoor Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves are an economical and comfortable method to heat your home. However, they can also release harmful gases and pollutants into indoor air if poorly installed, loaded with too much fuel or venting to chimneys or flues that are in poor condition.
Modern wood stoves are designed to use cleaner fuel and produce fewer pollutants through secondary combustion processes. They have dampers that can be turned to open or close the interior part of the flue.
Efficient Heat Production
Nothing is more relaxing than curling up next to a warm fireplace, which enhances the comfort of your home. A wood stove is more than just a source of warmth. It can also help reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and provides an alternative to heating your home.
Wood stoves are available in different sizes to accommodate different sized areas, and provide the ideal amount of heat and efficiency. These appliances are rated by their British Thermal Units, or BTU output, and a few have features that help to increase efficiency, like baffle systems or secondary combustion chambers. Additionally, certain models have insulation that helps to keep heat for longer to ensure greater efficiency.
Stoves that are efficient convert a greater percentage of wood into usable heat, thus reducing both emissions and consumption of wood. The choice of dried or seasoned wood can also boost efficiency as it burns more readily and produces less smoke. A proper installation, regular maintenance and proper operation can boost efficiency in energy use and environmental performance.
It is essential to control the air flow in your stove in order to ensure that the stove is burning efficiently. This can be done by changing the primary vent, and using the secondary vent to control flames. When you start the fire, the primary air vent must be opened. As the fire gets bigger, it can be closed gradually. If you open the vent too early, it will cause large flames that can overpower the secondary vent, which is necessary to control combustion and reduce particulate emission.
It is also essential to use only clean, seasoned wood to burning in your stove. Other types of wood, such as painted and varnished products can result in high levels of pollutants or dangerously high temperatures. Wood briquettes aren't recommended for burning in your stove because they may contain additives or chemicals that could be harmful to your health or cause damage to the stove's interior.
It is essential that your chimney is examined and cleaned regularly. Creosote and soot buildup can drastically reduce the performance of your stove and could be a fire hazard for your home.
Aesthetically pleasing
Wood stoves are not just an energy source. They also create an attractive focal point for your home and give it an inviting look. They also allow you to get fit by cutting the wood that will fuel your fire. They can also save you money on energy bills and can be used as a back-up in the event of power outages. They are a renewable resource, which is better for the environment than fossils fuels. They can also help make your home more self-sufficient.
Wood burning stoves can be found in a variety of designs and colors to fit any style. While black is the classic choice, coloured stoves such as ones with rich browns and terracotta shades add a modern touch to the room. The darker colors are more easy to clean as they conceal dirt and marks.
If you are looking for an easier design you could look into a rectangular wood stove. These stoves usually come with glass on three sides and can be installed in tight spaces. They are perfect for turning garages into an living space. They can be freestanding or installed with twin-wall flue systems.
You can select a bigger wood-burning fireplace to accommodate larger homes. They have a huge heating capacity of over 8kW, making them suitable for homes with large families and open plan living areas. These stoves are usually more industrial in appearance and can be fitted into single or double-walled systems.
They are also fitted with catalytic or second-burn technology that divert unburned gasses from the logs to the flames instead of sending them up the chimney. This reduces the amount of smoke that is emitted into your home which is beneficial for those who suffer from sensitive respiratory conditions or asthma.
Before you purchase a stove that burns wood it is essential to figure out the heating requirements for your space in Kilowatts. This will allow you to choose the right size stove for your home, and avoid overheating or underheating. You can do this with a simple calculation. Simply multiply the volume of your space in cubic metres by 14. This will give you a a rough estimate of your heating requirements.
Affordability
A wood stove inside is a great option to cut down on heating costs. Wood stoves generate heat using firewood, which is a renewable source of energy. They are also less expensive than other energy sources such as gas and electricity. However, it's crucial to know the costs of buying and maintaining a wood burning stove prior to making the investment.
While the initial cost of a wood burning stove is costly but once it's installed and used regularly your monthly expenses will likely to drop significantly. You could save as much as $1000 annually by switching from a traditional gas stove to a wood burning stove.
In addition to lowering your heating expenses and lowering your heating bills, a wood-burning stove inside can provide backup warmth in the event of an electrical failure. This is a crucial feature in winter storms with severe winds, as it can be difficult to keep your home warm without a source of electricity.
Be aware of the size and capacity of a wood stove before selecting one to ensure it can warm your home effectively. You'll need to determine the area you'd like to heat, and use manufacturers' guidelines to determine the appropriate BTUs for your area. You should also consider the quantity of insulation and the layout of your house and the climate that you reside in.
Wood stoves are available in a variety of styles and designs so there's likely to be one that complements your home's decor. Modern stoves have a sleek, contemporary aesthetic that will enhance the look of your living area while still providing warmth. There are stoves available that meet the emission standards of the EPA. These are usually marked with a label indicating which emission standards they comply with. To reduce your emissions and avoid polluting the air it is important to purchase an EPA-certified appliance.
Easy Maintenance
Wood stoves are a sustainable and efficient method to heat your house. To keep them in good working order they require some attention. You'll need to invest time and effort sourcing, splitting and stacking the wood you'll use to light your stove. Additionally, you'll need to maintain and clean the chimney and the unit. These additional tasks can be overwhelming for some homeowners. There are methods to decrease the amount of maintenance needed for your wood stove to ensure it lasts longer and works better.
The first step towards effective maintenance is to develop an ongoing cleaning routine. Ideally you should clean your stove every two weeks or monthly in winter when it's constantly in use. Begin by vacuuming all exterior surfaces of your stove with an attachment that has a soft-bristle. Make sure you reach all crevices, joints seams, and air intakes. Be gentle when cleaning the parts that are sensitive to heat from the stove. Next, you must clean all exterior surfaces using an organic, non-chemical cleaner - the same kind that came with your stove.
Lastly, you should empty the ash pan, and then sift regularly. This can be made simpler by spritzing water on the top layer of ash. Sometimes, you'll need to remove the entire ash layer from the stove to inspect the fire bricks and make sure the bottom of the firebox is clean. The ash pan and tray can cause heat to your wood stove if they are full.
You'll also need to check the gasket and glass regularly, particularly after several fires. A poor seal can significantly impact the process of burning which can cause gasses to be leaking into your living space. A stained glass on your stove can be a sign that wood isn't burning properly. This is usually caused by a bad draft or a fire that is not lit correctly.
It is recommended to hire a professional chimney sweep at least twice each year to prevent the accumulation of creosote and other hazardous deposits. Keep away outside wood burners from your wood heater as they could catch fire if they are placed too close.