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Proper Use and Maintenance of a Wood Heater Stove A wood stove is a wonderful way to warm up your home and it can also be used to heat your entire home. Certain stoves emit harmful gasses like creosote which is dangerous to health and property. A proper care for these stoves is essential. Some important things to be aware of include: avoiding overheating the room, 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, such as briquettes or fire logs. These cleaner burning alternatives are healthier and more sustainable than traditional household coal or wet wood. However, they release toxic gases and smoke. They also require regular maintenance to keep them working at their best. Before purchasing or using any fuel, make sure you read the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that the type is recommended for your stove. Unsuitable fuel can damage your stove and chimney, causing expensive repairs or voiding the warranty. Using an unapproved fuel could be illegal, especially in areas that control smoke. Check for the 'Ready to Burn logo, which indicates that the fuel is in compliance with sulphur and smoke emission limits and can be legally sold for domestic use. The logo is usually displayed on the package or beside the brand name and price. Suitable fuels should be prepared (stored and then split for a few months before use) or kiln-dried to reduce the moisture content, which increases heat output and efficiency in combustion. The type of wood selected should also meet your heating requirements. Softwoods like pine and spruce are good for heating but hardwoods like oak and beech produce greater quantities of hot embers for longer durations. Fruitwoods such as cherry and apple not only provide efficient heating but also elevate the ambiance by their pleasant scents. If you own a stove that uses different fuels, you might want to consider a mixed-fuel fire. Combining wood with smokeless Briquettes can allow the flame to last longer and help keep your home warm. Briquettes are a great backup option and can help stop a chimney fire by keeping the air moving. A well-maintained stove will produce more heat and burn less fuel while producing fewer harmful particles. If you own a wood or gas-fired stove, make sure it is installed by an authorized installer (on a competent person scheme like HETAS, APHC, BESCA, Certsure or NAPIT). Regularly maintained appliances are more efficient and protect the environment and your health by preventing harmful emission. Design Wood stoves are an excellent source of heat, but their design is something to think about. Smoke and carbon monoxide are unwanted byproducts that can be harmful to health and the environment. The key to minimizing the emissions is to operate with a proper manner and a careful design. Modern wood stoves are more eco green than older models. All EPA certified stoves must meet strict energy efficiency and emission regulations to maximize the amount of heat produced. Look for the metal EPA certification label on the back of the stove, or check out the EPA's current database to see if a particular wood stove is certified. Visiting local hearth products retailers who are aware of the performance capabilities of their inventory is also a great way to learn more about wood stoves and what size and capacity may be the best fit for your home. One of the main components of EPA emission regulations is the control of air flow through the stove. The firebox of the stove is surrounded by fireproof walls and there are air vents in these walls to allow for controlled airflow. The airflow control is necessary to ensure that the combustion process is in the best possible way and that emissions are minimized. Many modern stoves have baffles that prolong the time the fire burns and reduces the amount of smoke and harmful gases. Certain wood stoves include catalytic converters to cut down on NOx emissions. This is more costly and is used only in high-end wood burning stoves. Stoves employ different types of air control systems to regulate air flow. The majority of wood stoves still utilize a passive air supply, which requires the operator (you) to operate the stove properly to get the best performance. A few wood stoves also come with active air supplies that are controlled by sensors that track the combustion process and adjust the supply of air as needed. Wood stoves can be a fantastic alternative to heating homes in remote areas or those who are not connected to the electricity grid. If you don't have a backup heating source in the event of an outage or an imminent snow storm, wood stoves shouldn't be your only option to warm your home. The output of heat Many wood stoves are advertised as having an output of heat at the peak in BTUs. This is not accurate as the actual heat output of a wood-burning stove is dependent on many factors including the size of the room, and the degree of insulation it has. Climate can also affect the requirements for heat. Colder regions require stoves with a higher BTU rating to maintain the temperature. Other factors that influence the production of heat are the type of wood used and the frequency of refueling. Dry, seasoned wood generates more heat than freshly-cut and wet logs. A stove fan may aid in the circulation of heat produced by the wood burner in the room, rather than having the hot air rise. It is crucial to remember that the maximum power of a wood heater should not be reached often, as a continuous high-fire can cause damage to the stove's internals and lead to carbon monoxide leaking into the home. The performance of a stove could be enhanced by regular refills. When adding a new log, ensure that it's not too large and place it on the glowing embers so that it doesn't touch the wall of the stove or glass pane. It is also recommended to add smaller logs frequently instead of allowing too long between additions. High efficiency stoves are engineered to produce a greater amount of heat output using the same amount of fuel by providing pre-heated combustion air, as well as other design features. These stoves typically produce less smoke, toxins, and carbon monoxide than earlier models. Some people choose to install boiler stoves as component of their heating system. The heat produced by the wood burning stove to heat water in the hot water tank or central heating system, allowing the heat to be distributed throughout a house. This is a reliable and cost-effective way to heat a home. However the installation process could take quite a long time. This method requires a separate flue, and the additional energy required to run back boilers will raise the operating costs of the wood stove. Safety Fireplaces and wood stoves are a beautiful and efficient method of heating homes. However, they are not without risk. Sparks and embers can spout out of a flame and ignite carpeting or furniture A hot chimney could cause destruction to the structure of your house. The proper use and maintenance of a wood-burning stove minimizes the risk. To ensure that wood-burning stoves remain safe and in good shape, they should be regularly inspected and maintained. This includes examining the chimney and flue for signs of wear and rust, and having them cleaned at least once a year. The chimney should also be inspected halfway through the season for creosote buildup, which is highly flammable and may cause chimney fires. When you are buying 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 will assure you that the stove has been constructed to meet federal safety standards, and is designed for proper venting. Examine the hinges, legs and grates to make sure they are in good shape and securely secured to a stove's floor. If you choose to install a wood stove in your cabin, make sure that the floor underneath it is insulated and non-combustible. You can also lay tiles that are not combustible over the flooring you have in place in the event that it is inflammable. Burn only hardwoods that are dry and seasoned. Wood that is damp or green can produce excessive smoke and creosote. This flammable byproduct could build within your chimney, releasing toxic chemicals. Do not burn cardboard, paper, trash or other combustibles in your wood stove, since they can create dangerous fumes, and they may not fully burn. Do cheap wood burning stoves over fire” your wood stove -that is, to generate a larger flame than the stove can handle. Overfiring can cause flames to escape from the combustion chamber, causing damage to the stove, chimney connector, and the chimney itself. It may also cause the burning of other combustible materials within your home. Also, make sure that the fire has been completely snuffed out prior to leaving your cabin or going to bed. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must be functioning at all times.