How to Properly Operate a Woodburning Stove
Wood stoves are a fantastic option to heat your home. They're also inexpensive. But the smoke they emit can be harmful to your health. It's important to understand how these appliances work and how to use them correctly.
A lot of modern stoves rely on a catalytic or secondary combustion to reduce their emissions. Older stoves and open flames release high levels of particulates.
The firebox
The firebox is the heart of any fireplace system. It's where you create a fire to heat your home and provide ambiance. It's a simple concept, but there are many important details that must be accounted for to keep your wood burning stove safe and efficient.
The simplest way to think of the firebox is to think of it as an open-air combustion chamber that has walls and doors. Most fireplaces have either an already-built metal or the masonry fireboxes. The kind of firebox you select will depend on your preferences and the type of fireplace that you have.
The majority of wood-burning stoves utilize the constant flow of air to generate the flame and burn the fuel. Fresh air is drawn into the stove through the adjustable dampers within the doors of the stove. This allows the fuels to be burned properly and reduces the harmful gasses that result from incomplete or unburnt burning. The exhaust gases will then be dragged up the chimney, and then away from your home.
Modern stoves that have catalytic second combustion make use of a specific catalyst that allows unburned gases to be reburned to generate additional warmth. This produces a more clean and less polluting smoke than traditional wood stoves without secondary combustion. Modern non-catalytic wood stoves are available, but these are typically less efficient than stoves with catalytic second combustion.
Some fireplaces with wood burning have a backboiler, which can be used for space heating or water heating. They are known as "combination" or "hybrid" stoves and have been around since the beginning of the 20th century.
Wood burning stoves should be lit with well-seasoned wood. Freshly cut wood (green) has a high water content. This can lead to low flue temperatures, as well as excessive creosote accumulation in the chimney. This could lead to chimney fires that damage the stove, and can be hazardous to your family's health.
If you're in search of an expert to examine your wood-burning stove, or make any firebox repairs, make sure the chimney expert you hire is CSIA certified and offers testimonials from customers on their website. Find out their rates and the type of work they perform.
The ventilation pipe
Ventilation is essential for wood stoves to help remove fumes and keep the house healthy and warm. woodburner stove is necessary to remove carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide from the combustion process. It also reduces the impact of air pollution and heat loss to the outdoor. Wood, gas and pellet stoves have different requirements for venting. It is crucial to keep the stove's venting system on an every year to ensure security and efficiency.
The ventilation system consists of the firebox, the vent pipe and chimney. The chimney and the pipe are used together to create draft that draws smoke from the stove through the fireplace. Draft is generated by the variation in temperature and density between hot wood smoke and cold air outside. The higher the temperature, the more smoke can rise through the ventilation pipe and chimney.
Most modern wood stoves have been rated as low-emission units by EPA. This means that they emit significantly less pollution than older models, which contribute to global warming and other environmental issues. Many newer stoves come with pollution controls built-in to limit how much they emit while ensuring that the emissions are burned efficiently.
Older stoves with open flues produce lots of carbon dioxide, which is poisonous gas that should not be allowed to escape into the home. Carbon monoxide can be a source if your chimney is dirty or if there is inadequate ventilation. Installing carbon monoxide alarms inside your home is therefore essential.
Before installing a brand new or used wood stove take note of the distance from the point where the stove is on the floor to the chimney opening on the wall or ceiling. Multiplying this distance by 2 will provide you with the minimum length of stovepipe that you require. You can use single-wall or double-wall stovepipe and must be aware of the proper clearances from combustibles.
The stove's air vent should be adjusted when it is first lit up and maintained until a stable flame is created within the stove and its combustion process has stabilised. It is also a good idea to stay clear of using wood briquettes in the stove, since they are not logs, and may contain volatile chemicals that can cause the air vent to fail and create a dangerous situation.
The chimney
The chimney is a complex system which requires attention and care. The chimney is comprised of numerous important parts which are all essential to ensure the safety and efficiency of your stove.
The wood-burning stove's combustion gases are emitted outwards through the firebox, the ventilation pipe, and the chimney. This is essential to lower carbon dioxide levels and prevent harmful emissions. To accomplish this the chimney and flue must to be sufficiently hot to remove the gases out of the fireplace, without cooling. This can be accomplished by using a wood-burning fireplace that has a high heat output, and by adding new logs regularly to the fire.
Modern woodburning stoves have a taller chimney than older models to enhance the drafting effect. This could be a problem if your chimney height exceeds the maximum allowed for your area. If this occurs the chimney could compete with the house stack for draft, causing gases to cool before they exit. This could impede the gas flow and cause creosote accumulation which could pose a fire risk.
One of the most frequent mistakes homeowners make is to open and close the fireplace door too frequently which can adversely affect combustion. It is important to keep the fireplace door as tightly shut as you can, and only open it when you need to add firewood or ash. The door should not be opened for too long. This allows hot air from the stove to escape, making the logs cooler and less likely to light.
Other kinds of combustibles may create higher emissions, or even the possibility of a chimney fire. Woodburning stoves are designed and optimized to burn firewood. They are not suitable for other combustion products.
The flu
To ensure proper air flow, woodburning stoves require a flue that is the right size. Typically, the size of the flue has to be at least 25 percent greater than the stove pipe (which connects the stove to the chimney) to ensure adequate room for smoke circulation. Additionally the wood stove should be set on an open hearth made of a non-combustible material and has a clear, unobstructed area in the front of the fireplace opening.
Modern stoves are equipped with a catalytic combustion system which reduces the amount of harmful byproducts that are released into the chimney. This feature can improve the efficiency of wood stoves by burning a flame which produces more heat while emitting less pollution. However, using other kinds of combustibles, such as coal, can cause issues, including lower efficiency and greater emissions.
It is crucial to use dry or seasoned wood when burning wood in your stove or fireplace. If your wood isn't well-seasoned or dried, it could emit a lot of water vapor into your chimney. This could lead to low flue temperatures and possibly a chimney fire.
Another method to avoid a chimney fire is to have a professional examine and clean your flue system on a regular basis. This should include the chimney, stovepipe and the chimney itself, to ensure that they are all in good condition.
A unclean stove and flue system can result in a poor chimney draft which could release carbon monoxide into your home. This could be hazardous to your family and you should not allow it to occur.
A good guideline is to have a professional chimney sweep clean your chimney and stove each year. This will help keep the chimney and stove functioning efficiently.