How to Maintain a Woodburning Stove

A wood-burning stove can be an Efficient and Versatile 8kW Multi Fuel Stove and efficient way to warm your home. It is essential to maintain your woodburning appliance to ensure its maximum performance.

Tip: Select seasoned wood with low moisture content. This will allow you to use the wood longer and generate more heat.

The state environmental agencies are trying to find a solution to the problem of particulate pollution caused by the old wood-burning stoves.

How They Work

As the name implies, wood-burning stoves burn wood to generate heat. They do this by containing the flame within a metal and glass body. This also helps keep the temperature of your home at a consistent level. It also serves as a barrier to smoke entering the living area.

Stoves control combustion by controlling the amount of oxygen they allow into the fire. This is done via one or more air vents that can be opened and closed to control the amount of oxygen that is pumped into the fire.

Modern stoves utilize non-catalytical or catalytical technology to control this. Catalytic stoves come with a catalytic convertor designed to reburn the gas that is produced during primary combustion, so they do not escape from the room. Non-catalytical stoves do not use an catalyser but rely on secondary combustion inside the firebox in order to reduce emissions.

It is recommended to only burn wood that is seasoned in your woodburning stove. It should have a moisture content less than 20%, which allows the fire to burn effectively. This will help to reduce the amount of smoke and harmful pollutants from the flue system and it will also make the glass inside your stove less prone to become blackened by creosote, a result of burning wood that can develop over time.

The use of seasoned wood will reduce emissions and save money in your heating bills. It generates more heat per unit of fuel. This is due to the surface area of drier wood is larger and generates more heat per unit.

However, wood smoke can be harmful for anyone, but especially children and older adults who have lungs that are vulnerable. It can also irritate those with lung disorders like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If you reside in a designated smoke control zone, ensure that your stove is properly and properly seasoned. It should also be equipped with a chimney that is in compliance with the requirements of the local area.

Burning Wood

Woodburning stoves are a green and renewable source of heat. They can be used to keep your home warm during a power outage. They also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which are harmful to the environment from fossil fuels like gas and oil.

Modern woodburning stoves operate more efficiently than older models and are designed to avoid creosote build-up but it is still essential to monitor the combustion process. Creosote is a potentially dangerous byproduct of combustion that is not properly slowed, can clog the chimney and cause it to lose its efficiency. It can also pose an hazard to fire. The use of seasoned wood can aid in keeping the levels of creosote low and reduce the cost of logs, as well as helping to avoid the need for professional cleaning services.

You can also choose stoves that burn wood and coal which gives you a choice between carbon-neutral energy sources. It is crucial to keep in mind that coal is not a climate friendly fuel, and there are concerns about the way it is extracted.

It is recommended to select an approved stove by Defra, and preferably one that is Ecodesign ready. These will meet the latest regulations on emissions. The UK building regulations have specific requirements for how the flue is fitted and the size of the hearth, and the distance that the stove must be from combustible substances, so it's always wise to speak with one of our stove experts before purchasing a new stove.

Paper and other combustibles such as rubbish and paper should not be placed in woodburning appliances. They can contribute to pollution and, in the worst case the possibility of a chimney fire. At best, they will cause them to be less Efficient Electric Stove Fire Heater: Warms 30m2 Space. This is because other combustibles have different density characteristics than firewood, so they burn at a lower temperature and produce more particulates.

It is important to only use properly seasoned, split and dried firewood. This will help the wood burn more efficiently. Using wet or damp wood produces plenty of smoke as well as producing more pollutants. It is also recommended to make use of a high-quality stove pipe to make sure that the flue temperatures are high enough and that it is installed correctly.

Emissions

Wood-burning stoves release a variety of gasses and particles. Most often, they release fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that is small enough to pass through the lungs and enter the bloodstream, potentially damaging the heart, liver and brain. They also produce carcinogenic substances like polycyclic aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. Some even spit out toxic metals like arsenic and mercury, based on the fuel they're burning.

In the US there have been a number of attempts to regulate the amount of pollution woodburning stoves produce with different degrees of success. In 1988, the Environmental Protection Agency established emission guidelines that regulated the amount of pollution new stoves were permitted to release. Since then, there were two more changes to the regulations, and the latest in 2015 requires that all catalytic units and non-catalytic release less than 4.5 grams of pollutants per hour.

Although these rules were strict, they caused a significant shake-up in the industry leading to hundreds of smaller companies to shut down their operations, they also spurred on a race to create high-quality and Efficient Arctic White ComfortBilt Pellet Stove: Shop Now! stoves that were durable and capable of producing lower emission levels than traditional models. Stove designers looked at and analysed combustion air flows, baffles combustion chamber shapes, insulating materials, and recirculation systems in order to make their products better. They eventually succeeded.

The moisture content of wood is a key factor in determining the emission. The higher the moisture content, the more pollutants the stove can produce. The most effective way to reduce the amount of emissions is by using seasoned firewood which is properly dried over a period of 6-Mazona Warwick: 8 kW Ecodesign Multi Fuel Stove months.

A number of studies have proven that one wood-burning stove, in the event of frequent use, can generate particles as large as 15 diesel cars, based on unscientific tests that compare emissions-related PM2.5 only. These studies don't consider that the majority of pollution from cars comes from its engine, brakes, and tyres, instead of its exhaust.

Ten blue states are putting pressure on EPA to examine their carbon emissions and guidelines for air quality for wood-burning appliances. Attorneys general from New York, Washington and Illinois have declared that they will sue the EPA for continuing to allow high emitting wood-burning stoves to to be sold in homes across the nation.

Maintenance

Wood burning stoves are effective at heating homes but can be difficult to maintain. To ensure that your stove is clean and functioning efficiently, you'll have to keep it clean regularly. A dirty stove can affect the health of the people who live there and how much heat it generates. In addition to cleaning the stove, there are also maintenance tasks that need to be performed to ensure it functions properly.

Cleaning the interior and exterior of a livivo Electric Stove heater - grey: efficient and stylish is simple to do. It is recommended to clean the stove on a weekly or biweekly basis depending on how often it is used. It is also recommended to empty the ash from the firebox each time after the stove has been used. Spread newspaper on the floor and wear gloves when taking out the ashes. Use a container made of metal instead of a bucket to prevent corrosion.

Maintaining the chimney and flue clean is also essential. A professional chimney sweep is required at least once or twice per year to clean the stove and chimney thoroughly. This will prevent creosote from accumulating and decrease the chance of chimney fires.

A chimney must be examined for cracks in the flue liner as well as the masonry and creosote deposits that are excessive, bird nests, and other debris. A professional chimney sweep will be able to repair these problems and LIVIVO Electric Stove Heater - Grey: Efficient and Stylish restore a functioning, safe chimney.

Finally, the glass on a wood burning stove can become smudged and cloudy as soot builds up over time. A mixture of water and ammonia can be sprayed over the glass, then wiped with a clean cloth until it is clear. It is best to avoid scratching the glass since this can weaken it and break it when it is hot.

Paint that is resistant to heat can be used to re-paint woodburning fireplace in case the paint starts to chip. These paints are usually available at the places where stoves are sold and can be found in various colors.