How to Properly Operate a Woodburning Stove
Wood stoves are an excellent option to heat your home. They're also affordable. However, the smoke they release can also be harmful to your health. It's important to understand how these appliances work and how to use them correctly.
Many modern stoves rely on a catalytic or secondary combustion to reduce their emissions. Older stoves and open flames emit large amounts 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 about the firebox is to think of it as an enclosed combustion chamber that has walls and an entrance. The majority of fireplaces have a prefabricated metal firebox or masonry firebox. The type of firebox you pick will depend on your personal preferences and the type of fireplace you own.
Most fireplaces with wood burning make use of a constant flow of air to start the fire and burn fuel. Fresh air is introduced into the stove through dampers that can be adjusted inside its doors. This lets the fuel be properly burned and also helps reduce harmful gases caused by unburnt or incomplete combustion. The exhaust gases are then taken up by the chimney, and safely out of your home.
Modern stoves with catalytic second combustion employ a special catalyst to reburn unburnt gases to produce additional warmth. This produces a cleaner and less polluting exhaust than traditional wood stoves that have no secondary combustion. Modern non-catalytic stoves are also available, but they're usually less efficient than stoves with catalytic secondary combustion.
Some wood-burning fireplaces come with backboilers that can be used for space heating or water heating. contemporary wood burning stoves are referred to as "combination" or "hybrid" stoves and have been in use since the beginning of the 20th century.
Wood burning stoves should only be used with well-seasoned wood. Freshly cut wood (green) has an excessive amount of water. This could lead to low flue temperatures and an excessive accumulation of creosote in the chimney. This can cause chimney fires that cause damage to 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 perform any firebox repairs ensure that the chimney professional you choose is CSIA certified and offers customer testimonials on their website. It's also important to inquire about their rates and what type of work they do.
The pipe for ventilation
Ventilation is required for wood stoves in order to eliminate fumes and keep the house healthy and warm. Venting helps eliminate carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and excess moisture from the combustion process. It also reduces the amount of air pollution and heat loss to the outdoors. Wood, pellet and gas stoves have different venting requirements to adapt to the way they function. It is important to maintain the stove's venting system on every year to ensure safety and efficiency.
The ventilation system consists of the firebox, the vent pipe and the chimney. The chimney and the pipe are used together to create a draft that draws smoke from the stove out through the fireplace. Draft is created by the differences in density and temperature between hot wood smoke and cold air outside. The greater the temperature of the smoke, the better it is able to rise through the chimney and vent pipe.
Most modern wood stoves are certified by the EPA as low-emission units. This means that they produce less pollutants than older models, and contribute to global warming and other environmental issues. The majority of modern stoves come with pollution control systems that limit the amount of carbon dioxide released while ensuring that they are burned efficiently.
Older stoves that have open flues generate more carbon dioxide. This is a poisonous, toxic gas and it cannot be escaped into your home. This can happen if your chimney is not clean or there is inadequate ventilation, which is why it is essential to install carbon monoxide detectors into your home.
Measure the distance between the opening of the chimney in the wall or ceiling and the location where the wood stove is on the floor. Divide this measurement by two to calculate the minimum length of stovepipe that you require. You can choose to use single-wall or double-wall stovepipe and must ensure that you have adequate clearance from combustibles with either type.
The stove's air vent should be adjusted when it first gets lit until a proper flame is established in the stove and its combustion process has been stabilized. It is also a good idea to stay clear of using wood briquettes in the stove, since they aren't logs and may contain volatile chemicals that could cause the air vent to malfunction and lead to a risky situation.
The chimney
The chimney may not seem like something that homeowners pay a lot of attention to, but it's an intricate system that requires care and attention. The chimney is comprised of many important components which are all essential to ensure the safe and efficient operation of your stove.
The wood-burning stove's combustion gases are vented to the outside by the firebox, the ventilation pipe, and the chimney. This process is critical in preventing harmful emissions and reducing carbon dioxide levels in your home. To accomplish this the chimney and flue should be hot enough to remove the gases from the fireplace without cooling. This is accomplished by using a woodburning stove that has a high heat output and by frequently adding new logs to the fire.
Modern woodburning stoves are taller chimney than older systems to enhance the drafting effect. This can be a problem when the chimney's height is higher than the maximum for your location. If this happens, the chimney may compete with the house stack for draft, causing the gases to cool before exiting. This can impede the gas flow and cause creosote accumulation that could be a fire danger.
The most common mistake homeowners make is to open the fireplace door and close it often. This can negatively affect combustion. It is essential to keep the door shut as much as possible and only open it when you're required to add more firewood or ash. The door should not be open for long. This allows the hot air from the stove to escape, making the logs cooler and harder to light.
Other kinds of combustibles may create higher emissions, or even a chimney fire. Woodburning stoves were developed and optimised for burning firewood. They are not suitable for other combustibles.
The flu
To ensure proper air flow, woodburning stoves require flues that are the proper size. The flue should be at a minimum 25 percent larger than the pipe connecting the chimney and the stove to allow for sufficient smoke flow. In addition the wood stove should be set on an open hearth made of a non-combustible material and has a clear, unobstructed area in front of the fireplace opening.
Modern stoves come with an element called a catalytic combustor that can cut down on the amount of harmful by-products which are released into the chimney. This feature can help increase the efficiency of wood stoves by burning a fire that produces more heat and emitting less pollution. However, using other kinds of combustibles, like coal, can cause problems, including lower efficiency and higher emissions.
It is crucial to use seasoned or dry wood when you are burning wood in your stove or fireplace. If your wood isn't seasoned or dry, it will emit high levels of creosote and water vapour into the chimney. This could lead to low flue temperatures and possibly a chimney fire.
Another way to avoid a fire in your chimney is to have a professional inspection and clean your flue system regularly. This includes the stovepipe, the chimney and the chimney itself.
A dirty stove or system could cause an unclean draft in your chimney, which could cause carbon monoxide to accumulate in your home. This can be dangerous to your family and you shouldn't allow it to occur.
A good rule of thumb is to have your stove and chimney cleaned by a professional every year. This will help keep the stove and chimney functioning efficiently.