The Advantages of Wood Stove Burning
The wood stove is the ideal option to warm your home and keep it cozy. But, there are a few important things to keep in mind before you start the fire.
All wood stoves require a constant air flow to produce combustion and heat. This is controlled by adjustable dampers located in the door of the stove and in the flue pipe leading to the chimney.
Warmth
In contrast to central heating, which is delivered through ductwork and spread throughout the home Stoves make use of convection to warm your home. They can also provide radiant heat, but it is more chilly than a convection heater because the warmth is being stored by a solid object instead of dispersing into the air. A wood stove burns firewood to produce warm, radiant heat which can add lots of warmth to a space within a short amount of time.
The type of wood and how it is seasoned may affect the efficiency of your stove. For example hard woods such as birch, hazel and oak take longer to burn, but provide an extended and consistent heat. They are an excellent choice for heating a home as they have high energy density. Soft woods such as spruce and fir have less energy density, which means they burn more quickly and emit more carbon dioxide.
Many modern wood burning stoves have turn dampers inside the indoor part of the flue pipe that runs to the chimney. The dampers can be turned to control the amount of heat that is retained within your home by regulating the speed of the combustion gases leaving your stove.
It is important to note that a wood stove requires more maintenance than other heating options. You'll have to cut and split the firewood before you are able to burn it. You'll need to replenish the stove with fuel when it gets low, and you will need to clean out the ash regularly. You will also have to ensure that the stove can draw in enough air to burn.
You might also need to face smoke pollution from your stove, based on the zoning laws in your area and how you maintain it. Numerous towns use zoning to regulate outdoor burning, and to limit visible smoke from the stove, as well as soot and odor. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is another organization that has regulations that control the outdoor burning equipment and limit opacity.
Aesthetics
A wood stove can add an original look to your home. The warmth of the flames that lick at the dried logs creates a sense of coziness and warmth. They look stunning in any space and make a great accent to rustic or vintage decor. They also serve as a fantastic alternative for power interruptions as they offer radiant heat.
They are also an excellent way to save money and reduce carbon emissions. Burning locally harvested and well-seasoned firewood in a modern wood stove can help you save money on heating oil. Furthermore, using wood for burning can help promote the active management of forests which benefit wildlife as well as local communities.
When selecting a wood stove, pay attention to its energy efficiency. A modern wood stove is expected to achieve over 80% efficiency, which means it burns better and produces less smoke. Look for a stove that features secondary, heat-retaining glazing as well as advanced combustion systems like catalytic or non-catalytic. It is essential to maintain a safe distance between the stove and any combustible materials such as curtains or furniture.
It is also important to check the combustion technology used by the manufacturer to ensure that it is safe and efficient. Some stoves can be fitted into existing fireplaces, while others are freestanding units which can be moved as needed. Regardless of which type of stove you choose it is essential to make sure it has the proper safety features, such as the shut-off valve and venting system that prevents gasses that ignite from entering the home.
The Scan 83-2 wood burner from Danish brand Scan seamlessly blends into any décor. Its minimalistic design and elegantly round shape and lack of unnecessary details create a simple but sophisticated appeal. This modern wood burning stove features an aluminium handle and moldings, soft-close doors and a curved panel to allow you to see clearly of the flames. It is available in black or gray, and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It comes in a variety of sizes to fit different spaces and rooms, including large living areas as well as contemporary patios.
Cosy atmosphere
Wood stove burning has a cozy atmosphere that can be much warmer than forced air heating. Besides the warmth from the fire itself, there is also radiant heat from the metal body of the stove that warms the room. In addition, the smell of burned wood is pleasing to most people. This atmosphere is a major reason why many prefer to use a wood stove instead of central heating.
Wood heating requires a lot of care to maintain the proper combustion. Many of the newer wood stoves have automated control systems that check the flame and adjust the air required to prevent a poor combustion that results in smoke. However, small log burning stove operating the stove (that's you) still has a significant influence on how well the stove performs. You can cut down on the combustion by closing the vents for air too tightly. This will not only lower the efficiency of the stove, but also increase the emissions of volatile compounds.
It is essential to ensure that air vents are as wide as they can be when you start a fire to ensure that the flame has sufficient oxygen. This will help to stop the buildup of tar and other residue that can build up on the heat exchange surfaces. It is also recommended to use an ash shovel for stoves or a Broom to clean the ashes after each fire to keep the firebox and grate clean.
Add the wood slowly, and be careful about closing the vents too quickly. This could create an eddy that draws the smoke and unburned volatile compounds into the firebox. This will reduce the combustion efficiency and cause the fire to burn less wood, which in turn will decrease the output of heat from the stove.
Using a blow pipe to blow air into the flame is an additional way to improve combustion and help spread it evenly. However it is crucial to remember that blow pipes can be dangerous if properly used. If they are used close to the flames they can ignite fires that are difficult to control. It is recommended to leave this kind of equipment to professionals or those who are aware of the ropes.
Economic
The purchase and burning of wood is an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. It is a renewable resource and therefore carbon-neutral. Many wood stoves have a back boiler that allows the exhaust gases to be used to heat your home and reduce energy costs.
Stoves have become increasingly efficient in heating your home, with modern stoves achieving high levels of combustion efficiency and lower emissions. They are also smaller, more compact, and more efficient than fireplaces. This means they can bring more warmth into the space and less heat is lost through the chimney.
Many manufacturers employ the combination of modern design and clever engineering to make their stoves more eco-friendly. This can be achieved by incorporating features such as baffles that are large and thick to create a longer, hotter gas flow, pre-heated air for combustion, and secondary combustion. This allows the burn to take place at higher temperatures and reduces harmful pollutants.
A top-quality wood stove is SIA Ecodesign compliant, and will have passed stringent tests to ensure that they generate very low levels of pollution. This is vital, since the EPA has set strict limits on the amount of pollutants the wood burner is able to emit. The SIA Ecodesign certification is a symbol of a stove which meets these standards.
If you have a large garden and are able to collect locally grown, untreated, sustainable logs and wood stoves, then a wood stove will help you reduce your carbon footprint while saving energy costs on heating. The purchase of locally-sourced wood will help local woodlands and encourage the active management of the land, which has a positive impact on wildlife too.
It is also possible to construct your own wood stove, which will save you lots of money. It is possible because of the availability of offcuts, reclaimed wood and DIY kits that can assist you in building it yourself. You can select between non-catalytic or catalytic wood burning stoves. The former is less expensive and more user-friendly, while the latter is more expensive but is more efficient in cutting emissions.