How to Properly Operate a Woodburning Stove
Wood stoves are an excellent way to heat your home. They're also inexpensive. Smoke from wood stoves can be hazardous to your health. It is important to know how these appliances work and how to use them correctly.
Modern stoves use catalytic or secondary combustion to limit emissions. However, older stoves and open fires produce 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 firebox can be thought of as a combustion chamber that has walls and a lid. Most fireplaces come with an already-built metal firebox or masonry firebox. The type of firebox you pick will depend on your preferences as well as the kind of fireplace you own.
The majority of fireplaces that burn wood make use of a constant flow of air to create the flame and burn fuel. Fresh air is drawn in through adjustable dampers that are located in the stove's doors. This allows the fuel to burn properly and helps to reduce the toxic gases produced by incomplete or unburnt combustion. The exhaust gases are then drawn up through the chimney, and safely out of your home.
Modern stoves that have catalytic secondary combustion use a special catalyst that allows the unburned gasses to create additional heat. This produces a more clean and less polluting smoke than traditional wood stoves with no secondary combustion. Modern non-catalytic stoves are also available, but they're typically less efficient than stoves that have secondary combustion catalytically.
Some wood-burning stoves include backboilers that are used to heat water in addition to space heating. These stoves are called "hybrids" or "combination". They have been in use since the early 20th century.
Wood burning stoves should be used with well-seasoned wood. Freshly cut wood (green) has a high water content. This can lead to low flue temperatures and an excessive accumulation of creosote in the chimney. This can lead to chimney fires that damage the stove, and could be harmful to your family's health.
If you are looking for an expert who can examine your wood-burning stove, or make repairs to your firebox, be sure the chimney technician you choose is certified by CSIA certification and provides reviews from customers on their website. It's also important to inquire about their pricing and what type of work they do.
The ventilation pipe
Ventilation is required for wood stoves to remove fumes and keep the house healthy and warm. Venting carries away carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and excess moisture from the combustion process. It also reduces the amount of air pollution and loss of heat to the outdoors. Wood, pellet and gas stoves have different venting requirements to accommodate the different ways they operate. Maintaining the stove's ventilation system on a regular basis is crucial for safety and efficiency.
The ventilation system consists of the firebox and the ventilation pipe. The chimney and the pipe are used together to create draft that draws smoke from the stove through the fireplace. Draft is caused through the difference in temperature and density between hot wood smoke and cold air outside. The higher the temperature, the more smoke rises through the pipe of ventilation and chimney.
Modern wood stoves have been certified as low-emission units by EPA. This means that they emit significantly less pollution than older models, and contribute to global warming and other environmental issues. Modern stoves are equipped with pollution control systems to limit the amount of carbon dioxide released while making sure that they burn efficiently.
Older stoves with open flues create more carbon dioxide. This is a toxic gas that is toxic and must not escape into your home. This can happen if the chimney isn't clean or there is insufficient ventilation, which is why it is essential to install carbon monoxide detectors into your home.
The distance you measure is between the chimney's opening in the ceiling or wall and the place where the wood stove is located on the floor. Multiply this distance by two to determine the minimum length of stovepipe you need. You can choose a single-wall or a double-wall stovepipe but you must allow for the proper clearance from burning combustibles.
When the stove is lit for the first time then adjust the air vent until a good flame has been established and combustion process is stable. It is recommended to stay clear of using wood logs in the stove as they may contain volatile chemicals which can cause the air vents to malfunction.
The chimney
The chimney may not seem like something that people pay a lot of attention to, but it's a complex system that requires careful attention. From stoves wood burners to bottom, the chimney is comprised of a number of important components each of which is crucial to ensure that your stove functions efficiently and safely.
The ventilation pipe, the firebox and chimney work together to vent the gases from combustion produced by your woodburning stove to the outside. This is essential to lower carbon dioxide levels as well as prevent harmful emissions. To achieve this the chimney and flue must to be sufficiently hot to allow the gasses out of the fireplace, without cooling. This is accomplished by using a woodburning stove that has high heat output and by adding regularly new logs to the fire.
Modern woodburning stoves have a taller chimney than older models to enhance the drafting effect. However, this can have disadvantages when the height of your chimney is higher than the maximum allowed for your area. In this case the chimney may compete with the stack of your house for airflow, causing gases to cool before leaving. This can cause a restriction in the flow of gas, and a buildup on creosote.
One of the most frequent mistakes homeowners make is to open and shut the door to the fireplace too often, which can negatively impact combustion. It is important to keep the door of your fireplace closed as much as possible and only open it when you are required to add additional firewood or ash. The door shouldn't be left open for too long. This allows the hot air from the stove to escape, making the wood cooler and harder to light.
Other types of combustibles can cause higher emissions or even a chimney fire. The truth is that woodburning stoves were designed and optimized to burn wood, not other types of combustibles.
The flu
To ensure proper air flow, a woodburning stove needs a flue that is the right size. The flue should be at a minimum 25 percent larger than the stove pipe that connects the stove and chimney to allow for sufficient smoke flow. A wood stove should be placed on a non-combustible hearth with a clear space in front of the fireplace's opening.
Modern stoves have catalytic combustion systems that reduces the amount of harmful byproducts that get released into the chimney. This feature can also assist to improve the efficiency of wood stoves by burning a flame that produces more heat and emits less. Using other types of combustibles, other than firewood however, can cause problems, such as lower efficiency and higher emission levels.
It is essential to use seasoned or dry wood when burning wood in your fireplace or stove. If your wood isn't seasoned or dry it will release high levels of creosote and water vapor into the chimney. This can result in low flue temperatures and possibly a chimney fire.
Another method to avoid a chimney fire is to have a professional inspect and clean your flue system regularly. This should include the chimney, stovepipe and chimney itself to ensure all are in good shape.
A dirty stove and flue system can result in a poor chimney draft which could result in carbon monoxide being released into your home. This can be harmful to your family members and should never be allowed to happen.
A good rule is to ensure that your stove and chimney are swept by a professional every year. This will help keep the stove and chimney working efficiently.