How to Properly Operate a Woodburning Stove
Wood stoves can be an affordable and cozy method to heat your home. Smoke from wood stoves can be dangerous 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 control their emissions. However, older stoves and open fires produce 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 firebox can be thought of as an open-air combustion chamber with walls and an enclosure. The majority of fireplaces have prefabricated metal fireboxes or masonry firebox. The type of firebox you pick will depend on your preference and the type of fireplace you own.
Most fireplaces with wood burning utilize a continuous flow of air to create the flame and burn fuel. Fresh air is drawn through adjustable dampers that are located inside the stove's doors. This allows the fuel to be properly burned and also helps reduce harmful gases produced by incomplete or unburnt combustion. The exhaust gases are drawn up through the chimney and safely out of your home.
Modern stoves with catalytic second combustion use a special catalyst to reburn unburnt gases to produce additional warmth. This produces a cleaner and less polluting fume than traditional wood stoves that do not have secondary combustion. Modern non-catalytic wood stoves are available however they are generally less efficient than stoves with catalytic second combustion.
Certain fireplaces that burn wood have backboilers, which can be used for space heating as well as water heating. They are known as "combination" or "hybrid" stoves and have been around since the early 20th century.
Wood burning stoves must be made use of well-seasoned wood. Freshly cut (green) wood has an extremely high moisture content that can lead to low flue temperatures as well as excessive creosote build-up in the chimney. This can cause chimney fires, which can harm your stove or be harmful to the health of your family members.
If you're in search of an expert to examine your wood-burning stove, or perform any firebox repairs ensure that the chimney expert you hire is CSIA certified and has testimonials from customers on their website. You can inquire about their prices and the type of work they do.
The pipe for ventilation
Ventilation is essential for wood stoves to eliminate fumes and keep the home healthy and warm. Venting carries away carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and excess moisture from the process of combustion. It also helps reduce the amount of air pollution and loss of heat to the outdoors. Wood, gas and pellet stoves all have distinct requirements for venting. Maintaining the stove's ventilation system every year is essential for safety and efficiency.
The ventilation system consists of the firebox as well as the ventilation pipe. The chimney and the vent pipe work together to create draft, drawing smoke from the stove through the fireplace to outside air. Draft is caused through the difference in density and temperature between hot wood smoke and cold outside air. The greater the temperature of the smoke, the better it can rise through the chimney and through the ventilation pipe.
Modern wood stoves have been certified as low-emission units by EPA. They produce less pollution than older models which contribute to global heating and other environmental problems. Modern stoves are equipped with pollution control systems to limit the amount of emissions, while ensuring that they are burned efficiently.
Older stoves with open flues emit lots of carbon dioxide, a poisonous gas that must not be allowed to escape into your home. This can happen if your chimney is not clean or there is insufficient ventilation, so it is crucial to install carbon monoxide detectors into your home.
The distance you measure is between the chimney's opening in the wall or ceiling and the spot where the wood stove is located on the floor. Multiply this number by two to calculate the length of stovepipe you need. You can use a single-wall or a double-wall stovepipe but you must allow for the adequate clearance from burning combustibles.
wood burning stoves must be adjusted when it first gets lit, until a good flame has been established in the stove and the combustion process has been stabilized. It is advised to avoid using wood logs in the stove as they may contain volatile chemicals that could cause the air vents to malfunction.
The chimney
The chimney is a complex system that requires attention and care. From top to bottom, the chimney is made up of a variety of essential components, all of which are crucial to ensure that your stove works efficiently and safely.
The firebox, the ventilation pipe and chimney work together to release the gases from combustion produced by your woodburning fireplace to the outside. This is crucial to reduce carbon dioxide levels and prevent harmful emissions. To achieve this, the flue and chimney must be hot enough to move the gases from the fireplace without cooling. This can be accomplished by using a wood-burning stove which has a high heat output and by adding fresh logs regularly to the fire.
Modern woodburning stoves are designed to operate with a chimney that is taller than older models to get a better draft effect. However, this may have disadvantages in the event that the size of your chimney is greater than the maximum allowed for your particular location. If this occurs the chimney could be competing with the house stack for draft, which can cause the gases to cool prior to exiting. This can restrict the flow of gases and create creosote accumulation that could be a fire hazard.
The most common error homeowners make is to open the fireplace door and close it often. This can negatively affect combustion. It's important to leave the door shut whenever possible, and only open it when you're required to add more firewood or ash. The door shouldn't be open for long. This allows hot air from the stove to escape, making the logs cooler and less likely to light.
Another common mistake that people make is to use different types of combustibles in their woodburning stoves, which could cause more emissions or even a chimney fire. Woodburning stoves were designed and optimized for burning wood for fire. They are not suitable for other combustibles.
The flue
To ensure proper air flow, a woodburning stove needs a flue that is the proper size. Typically, the dimensions of the flue should be at 25 percent greater than the stove pipe (which connects the stove to the chimney) to allow enough space for smoke circulation. In addition the stove must be placed on a hearth constructed of non-combustible materials and has a clear, unobstructed area that is in the front of the fireplace opening.
Modern stoves come with a feature called catalytic combustor, which can help reduce the amount of harmful byproducts that are released into the chimney. This feature can also assist to increase the efficiency of wood stoves by burning a fire that produces more heat and emits less. However, using different types of combustibles, such as coal, can cause issues, including lower efficiency and more emissions.
When burning wood in a fireplace or stove it is crucial to use dried or seasoned wood. If your wood isn't well-seasoned or dried, it will emit a lot of water vapor into the chimney. This can lead to low flue temperatures and possibly a chimney fire.
Another way to prevent a fire in your chimney is to have a professional examine and clean your flue system regularly. This should include the chimney, stovepipe and the chimney itself to ensure all are in good working order.
A dirty stove or system may lead to an insufficient draft inside your chimney, which can cause carbon monoxide build-up in your home. This could be hazardous to your family members and you shouldn't let it occur.
A good rule of thumb is to hire an experienced chimney sweep sweep your stove and chimney once per year. This will help keep the stove and chimney operating efficiently.