How to Properly Operate a Woodburning Stove
Wood stoves can provide an inexpensive and cozy way to heat your home. However, the smoke they release can also be harmful to health. It is important to know how these appliances function and how they operate.
Modern stoves employ catalytic or secondary combustion to reduce emissions. Older stoves and open flames release 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 simplest way to think of the firebox is that it's an open-air combustion chamber that has walls and an entrance. Most fireplaces come with an already-built metal firebox or masonry firebox. The type of firebox you pick will depend on your personal preferences and the type of fireplace you have.
Most fireplaces with wood burning utilize a continuous flow of air to create the fire and burn fuel. Fresh air is pumped into the stove via dampers that can be adjusted within the doors. This allows the fuel to be properly burned and also helps reduce toxic gases that are generated by unburnt or incomplete combustion. The exhaust gases are then drawn up through the chimney and safely out of your house.
Modern stoves with catalytic second combustion employ a special catalyst to reburn the unburnt gasses to generate additional heat. This creates a cleaner and less polluting smoke than traditional wood stoves with no secondary combustion. Modern non-catalytic wood stoves are also available however they are usually less efficient than stoves with secondary combustion that is catalytic.
Some wood-burning fireplaces come with backboilers that can be used for space heating and water heating. These stoves are called "hybrids" or "combination". wood burning fire have been in use since the early 20th century.
Wood burning stoves should only be used with well-seasoned wood. Freshly cut (green) wood has a high content of moisture, which can cause low flue temperatures as well as excessive creosote accumulation in the chimney. This could lead to chimney fires that destroy the stove, and they can be hazardous to your family's health.
If you're in search of a professional to inspect your wood-burning stove or perform any firebox repairs, make sure the chimney professional you choose is CSIA certified and offers customer testimonials on their website. Ask about their pricing, and what type of work they do.
The ventilation pipe
Ventilation is a must for wood stoves to remove smoke and keep the home healthy and warm. Ventilation is essential to remove carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide from the process of combustion. It also helps reduce air pollution and heat loss to the outdoor. Gas, pellet and wood stoves have different requirements for venting to adapt to the way they operate. Properly maintaining the stove's venting system every year is essential for safety and efficiency.
The ventilation system is comprised of the firebox, the ventilation pipe and the chimney. The chimney and the pipe are used together to create draft that draws smoke from the stove out through the fireplace. Draft is generated by the differences in temperature and density between hot wood smoke and cold outside air. The more hot the temperature, the more smoke will rise through the pipe of ventilation and chimney.
The majority of modern wood stoves are certified by the EPA as low-emission units. They produce less pollution than older models that contribute to global heating and other environmental issues. The majority of modern stoves come with pollution control systems that reduce the amount of emissions while ensuring that they are burned efficiently.
Older stoves with open flues produce a lot more carbon dioxide, an extremely poisonous gas and should not be allowed to escape into your home. This can happen if the chimney is not properly maintained or there is insufficient ventilation, which is why it is essential to install carbon monoxide detectors into your home.
Before installing a new or used wood stove determine the distance between the place where the stove is placed on the floor to the chimney opening on the wall or ceiling. Multiply this distance by two to calculate the length of stovepipe you require. Single-wall or double-wall stovepipes, and you must ensure that you have adequate clearance from combustibles.
When the stove first starts to burn, adjust the air vent until a good flame has been created and the combustion is stable. It is also a good idea to avoid using briquettes of wood in the stove, since they are not logs and could contain volatile chemicals that could cause the air vent to fail and create a dangerous situation.
The chimney
The chimney may not be something that people think about a lot to, but it's actually an intricate system that requires careful attention. The chimney is comprised of many important components which are all essential to the safety and efficiency of your stove.
The firebox, the ventilation pipe and chimney work together to exhaust the combustion gases generated by your woodburning fireplace to the outside. This is crucial to reduce carbon dioxide levels and to prevent harmful emissions. To accomplish this, the flue and chimney should be hot enough to remove the gases from the fireplace without cooling. This is achieved by using a woodburning stove with a high heat output and by frequently adding new logs to the fire.
Modern woodburning stoves have a taller chimney than older models to increase the effect of drafting. However, this could be a disadvantage when the height of your chimney is higher than the maximum permitted for your location. If this happens, the chimney may compete with the house stack for draft, which can cause the gases to cool before exiting. This can impede the gas flow and cause creosote accumulation which could pose a fire danger.
The most common mistake homeowners make is to open the fireplace door and close it frequently. This can negatively affect combustion. It is essential to keep the door of your fireplace as shut as you can and only open it to add firewood or ash. The door should not be left open for too long. This allows hot air from the stove to escape, making the wood cooler and more difficult to light.
Another common error that people make is to use different types of combustibles in their woodburning stoves. This can result in higher emissions or even chimney fire. Woodburning stoves were developed and optimized for burning wood for fire. They are not suitable for other combustibles.
The flu
To ensure that the airflow is proper, a woodburning stove needs a flue that is the right size. Typically, the size of the flue has to be at 25 percent greater than the stove pipe (which connects the stove to the chimney) to ensure adequate room for smoke circulation. In addition the wood stove should be placed on a hearth that is made of non-combustible materials and is clear and unobstructed area that is in front of the fireplace opening.
Modern stoves have a catalytic combustion system which reduces the amount of harmful byproducts that get released into the chimney. This feature can help increase the efficiency of wood stoves by burning a flame which produces more heat while emitting less pollutants. However, using different types of combustibles, such as coal, could cause issues, such as lower efficiency and greater emissions.
When you are burning wood in a fireplace or stove it is essential to use dried or seasoned wood. If your wood isn't seasoned or dry it will release high levels of water vapor and creosote into the chimney. This could lead to low flue temperatures, and even a chimney fire.
A professional can also assist you in avoiding the possibility of a chimney fire by regularly inspecting and cleaning the flue system. This includes the stovepipe, the chimney and the chimney itself.
A dirty stove or system may lead to an unclean draft in your chimney, which could cause carbon monoxide to build up in your home. This could be harmful to your family and you shouldn't allow it to occur.
A good rule of thumb is to ensure that your stove and chimney are cleaned by a professional at least once a year. This will also help to keep the stove and chimney operating efficiently.