Maintaining an Indoor Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves can be an economical and comfortable method to heat your house. However, they can also release harmful gases and pollutants into the indoor air if they are not properly installed, laden with fuel that is too high, or venting to chimneys or flues in state of disrepair.
Modern wood stoves are built with more clean fuels and less pollutants generated through their secondary combustion process. The dampers of these stoves can be rotated to open or close in the interior of the flue.
Efficient Heat Production
There is nothing better than sitting in front of a warm fire that adds to the comfort and ambience of a space. A wood stove provides more than just warmth, however it also reduces the use of fossil fuels, and is an eco-friendly option to heat your home.
Wood stoves come in different sizes to suit any space, and they offer the proper amount of heat. They are rated according to their British Thermal Units, or BTU, output, and some come with features that help to increase efficiency, like baffle systems or secondary combustion chambers. In addition, some models are equipped with insulation that holds heat for longer, resulting in better efficiency.
Highly efficient stoves convert a greater percentage of wood into heat, thus reducing emissions and consumption of wood. The use of seasoned or dried wood can also boost efficiency because it burns faster and produces less smoke. A well-planned installation, regular maintenance and proper operation can maximize energy efficiency and environmental performance.
It is important to control the air flow in your stove with care to ensure optimum combustion. You can do this by changing the primary vent, and using the secondary vent to control flames. When you start the fire the primary vent should be completely open. As the fire grows it will be closed gradually. If you open the vent too early, it will cause large flames that could overwhelm the secondary vent, which is needed to regulate combustion and reduce particulate emission.
It is also essential to only use clean, seasoned wood to burning in your stove. Other kinds of wood, like varnished or painted pieces can produce large amounts of pollutants or cause dangerously high temperatures. Briquettes of wood should not be used in a stove since they are typically manufactured with additives and chemical which could be harmful to your health, or even damage the interior of your stove.
In addition to ensuring proper installation and maintenance, it is essential to ensure that your chimney is inspected and cleaned on a regular basis. The accumulation of soot and creosote can affect the performance and safety of your stove.
Aesthetically pleasing
Wood stoves are more than just a source of warmth. They also serve as an area of interest for your home and give it an inviting look. They also allow you to get some exercise chopping the wood for your fire. cast iron wood burning stove can save you money on energy bills and could be used as a backup in the event of power outages. They are a renewable energy source, which is better for the environment than fossil fuels. They can also make your home more independent.
Wood burning stoves are available in a variety of designs and colors to fit any style. While black is the classic choice, coloured stoves like ones with rich browns and terracotta hues offer a contemporary touch to the room. The darker hues are more easy to maintain, as they hide dirt and marks better.
If you're looking for a smaller design then you may want to think about a rectangular wood stove. They're usually rectangular and feature a three-sided glass opening. They can be put into small spaces. They are perfect to transform garages into a living space. These stoves can be a freestanding or fitted with twin-wall flue systems.
You can pick a larger wood-burning fireplace to accommodate larger homes. These stoves are ideal for homes with large families and open-plan living spaces. They are equipped with the capacity to heat more than 8kW. They are typically more industrial in appearance and can be fitted in double or single-walled units.
These stoves also come with secondary burn and catalytic technologies that re-route unburnt gases from the logs into flames, instead of directing them up the chimney. This will reduce the amount of smoke that is emitted into your room, which is good for those with sensitive respiratory conditions or asthma.
Before you purchase a stove that burns wood, it's important to work out the typical heating requirements of your space in Kilowatts. This will help you choose the correct size stove to heat your space and avoid over-heating or under-heating. It is a a simple calculation. Simply multiply the area of your room in cubic metres by 14. This will give you a rough idea of the amount of heating you will need.
Affordability
A wood stove inside is a great option to reduce your heating costs. Wood stoves utilize the renewable energy source called firewood to produce heat. They're also less expensive than other forms of energy, like gas and electricity. It's essential to know the costs of buying and maintaining a wood burning stove prior to making the investment.
The initial cost of buying a new wood-burning stove could be a huge amount, but once it is installed and used regularly, your overall monthly expenses will likely decrease dramatically. In fact, if switching from a gas stove to wood stove, you could be able to save up to $1000 per year.
In addition to lowering your heating costs and lowering your heating bills, a wood-burning stove inside will provide you with backup warmth in the event of an electrical outage. This is a vital feature during winter storms that are extremely severe as it is difficult to keep your house warm without electricity.
Take into consideration the size and capacity of a wood stove when choosing one to ensure it can warm your home properly. You'll have to determine the square footage of the area that you wish to heat and follow manufacturers' guidelines to determine the BTUs required for your area. You should also take into consideration the quantity of insulation and the layout of your house and the climate that you reside in.
Wood stoves come in a variety of styles and designs, therefore there's certain to be one that will complement your interior design. Modern stoves are often designed with a sleek, modern style that adds to the appearance of your living space while also providing warmth and utility. There are stoves that comply with the EPA's emissions standards. They're usually branded with a label that indicates which emission standards they are in compliance with. It's important to purchase an EPA-certified stove to reduce the amount of emissions you produce and to prevent harmful air pollution.
Easy Maintenance
Wood stoves are a reliable and natural way to heat your home. To keep them in good condition they require some attention. You'll have to put in time and effort in sourcing splitting, stacking and transporting the wood you'll use to fire up your stove, along with cleaning and maintaining the appliance as well as its chimney. These additional tasks can be overwhelming for some homeowners. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the amount of work needed to maintain your wood burning stove, so that it lasts longer and last longer.
The first step to ensuring effective maintenance is to develop an ongoing cleaning routine. Ideally, you should clean your stove fortnightly or every month in winter when it's constantly in use. Start by vacuuming the exterior surfaces of your stove with an attachment that has a soft-bristle. Be sure to reach into all joints and crevices, as well as air intakes. Be careful when cleaning the heat-sensitive parts of the stove. Then, clean the exterior surfaces of your stove with a non-toxic, non-chemical cleaner.
Last but not least, empty the Ash pans and sifters frequently. Spraying the top layer of ash with water may assist in making the job less messy. You may have to remove all the ash from your stove periodically to check the bricks or to ensure that the bottom of your firebox is clean. In keeping the ash tray or pan full could cause your wood stove to overheat, so it is vital to empty them whenever you need to.
You'll also have to inspect the gasket and glass regularly, particularly after a few fires. A leaky seal can cause a major disruption to the process of burning and could result in gas leaks into the living area. A stained glass on your stove could also indicate that the wood isn't being properly burned. This is usually due to a poor draft or a wrong lighting of your fire.
You should also hire a professional to clean your chimney twice a year in order to prevent the buildup of creosote as well as other harmful substances. Additionally, you should be sure to keep any flammable materials away from your wood stove since they could ignite in the event that they are placed too close to the heater.