How to Maintain a Woodburning Stove
A wood-burning stove is a reliable, effective way to heat a home. It is important to maintain your stove to ensure the best performance.
Tip: Select seasoned wood with low moisture content. This will result in more time to burn and a higher heat output.
The state environmental agencies are struggling to find a solution to the problem of particulate pollution caused by the old wood-burning stoves.
How They Work
Like the name suggests, woodburning stoves burn wood to generate heat. They do this by containing the fire inside a steel and 5829186.xyz glass body, which can help keep the temperature in your home at a consistent level. It also acts as a barrier that prevents smoke from entering the living space.
The most common way stoves control the process of combustion is by regulating the amount of air they let into the fire. This is accomplished through one or more air vents that can be closed and opened to control the amount of oxygen flowing in to the fire.
Modern stoves use either non-catalytical or catalytical technology to control this. Catalytic stoves have catalytic converters which are designed to burn the gasses generated during primary combustion so that they don't escape into the room. Non-catalytical stoves don't have a catalyser and rely on secondary combustion within the firebox in order to reduce emissions.
It is recommended to only burn wood that is seasoned in your woodburning stove. It must have a moisture level below 20%, which allows the fire to burn effectively. This will help to eliminate smoke and harmful pollutant emissions from the flue system and will make the glass in your stove less likely to get blackened by creosote, which is a result of burning wood that can develop over time.
The use of wood that is seasoned will reduce emissions and save money on heating bills. It produces more heat per unit of fuel. This is because the surface area of the wood that is drier is larger and produces more heat per volume.
Wood smoke is harmful to anyone, but it is especially harmful to children and older adults with weakened lung. It can also cause irritation to those suffering from lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If you reside in a smoke control zone, ensure that your stove is properly seasoned. It should also be installed with a chimney which meets the standards of the area.
Burning Wood
Woodburning stoves provide a clean, renewable heat that is an excellent option to keep the house warm during power outages. They also reduce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels like gas and oil that are harmful to the environment.
Modern wood-burning stoves are more efficient than older models, and are designed to prevent the accumulation of creosote. However it is crucial to monitor the combustion. Creosote, a dangerous byproduct of combustion that is not properly slowed can block the chimney and cause it to lose efficiency. It also poses the risk of fire. Using wood that is seasoned will help keep the levels of creosote low and save on the cost of logs as well as helping avoid the need for professional cleaning services.
There are stoves that burn wood and coal, 5829186 (https://www.5829186.xyz/) which gives you a choice of carbon neutral energy sources. It is crucial to remember that coal is not a climate friendly fuel and there are concerns about how it is mined.
It is recommended to choose a Defra approved stove, and ideally one that is Ecodesign ready, as they will be in compliance with the most recent emission regulations. The UK building regulations have specific requirements regarding how the flue is fitted as well as the size of the hearth, and the distance that the stove can be from combustible materials It is therefore advisable to speak with one of our stove experts prior to buying a stove.
Paper and other combustibles, such as trash and paper should not be used in woodburning devices. They can cause more pollution and, in the worst case an explosion in the chimney. At best, they will cause them to be less efficient. Other combustibles have less density than firewood, which means they burn at a lower heat and create more particles.
It is also important to use only dry, seasoned, split, and dried firewood since this will be more efficient in burning. Wet or damp wood will create lots of smoke and also create more pollutants. It is also recommended that you make use of a high-quality stove pipe to ensure the flue temperature is high enough and that it is installed correctly.
Emissions
Wood-burning stoves emit many gases and particles. Mostly they produce fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is tiny enough to enter the lungs and penetrate into the bloodstream, potentially damaging the heart, liver and brain. However they also produce carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and carcinogenic compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs. Some of them even release harmful metals such as arsenic and mercury, based on what they're burning.
There have been several attempts in the US to regulate the amount wood-burning stoves emit pollution, with varying degrees success. In 1988, the Environmental Protection Agency set emissions guidelines that basically limited the amount of pollution that new stoves could release. Since then, there have been two changes to the regulations. The most recent one, in 2015 stipulates that all units, catalytic or non-catalytic, emit not more than 4 grams of pollution each hour.
These strict regulations caused a major shake-up in the industry, forcing hundreds of smaller companies out of business. However they also spurred a race to design efficient stoves which were durable and could emit less carbon dioxide than conventional models. Stove designers studied and 5829186 (https://www.5829186.xyz/) analyzed combustion air flow, baffles, combustion chamber shapes, 5829186.Xyz insulating materials, and recirculation systems in order to make their products better. In time, they were successful.
Emissions are mostly dependent on the moisture content of the wood burned. The greater the moisture content, the more the pollutants that a stove produces. This is why the best way to reduce emissions is to use well-seasoned firewood that has been properly dried for 6-8 months.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that a single woodburning stove if it's used regularly, can generate particles as large as 15 diesel cars, based on unscientific tests that compare emissions-related PM2.5 only. These studies do not take into account that the majority of pollution emitted by cars is caused by its brakes, engine, and tyres, not its exhaust.
Ten blue states are putting pressure on EPA to review their carbon emissions and guidelines for air quality for wood-burning appliances. Attorneys general from New York, Washington and Illinois have declared that they will sue EPA in the event that it continues to allow high-emitting stoves to to be sold in homes across the country.
Maintenance
While woodburning stoves are very efficient in heating homes, they can be difficult to maintain. To ensure that your stove is clean and working correctly, you'll need to clean it frequently. A dirty stove could affect the health of its occupants and how much heat it generates. Cleaning the stove isn't the only maintenance task that needs to be completed to ensure it is functioning properly.
It is easy to clean the interior and 5829186.xyz exterior of a stove. Cleaning your stove is recommended on a weekly basis or every two weeks depending on how frequently it is used. It is also recommended to empty ash from the firebox each time after the stove has been used. Spread newspaper on the floor and wear gloves before scooping out the ashes. It's also an excellent idea to make use of a metal ash container rather than a bucket, because this will stop rust from forming.
Cleaning the chimney and flue clean is equally important. A chimney sweep professional should be employed once or twice a year to clean the stove and chimney thoroughly. This will prevent creosote from building up and lessen the risk of fires in chimneys.
A chimney must be examined for cracks in the flue liner, the masonry, excessive creosote deposits or bird nests, as well as other debris. A professional chimney sweep will be capable of repairing these issues and restore a functioning, safe chimney.
The clear glass on a wood burning stove can become smudged and cloudy as soot builds up over time. A mixture of ammonia and water can be sprayed on the glass, then wiped with a clean cloth until it is clear. It is recommended to avoid scratching the glass since this can weaken it and cause it to shatter when it gets hot.
If the paint on a woodburning stove starts to chip it is easily painted over with a high-quality paint that is heat resistant. These paints can be purchased at the majority of retailers for wood stoves and come in a wide variety of colors.