Wood Burning Stoves
A wood burning stove is a great addition to any home. You can choose from a variety of sizes and styles that will suit your preferences. They can be built into the wall or be free-standing.
Modern wood stoves are compliant with strict EU regulations (often referred to as Ecodesign) to offer high efficiency in fuel use and low emissions. Certain wood stoves are DEFRA exempt, and can burn briquettes or other fuels that are smokeless.
What is a wood-burning stove?
A wood stove is a freestanding heating appliance that burns wood to generate radiant heat in your home. Wood burning stoves have been used for a long time, and they can be an environmentally friendly alternative to heating your home using gas or oil. Modern stoves are highly technological and come in a variety styles to fit any taste. They work on the same principle as fireplaces, but they generate more heat by using wood to generate radiant heating.
A top-quality stove will generate efficient heat and be certified safe for use. You should look for the EPA label, which informs you when the stove was manufactured and the emission standards it meets. Older stoves are usually not certified by the EPA, so it is recommended to select the latest models that have been tested and proven to be safe and efficient.
All wood-burning stoves release vapors of creosote during the combustion process, but most modern stoves use the vapors to burn before they escape into your home. They also burn fuel more efficiently which prevents sooting and smoke problems in the fireplace.
You will need to have enough firewood to sustain your wood stove and a storage area to store it. Also, you will require a class A chimney to vent the stove, as well as an appropriate distance between the stove and the walls and floors that surround it. To maintain the integrity and safety of your chimney and stove it is essential to hire an expert to examine and clean it regularly.
Wood smoke can trigger respiratory issues for anyone, but is especially dangerous to older adults, children and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease. You can shield yourself and your family from the health effects of wood smoke by limiting your time in rooms in which the stove is running, using the recirculate function on air conditioning, and keeping doors closed.
Size
Wood burning stoves can provide an incredible feeling of warmth and character to your home. They are also energy efficient and help you save money on your heating bills. It is important to choose the right size stove for your space, but. If you choose a model that is too small, it will not provide adequate heat to your home. If you choose a stove that is too large, fuel will be wasted. Ask your installer for advice if you are unsure. They can carry out a site assessment and provide you with guidance on the ideal size stove for your home.
Stoves are rated on the basis of their nominal heat output in figure of kW. This is a guideline to the maximum amount they can produce under testing conditions. Don't use this figure as a guideline when selecting a stove, however, because the actual amount of heat produced will differ in accordance with the kind and quality of the fuel you are using. small wood burning heater is also important to consider how well insulated your home is and if it's draughty.
There are a range of stoves to choose from that each have a distinct style and finish. Some are more traditional, with rustic features and a basic colour scheme, whilst others are more modern, featuring sleek lines large glass windows and unique shapes.
Ecodesign is the standard that the majority of modern stoves follow, which guarantees high efficiency and low emissions. Check for the "ClearSkies" logo to ensure you're buying an Ecodesign approved stove. They are around 80-90 percent more efficient than older stoves and open fires. This is a huge savings on your energy costs and a much more environmentally friendly alternative.
Efficiency
Wood burning stoves, if properly designed and used, can be extremely efficient heaters. The most recent models are very low emissions and a kilowatt-hour of heat is available at a fraction of price of electricity, gas or oil.
The ability of a stove to create an adequate flame, which burns logs efficiently and for as long as possible is a key element in its efficiency. This will stop the fire from "going out or releasing excessive amounts of smoke. It is essential to make sure you use only clean, kiln dried logs from British suppliers. You should also avoid overloading the firebox, and exceeding its maximum heating capacity.
Stoves are constructed with care and are designed to function optimally. The best wood-burning stoves constructed from high-quality materials and parts and feature an insulated firebox that is sealed. The firebox should be kept at a constant temperature so that the logs burn properly and to prevent the flue from overheating.
It is also crucial to select the correct size stove for the space to ensure maximum heating efficiency. A stove that is too big for the space is less efficient, whereas an appliance that is too small could burn out and create excessive smoke.
Eco-friendly wood-burning stoves are becoming more popular. small wood burner can decrease household dependence on fossil fuels, and provide a more comfortable, warmer warmth. Wood is an energy source that is renewable that is more beneficial to the planet than fossil fuels like coal or mineral.
It is important to only use kiln-dried logs that have been cultivated and harvested in a sustainable manner. Beware of treated or wet timber or oiled wood, waste or pallet wood since they emit unpleasant fumes and can damage the stove and flue. Buying your logs from a vendor who has the Defra approved 'Ready To Burn" logo will ensure you receive an excellent, dry, smokless, and carbon-neutral fuel for your stove.
Design
Wood burners are available in a range of styles and designs. Some are sleek, modern, while others have a more traditional look. Some are multi-fuel while others are exclusively for wood. The design of the stove will determine the kind of heat it generates and how well it blends with the style of your home.
In general when burning wood in a stove it goes through two distinct processes which are combustion and Pyrolysis. Combustion happens when hot wood is burned and produces carbon monoxide and other byproducts that enter the air. Pyrolysis occurs when wood is heated at an elevated temperature, which releases gases such as hydrocarbons or carbon dioxide. The gases that result are burnt again in the firebox, generating more carbon monoxide and other byproducts.
Many newer wood stoves employ secondary combustion in the form of a catalytic combustor that reburns the byproducts of primary combustion. This reduces emissions of smoke and other pollutants by a significant amount. It also lets wood stoves function at lower temperatures, which means less wood is needed and an increased efficiency.
Older stoves that do not have secondary combustion are less efficient and more polluting as unburned products are left to flow out through the flue. But, they remain popular due to their simplicity of use and the ambiance they create.
Modern wood burners have to meet a set of emission limits, referred to as Ecodesign. They are built around the minimum efficiency rating and a reduction in maximum levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. These are typically DEFRA approved and come with space underneath for a stack log. Some models also have a cleanAir system that draws in air to cleanse the glass and prevent blackening or sooting.
Maintenance
Wood stoves require regular maintenance and care in order to perform at their best. Cleaning it regularly, taking out ashes between fires and checking the gaskets is all part of this. Gaskets protect the airtight process of combustion. If they become damaged, it can lead to problems like smoke leakage or reduced efficiency. To avoid chimney fires, it is important to regularly sweep the chimney. This is recommended to be done at least twice a year, and it might be necessary to do it more often depending on how frequently the stove is used.
Stoves come in various sizes and shapes. Some are better suited to certain areas than others. For instance, a curved, cylindrical design can make a sleek modern addition to any space while still providing warmth and a focal point. The color of the room is another factor that can affect maintenance, with lighter shades displaying more dirt and soot and darker shades obscuring the stains better.
The grate, which is a piece of metal at the bottom of the stove that holds the firewood, will wear down over time, but can be easily replaced. The grate may be cracked if not cleaned regularly. The lining of the combustion chamber can also crack or break. Repeatedly closing and opening of the door may degrade seals made of rope. Over time the glass can turn milky or scratched. However this isn't as simple to replace as a home window.
It is important that you only burn wood that is properly prepared in your stove. Unseasoned logs will produce more smoke and creosote. It is crucial to properly fuel your stove by adjusting the amount of wood you add and ensuring that it isn't overheated. This will ensure proper combustion and help to minimise the amount of pollution.