Wood Burning Stoves
A wood burning stove is a fantastic addition to any home. You can choose from a range of sizes and styles to will suit your preferences. They can be a free-standing feature or built into the wall.
Modern wood stoves are compliant with strict EU legislation (often known as Ecodesign) to provide high efficiency in fuel use and low emissions. Some are DEFRA exempt and can burn briquettes as well as other non-smokeless fuels.
What is a wood-burning stove?
A wood stove is a self-standing heating appliance that burns wood to create radiant heat within your home. Wood burning stoves are utilized throughout the year and can be a more environmentally friendly alternative than heating your home with oil or gas. Modern stoves feature a variety of technological advances, and you can find various styles to match your preferences. They work in the same way as fireplaces, but generate more heat because they use wood to create radiant heat.
A top-quality stove will generate heat efficiently and be certified safe to use. Look for the EPA label, which informs you when the stove was manufactured and the emission standards it complies with. The older stoves are typically not EPA-certified, so it's recommended to select newer models that have been tested and proved to be safe and effective.
Modern stoves typically use creosote to burn the vapours that are released in the process of combustion before they can escape into your home. They also burn fuel much more efficiently, which can help to prevent smoke or soot issues in the chimney.
You'll need enough firewood to maintain your wood stove as well as an area for storage to store it. You will also need a chimney that is suitable for class A to vent the stove and proper clearance between your wood stove and the walls and floors surrounding it. You'll require that your chimney regularly inspected and cleaned by a professional in order to preserve the structural integrity of the stove and chimney.
Wood smoke is bad for any lungs however, it is particularly harmful to children and older adults and also those with respiratory issues such as asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease. You can safeguard your family and yourself from the negative effects of smoke from wood. Limit look at here of time you spend in rooms with an oven, make use of the recirculate feature of the air conditioning, and keep the doors shut.
Size
Wood burning stoves can add an authentic feeling of warmth and character to your home. They're also efficient and can save you money on your heating bills. But, it is important to select the correct size stove. If you select a stove that is too small, it will not heat your home adequately. If you select the wrong stove, it will be too big, the fuel will be wasted. If you're not sure about the size of your stove, you should seek advice from your installer. They will be able to carry out a site survey and help you choose the right size stove for your home.
Stoves are rated based on their nominal heat output. This is displayed as a figure in kW. This is a guideline to the maximum amount of heat they are able to produce under test conditions. This number should not be used as a guideline when selecting a stove. The actual amount of heat generated depends on the type and the quality of fuel you make use of. It is also important to consider the insulation of your home and its draughtiness.
There are a myriad of styles of stoves available, with each one having a distinctive style and finish. Some are more traditional with rustic features and a simple color scheme, whilst others are more contemporary with clear lines with large glass windows as well as new designs.
Most modern stoves are certified under the Ecodesign standard, which guarantees high efficiency and low emissions. If you want to make sure that the stove you choose to use is Ecodesign conforming check for the ClearSkies logo. They're around 80-90 per cent more efficient than older stoves and open fires. This is a huge savings on your energy bills and an environmentally friendly option.
Efficiency
If properly designed and operated, wood burning stoves can make efficient heaters. The latest models have very low emissions, and a kilowatt hour of heat can be provided at a fraction of cost of gas, electricity or oil.
One of the most significant elements that determine the efficiency of a stove is its ability to create an efficient flame that can burn logs properly and for the longest duration possible. This will prevent the fire from 'going off' or producing excessive amounts of smoke. Making sure you use only clean, kiln dried logs from reputable British suppliers will help maximise the effectiveness of your stove, and also ensure that you do not over-load the firebox or exceed its maximum heating capacity.
Stoves are constructed with great care and designed to perform optimally. The top wood burning stoves have sealed, insulated fireboxes, and are constructed with high-quality components and materials. Ideally, the firebox should be kept at a constant temperature, so that the wood burns properly and the flue doesn't over-heat.
It is also crucial to choose the right size stove for your room to ensure maximum heating efficiency. A stove that's too big for the space is less efficient, while a stove too small will cause excessive smoke and overfire.
Eco-friendly wood stoves are becoming more popular. They are a great method to reduce the household's dependence on fossil fuels, and also provide warm, more comfortable heat. Wood is an energy source that is renewable, so it is more sustainable than coal or mineral fuels.
It is essential to use only kiln-dried wood that have been grown and harvested in a sustainable method. Avoid using treated or wet wood, oiled wood or waste or pallet wood. They will release unattractive fumes that can harm your stove and the flue. Buying your logs from a vendor who has the Defra approved 'Ready To Burn" logo will ensure you receive the highest-quality dry, smokless and carbon-neutral fuel for your stove.
Design
Wood burners come in many different styles and designs. Some are modern and sleek, whereas others have a more traditional feel. Some stoves are multi-fuel while others are solely wood. The style of your stove will influence the kind of heat it provides and how well it blends in with the overall aesthetic of your home.
In general when wood is burned in a stove it goes through two distinct processes: combustion and Pyrolysis. When wood is heated, it releases carbon monoxide, as well as other byproducts which are released into the air. Pyrolysis occurs when wood is heated to an elevated temperature, which releases gases like hydrocarbons or carbon dioxide. The resulting gases are then burned in the firebox to produce more carbon monoxide as well as other byproducts.
Many newer wood stoves employ secondary combustion in the form of a catalytic combustor that burns off the byproducts from primary combustion. This reduces smoke, and other harmful pollutants, dramatically. This lets wood stoves run at lower temperatures. There is less need for wood and the efficiency of the stoves improves.
Older stoves that don't employ secondary combustion are less efficient, and they're also more polluting since unburned materials are allowed to escape through the flue. They're still popular due to their ease of use, and the atmosphere they create.
Modern wood burners are required to comply with a set of emission limits, known as Ecodesign. These are based on the minimum efficiency rating and reduced maximum levels for carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. They are typically DEFRA approved and have space underneath to stack log. Some models feature a cleanAir technology that draws air into the unit to cleanse the glass and stop blackening or sooting.
Maintenance
Wood stoves require regular maintenance and care in order to function optimally. Cleaning it frequently, removing ashes between fires and checking the gaskets is all part of this. Gaskets protect the airtight process of combustion. If contemporary wood burners are damaged, it can result in problems like smoke leakage or reduced efficiency. To avoid chimney fires, it is important to clean the chimney regularly. This is recommended to be done at least twice a year, and it may need to be more frequently based on how often the stove is used.
Stoves come in many different dimensions and shapes, with some being more suitable for specific spaces than others. For example, a curved cylindrical design can be a sleek, modern addition to any space while still providing warmth and creating a focal feature. The color of the room can also affect maintenance. Lighter shades reveal more dirt and soot, while darker shades cover up the stains.
The grate (a metal plate that is located at the bottom of the stove) will wear out with use but can be replaced quickly. If the grate isn't regularly cleaned, it may crack. The lining of the combustion chamber can be damaged or cracked. Repeatedly closing and opening of the door can degrade rope seals. As time passes the glass may turn milky or scratched. However, this is not as simple to replace as windows in homes.
It is important to only use well-seasoned wood in your stove, as unseasoned logs produce more smoke and creosote than seasoned ones. It is important to properly fuel your stove by adjusting the amount of wood you add and ensuring that it doesn't overheat. This will ensure that the stove is burning properly and reduce pollution levels.