How to Properly Operate a Woodburning Stove
Wood stoves are a great way to heat your home. They're also cheap. But the smoke they emit can also be harmful to your health. It's important to understand how these appliances function and how to use them correctly.
Many modern stoves rely upon secondary or catalytic combustion to reduce their emissions. But older stoves and open fires produce large amounts 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 most simple way to think of the firebox is to think of it as an open-air combustion chamber that has walls and an entrance. Most fireplaces have either an already-built metal or the masonry firebox. The type of firebox you choose will depend on your preferences and the type of fireplace that you have.
outdoor wood burning stove -burning fireplaces make use of a constant flow of air to start the fire and burn fuel. Fresh air is drawn into the stove through adjustable dampers located inside the stove's doors. This allows the fuel to burn properly and helps to reduce toxic gases that are generated by unburnt or incomplete combustion. The exhaust gases will then be dragged up the chimney, and then away from your home.
Modern stoves with catalytic second combustion use a special catalyst that reburns the unburned gasses to create additional heat. This results in a much cleaner and less polluting emission than traditional wood stoves that have no secondary combustion. Modern wood stoves that are not catalytic are available however they are usually less efficient than stoves with secondary combustion that is catalytic.
Certain fireplaces that burn wood have a backboiler, which can be used for space heating or water heating. These stoves are called "hybrids" or "combination". They have been around since early 20th century.
Wood burning stoves should only be used with seasoned wood. Freshly cut (green) wood has an extremely high moisture content, which can cause low flue temperatures as well as excessive creosote accumulation in the chimney. This can cause chimney fires that destroy the stove, and they can even be dangerous to your family's health.
If you are looking for an expert who can examine your wood-burning stove, or make repairs to your firebox, make sure that the chimney professional you hire is certified by CSIA certification and has customer testimonials on their site. It's also important to inquire about their pricing and what is the type of work they can do.
The ventilation pipe
Wood stoves require ventilation in order to remove emissions from the combustion process and keep the home warm and healthy. Ventilation is required to remove carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide from the process of combustion. It also helps to reduce the impact of air pollution and loss of heat to the outdoors. Wood, pellet and gas stoves have different requirements for venting to accommodate the different ways they operate. It is important to maintain the stove's venting system on an annually to ensure security and efficiency.
The ventilation system consists of the firebox and the vent pipe. The chimney and the pipe work together to create a draft that draws smoke from the stove out through the fireplace. The difference in densities and temperature between the hot wood smoke and the cold outside air creates draft. The more hot the smoke, the better it is able to rise through the chimney and ventilation pipe.
Most modern wood stoves have been certified as low-emission models by the EPA. This means that they emit far fewer pollutants than older models, and contribute to global warming as well as other environmental issues. Most newer stoves also have built-in pollution controls to limit how much they emit while ensuring that the emissions are disposed of in an efficient manner.
Older stoves that have open flues create a lot more carbon dioxide, a poisonous gas that must not be allowed to escape into the home. This can happen if the chimney isn't clean or there is inadequate ventilation. It is crucial to install carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
Before installing a brand new or used wood stove, measure the distance from the place where the stove is placed on the floor to the chimney opening on the wall or ceiling. Divide this measurement by two to determine the minimum length of stovepipe that you require. You can use either single-wall or a double-wall stovepipe but you must ensure adequate clearance from burning combustibles.
The vents for the stove's air should be adjusted whenever it is first lit up, until a good flame has been established in the stove and the combustion process has been stabilized. It is recommended to stay clear of using wood briquettes in the stove, because they aren't logs and could contain volatile chemicals that can cause the air vent to fail and lead to a risky situation.
The chimney
The chimney may not be something that people think about a lot to, but it's a complex system that requires care and attention. The chimney is composed of numerous important parts which are all essential to ensure the safety and efficiency of your stove.
The combustion gasses are vented to the outside by the firebox, the vent pipe, and the chimney. This is crucial in preventing harmful emissions and reducing carbon dioxide levels in your home. To do this, the flue and chimney should be hot enough to move the gases from the fireplace without cooling. This is achieved by using a woodburning stove that has a high heat output and by adding regularly new logs to the fire.
Modern woodburning stoves are taller chimney than older systems to improve the drafting effect. This could be a problem in the event that your chimney's height exceeds the maximum for your location. If this occurs the chimney could compete with the house stack for draft, which can cause the gases to cool before exiting. This can impede the flow of gases and lead to creosote accumulation, which poses a potential fire risk.
One of the most common errors that homeowners make is to open and shut the fireplace door too often, which can negatively impact combustion. It is crucial to keep the fireplace door as tightly shut as you can, and only open it to add firewood or ash. The door shouldn't be left open for too long. This allows hot air from the stove to escape, making the wood cooler and less likely to light.
Other types of combustibles can create higher emissions, or even the possibility of a chimney fire. Woodburning stoves were developed and optimized to burn wood for fire. They are not suitable for other types of combustibles.
The flu
To ensure proper air flow, a woodburning stove needs a flue that is the proper size. The flue should be at least 25% larger than the pipe connecting the stove and chimney to allow for adequate smoke flow. A wood stove should be set on a non-combustible hearth with a clear area in front of the fireplace's opening.
Modern stoves are equipped with a catalytic combustion system that reduces the amount harmful byproducts that are released into the chimney. This feature can also assist to improve the efficiency of a wood stove by burning a fire that generates more heat and less polluting. Making use of other types of combustibles other than firewood however, could cause issues with lower efficiency and higher emission levels.
When burning wood in a stove or fireplace it is essential to use dried or seasoned wood. If your wood is not dry or seasoned it will release high levels of creosote and water vapour into the chimney. This can result in low flue temperatures, and even a fire in the chimney.
A professional can also assist you in avoiding a fire in your chimney by regularly checking and cleaning the flue system. This should include the stovepipe, chimney and the chimney itself to ensure that everything is in good shape.
A soiled stove or flue system can cause an insufficient draft inside your chimney, which could cause carbon monoxide to accumulate within your home. This could be hazardous for your family and should never be allowed to happen.
A good rule of thumb is to have your stove and chimney swept by a professional once a year. This will keep your stove and chimney in good working order.