The Advantages of Wood Stove Burning

Wood stoves are an excellent option to warm your home and keep it cozy. There are some things you need to think about before you start a wood fire.

All wood stoves require a constant air flow to create combustion and heat. This is controlled by adjustable dampers located in the door of the stove and in the flue pipe that leads to the chimney.

Warmth

Contrary to central heating that is pumped through ductwork and distributed throughout the house Stoves make use of convection to heat your space. They also offer radiant heat, but it is more chilly than a convection heater since the warmth is being retained by a solid surface rather than dissipated into the air. A wood stove generates radiant heat through the burning of wood. It will quickly warm up a room.

The type of wood you choose to use and the way it's seasoned will affect how your stove will perform. Hard woods such as birch, oak, hazel and hazelnut are more difficult to burn, yet they produce long-lasting, consistent heat. They are a great choice for heating a home because they have a high energy density. Soft woods like spruce or fir have lower energy density. This means they burn more quickly and generate more emissions.

A lot of modern wood burning stoves are equipped with turn dampers within the inside portion of the flue pipe which connects to the chimney. The dampers can be turned to regulate the amount of heat absorbed in your home by controlling the speed at which combustion gases leave your stove.

It is important to know that a wood stove needs more maintenance than other heating options. Before you can burn the wood, you will have to chop it up and split it before stacking it. You will have to restock the stove with fuel once it gets low and you'll need to remove the ash regularly. You will also need to ensure that the stove has sufficient draft to pull into the air for combustion.

Depending on the zoning regulations in your area, and the way you maintain your stove, you may also need to deal with smoke pollution. Many towns use zoning laws to regulate outdoor burning and reduce visible smoke as well as odors and soot. Additionally, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has regulations to control the use of outdoor-burning equipment as well as limit opacity and nuisance conditions.

Aesthetics

A wood stove can add an unique look to your home. The warm glow of the flames licking at dried logs creates a sense of warmth and cosiness. They look stunning in any room and make a great accent to rustic or vintage decor. They are a great choice for power outages, as they provide radiant heating.

They are also a great method to reduce carbon emissions and save money. With a modern wood burner you can reduce your heating costs and save on fuel oil by burning locally harvested and seasoned firewood. Using wood for burning also assists in promoting active management of forests which benefit wildlife and the local communities.

When choosing a wood stove, take note of its energy efficiency. Modern wood stoves are expected to attain more than 80 percent efficiency. This means they burn more efficiently and emit less smoke. Look for a design with secondary, heat-retaining glazing and advanced combustion systems like catalytic or non-catalytic. It is also important to maintain proper clearances between the stove and combustible items such as curtains or furniture.

Check the manufacturer's combustion technology to ensure that it is safe and efficient. Some stoves can be installed into existing fireplaces, while others are freestanding units that can be moved as required. Whatever stove you select it is essential to ensure it comes with the required safety features. This includes a shut-off system and venting system, which will stop gas from escaping into your home.

The Scan 83-2 from Danish brand Scan is modern and sleek wood burner that blends into any decor. Its minimalist design, elegantly round silhouette, and a lack of excessive detail give it an elegant and simple look. This contemporary wood burning stove has an aluminium handle as well as moldings, soft-close doors and a curved wall to give you a clear view of the flames. It is available in gray or black, and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It comes in different sizes to fit into various spaces and rooms, such as large living rooms as well as contemporary patios.

Cosy atmosphere

Wood stove burning has a cozy atmosphere that can be much warmer than forced air heating. Besides the warmth from the fire itself, there is also radiant heat from the metal body of the stove that warms the room. In addition, the smell of burned wood is pleasing to most people. This atmosphere is a major reason why many prefer to use a wood stove instead of central heating.

Wood heat requires a lot care to maintain the proper combustion. Many of the newer wood stoves are equipped with automatic control systems that check the flame and adjust the air required to prevent a poor combustion that results in smoke. However, the person operating the stove (that's you) still has a large impact on how well the stove is performing. You can cut down on the combustion by closing the vents for air too tightly. This will not only lower the efficiency of the stove, but also increase the emissions of volatile compounds.

It is important to keep air vents as wide as you can before starting a fire in order to ensure that the fire is getting sufficient oxygen. This will help stop the buildup of tar and other residues that could build up on the heat exchange surfaces. To keep the grate spotless and the firebox free of ash it is recommended that you make use of a stove ash broom or shovel to remove the ashes.

Add the wood slowly, and be careful about closing the vents too rapidly. This can create a vortex which will pull the smoke and unburned volatile compounds into the firebox. This can reduce the efficiency of combustion and cause the fire to burn less fuel and decrease the amount of heat produced.

A blow pipe can be used to boost combustion by blowing air into the flame. It is important to keep in mind that blow pipes can be dangerous if they are not used properly. When they are used too close to the flames, they could cause fires that can be difficult to control. It's best to leave this type of equipment to professionals or those who know the ropes.

Savings

Purchasing and burning wood is an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. It is a renewable resource and modern wood burner therefore is considered carbon neutral. Wood stoves are typically constructed with a back boiler which means that the gasses are circulated to heat water in your home, thereby decreasing energy bills.

Stoves are becoming more efficient at heating your home, with modern stoves offering high levels of efficiency in combustion and lower emissions. They are also smaller, more compact, and more efficient than fireplaces. This means they can bring more warmth into the space and also reduce the loss of heat through the chimney.

Many manufacturers make use of an amalgamation of innovative design and clever engineering to make their stoves eco-friendly. This is achieved by adding features such as the firebox insulation, a massive baffle to create a longer and hotter gas flow path as well as pre-heated combustion air and secondary combustion. This permits higher temperatures and less pollution.

A good quality wood stove will be SIA Ecodesign compliant, and will have passed stringent tests to ensure that they generate extremely low levels of pollution. This is important because the EPA has set very high limits on the amount of pollution a new wood burner will emit and the SIA Ecodesign scheme is the mark of a stove that has met the requirements.

If you have a big enough garden and are able to gather local, sustainable, and untreated logs then using a double sided wood burner stove is an excellent method of cutting down on your carbon footprint as well as saving money on heating. Locally sourced wood supports local woodlands, and promotes active land management. This will benefit wildlife.

It is also possible to build your own wood stove which will help you save money. This is due to the availability of wood offcuts and reclaimed lumber and a variety of DIY kits can aid you in making it yourself. You can pick between catalytic and non-catalytic wood stoves which are less expensive and easier to operate, while the latter is more expensive but is more effective in lowering emissions.