The Advantages of Wood Stove Burning
Wood stoves are the ideal method to warm your home and keep it cozy. There are a few things you need to think about before you start a fire with wood.
All wood stoves require a constant air flow to produce heat and combustion. The air flow is controlled by dampers on the door of the stove and the flue pipe that leads to the chimney.
Warmth
Unlike central heating which is pumped through ductwork and distributed throughout the home stoves use convection to warm your space. They also can provide radiant heat, but this tends to feel colder than a convection heater due to the fact that the warmth is being absorbed by a solid surface instead of being dispersed into the air. A wood stove produces radiant heat from burning firewood. It can quickly warm up the room.
The type of wood you choose to use and the way it's seasoned will affect how your stove performs. For example, hard woods like birch, hazel and oak are slower to burn, but provide an extended and consistent heat. These kinds of woods are ideal for heating your home because they have an energy density that is high. Soft woods like spruce and fir have a lower energy density. This means they burn more quickly and generate more carbon dioxide.
Many modern wood burning stoves are equipped with turn dampers in the indoor part of the flue pipe which runs to the chimney. The dampers can be rotated to regulate the amount of heat absorbed within your home by regulating the speed of the combustion gases leaving your stove.
It is important to note that a wood stove requires more maintenance than other heating options. You'll have to cut and split the wood before you can burn it. You will have to restock the stove with fuel whenever it is low, and you will need to clean out the ash every so often. Also, you must ensure that the stove has adequate draft to draw in air for combustion.
You might also need to take care of the smoke from your stove, depending on the zoning laws that apply to your area and how you maintain it. Numerous towns use zoning to regulate outdoor burning, and limit visible smoke from the stove, as also odor and soot. In addition, the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has regulations to control the use of outdoor-burning equipment as well as restrict opacity and nuisance.
Aesthetics
A wood stove can bring a unique aesthetic to your home. The warm glow of the flames licking at dried logs gives a feeling warmth and cosiness. They look stunning in any space and make a great addition to vintage or rustic decor. They are a great choice in the event of power outages as they offer radiant heating.
They also provide a great option to save money and reduce carbon emissions. The use of locally-sourced and properly seasoned firewood in a contemporary wood stove can help you save money on heating oil. Burning wood helps to promote active management of forests which benefit wildlife and the local community.
When you are choosing a wood stove, take note of its energy efficiency. Modern wood stoves ought to be able to achieve 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 such as catalytic or non-catalytic. It is also important to ensure that there is a proper clearance between the stove and combustible items like curtains or furniture.
You should also check the combustion technology employed by the manufacturer to ensure that it is safe and efficient. Some stoves can be fitted in existing fireplaces, whereas others are freestanding units which can be moved as needed. Whatever type of stove you choose it is essential to make sure it has the right safety features, such as the shut-off valve and venting system to prevent gas that can ignite from entering your home.
The Scan 83-2 wood burner from Danish brand Scan blends seamlessly into any décor. Its minimalist style with its elegantly rounded shape and a lack of unnecessary details give it a simple but sophisticated look. This contemporary wood burning stove has an aluminium handle and moldings, soft-close doors, and a curved panel that give you a clear view of the flames. It can be finished in black or gray, and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It is available in various sizes to fit different spaces and rooms, including large living areas 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.
To ensure the proper combustion wood heat requires a great amount of care. Many newer wood stoves have automated control systems that monitor the flame and adjust the amount of air needed to prevent a poor combustion that produces smoke. The operator (that is you) has a major influence on the performance of the stove. You can decrease the amount of combustion by closing the vents for air too tightly. This will not only lower the efficiency of the stove, but it will also increase the emission of volatile compounds.
It is essential to keep air vents as wide as they can be before starting a fire in order to ensure that the fire is getting enough oxygen. This will stop the buildup of tar and other residues that could form on the heat exchange surfaces. To keep the grate spotless and the firebox free of ash, it is recommended that you use an ash broom for stoves or a shovel to clear the ashes.
Add the wood slowly, and avoid closing the vents too rapidly. This could cause an eddy that draws the smoke and unburned volatile compounds into the firebox. This will reduce combustion efficiency, causing the fire to burn less fuel and decrease the amount of heat produced.
A blow pipe is a device to improve combustion by blowing air into the flame. It is important to keep in mind that blow pipes are dangerous if they are not used correctly. If they are used close to the flames they can ignite fires that are difficult to control. It is recommended to leave this type of equipment to experts or those who are aware of what they're doing.
Economical
The purchase and burning of wood is an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. It is a renewable resource, and therefore carbon neutral. Wood stoves are often built with a back boiler, which means that the waste gases can be circulated to heat water in your home, further reducing energy bills.
Modern stoves are more efficient at heating your home. They are efficient in combustion and produce less emissions. They are also smaller, compact, and more efficient than fireplaces. contemporary wood burning stoves can project more warmth into the space and less heat escapes through the chimney.
Many manufacturers combine cutting-edge design with innovative engineering to create eco-friendly stoves. This is accomplished by adding features such as firebox insulation, large baffles to make a longer, more hot gas flow, pre-heated air for combustion and secondary combustion. This allows the combustion to occur at higher temperatures and reduces harmful pollutant emissions.
A high-quality wood stove will be SIA Ecodesign-compliant and will have passed stringent tests to ensure that they produce extremely low levels of pollution. This is important because the EPA has set very high limits on the amount of pollution the new wood burners can produce and the SIA Ecodesign system is a mark of stoves that have met the requirements.
If you have a big enough garden and can collect local, sustainable and untreated wood, then the use of a wood stove is an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint while saving money on heating. Buying locally harvested wood will support local woodlands and encourage the active management of the land, which has a positive impact on wildlife too.
You can also construct your own wood-burning stove. This will help you save money. This is possible due to the availability of reclaimed and offcut timber and a selection of DIY kits are available to help you do it yourself. You can select between catalytic or non-catalytic wood-burning stoves. The former is less expensive and easier to use and operate, whereas the latter is costlier but more effective in cutting emissions.