13 Things About Wood Burning Stoves You May Not Know

Wood Burning Stoves

Wood burning stoves are an excellent alternative to heating your home. They also emit radiant heat that warms the floor up to your feet, rather than only the air in the room.

It is important to purchase solid fuel that is low-sulfur and dry logs. This will help reduce pollution and will help to avoid smoke bans.

Energy Efficient

Wood stoves are a great method to keep your home warm and limit carbon emissions. They are a low-carbon alternative to central heating systems or even electricity. They work by converting logs into heat which is then distributed around your home using natural convection, meaning that it doesn't lose energy as it radiates out into the space.

Modern wood stoves are also energy efficient, and they reduce the amount of smoke that is released into the atmosphere. This means that they release a lot less particulates that could harm your health and can help you avoid the smogs that have been known to occur in cities like London.

This is because modern wood burning stoves employ catalytic systems to re-burn gasses that have not been burned to increase efficiency and lower emissions. There are also non-catalytic stoves available that do not reburn gases however they still provide a superior efficiency and lower smoke than an open fireplace.

Wood as a fuel can aid in the active management of forests, which can be beneficial to wildlife. The wood used in wood burning stoves is locally sourced and is a renewable and sustainable resource.

Hardwoods such as oak and beech are the best woods for use in stoves with wood burning. To ensure that it burns effectively, the wood should be split, cut and seasoned. Wood that is not seasoned properly can release toxic fumes which can be hazardous to your health.

A wood-burning stove can also help you save energy costs, as they are often cheaper than electricity or central heating. It is important to remember that wood heat is only effective in smaller rooms or as a secondary heat source. It is possible to save money to utilize a combination of wood stove and other heating methods in larger homes.

Environmentally Friendly

The modern homeowner has a lot to gain from a wood stove. A wood stove is a low carbon energy source for heating that can add atmosphere to rooms on an icy winter day. It is a social and fun activity to chop and gather the wood to fuel your stove. This is a great way to enjoy being outdoors in sunny weather. It's a great family activity to source your fuel. Finding free logs in local businesses or at timber merchants who are willing to accept offcuts can be a great reward.

However, wood-burning stoves have recently received negative image due to their emissions. This is mostly on the back of London Mayor Sadiq Khan urging an immediate stop to wood burning stoves in urban areas to help reduce PM (particulate matter) pollution. PM particles are less than hairs on a human. They can be detrimental to our health.

But despite the negative headlines, wood burning stoves are in fact an environmentally friendly option. If they are used properly, and with the best quality dry wood, they can be an extremely efficient way of heating your home and can reduce the cost of heating. Modern EPA certified stoves are more efficient than stoves from decades ago and have impressively low emission levels.

The reason for this is because they employ secondary combustion in order to maximize the gasses generated from burning wood. Stoves that don't employ secondary combustion and burn the wood directly release more PM into the air when it passes through their chimneys. Modern non-catalytic stoves incorporate design improvements such as firebox insulation, a massive baffle to produce a longer more efficient gas flow path, and pre-heated combustion air that aids in the secondary combustion process which results in less harmful emissions.

As the demand for efficient and energy-efficient wood stoves is increasing, so do the requirements for heat output specifications. New stoves are designed to meet the needs of these consumers. This is good for the environment as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Savings

Unlike traditional open fires which can lose up to 80% of their heat through the chimney, modern wood burning stoves are energy efficient and have an efficiency rating of high. This means that the majority of the heat produced by the fireplace is used to heat your home. This is not just good for your pocket but also for the environment. Lower fuel consumption equals lower emissions.

Wood stoves are also more efficient in distributing heat better than conventional furnaces. This is because the heating coils in the wood stove are placed in the floor of the room instead of being located in the ceiling or roof area of a home, as is the case with the electric and gas stoves. This type of heat distribution permits your home to be heated more evenly.

You'll also need less wood to heat your home with wood stove burning stoves than you would if you used an open fire. This could reduce the cost of storing and buying logs. Wood is a renewable resource which makes it a green way to heat your home. This is especially relevant in countries that are seeking to stay away from fossil fuels like coal and oil.

It is probable that your new wood stove will be either catalytic or a non-catalytic one. Catalytic models reduce pollution by reburning part of the combustion gasses. Non-catalytic models cannot reburn a part of the combustion gases, and have lower efficiency ratings than catalytic models.

When you purchase a stove you must ensure that it is certified by the ClearSkies scheme to ensure it is in compliance with the standards for air quality. This scheme is independently audited in order to ensure that the stove you have reduces the indoor air pollution.

You must be aware that burning wood in a fireplace or stove does not completely eliminate pollution from the air. When it comes to heating your home, a wood stove is ideal for smaller homes that are open and not enclosed. In such cases you might have to huddle in front of the stove in order to feel the warmth. This can become boring after some time!

Multi-faceted

Wood burning stoves have been a part of our homes for a long time. From simple fireplaces, to elaborate heating systems for homes they have proven their versatility through time. They're actually the perfect fit for every style of decor, whether modern, traditional or eclectic. There are many different types of wood burning stoves available each with a distinct style and character. Some are made from stainless steel, others are constructed of cast iron, or as is the case with the Westfire Uniq 23, are constructed from soapstone, with each unique in its veining and coloration.

There are two kinds of wood-burning stoves namely stoves that only burn wood, and stoves that also burn oil or natural gas. Single-fuel stoves generally perform better than multi-fuel models due to the fact that they're specifically designed for a certain fuel.

Backpacking stoves can be used as an example of a single-fuel wood stove. These are generally light and can be used to heat water or boil the coffee in a flask while on a hiking trip. They are small wood stove - www.healthndream.com officially announced - and can easily be tucked away in an backpack or put into a Fannypack.

The most modern single-fuel wood stoves are designed with energy efficiency in mind. They can be equipped with a secondary heat-retaining glaze or upgraded with combustion air jets as well as an air flow diverter to achieve higher temperatures of combustion for improved efficiency. Some stoves achieve more than 80% energy efficiency - a significant improvement over earlier models that reached about 15%.

In addition to the adjustable air vents at the front of a wood-burning stove, some models are fitted with turn dampers that regulate the flow of smoke and gases from the stove to the chimney. The turn dampers can be adjustable and permit you to control the amount of heat that is retained by the stove.

While the wood burning stove is an adaptable energy source that is sustainable, efficient and environmentally friendly heat source, it is important to select the best model for your home. The team at Burlington Fireplace & Heating is skilled and can help you choose the ideal wood burning stove to suit your needs. Call us today or visit our showroom.