Wood Burning Stoves
A wood-burning stove could be a great addition to your home. You can pick from a range of styles and sizes that will suit your preferences. They can either be built into a wall or free-standing.
Modern wood stoves are compliant with the strict EU legislation, often called Ecodesign. They are able to provide efficient combustion and have low emissions. Some are also DEFRA exempt and can burn briquettes as well as other smokeless fuel.
What is a wood-burning stove?
A wood stove is a freestanding heating appliance that burns firewood to generate radiant heat in your home. Wood burning stoves are utilized for hundreds of year and can be a more eco-friendly alternative to heating your home with oil or gas. Modern stoves feature a variety of technological advancements and are available in a variety of styles to match your preferences. They operate in the same way as fireplaces, however they produce more heat by utilizing wood to generate radiant heating.
A high-quality stove will produce heat efficiently and be certified safe to use. Look for the EPA label, which will tell you when the stove was built and what emission standards it complies with. It is better to choose an older model that has been tested and is proven to be safe.
Most modern stoves will burn the creosote vapours that are released during the combustion process, before they are released into your home. They also generally 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 the proper clearance between your wood stove and the floors and walls around it. To maintain the integrity and safety of your chimney and stove it is essential to hire an expert to examine and clean it up regularly.
Wood smoke is harmful to any lungs However, it can be particularly harmful to youngsters and older adults, and also those who suffer from respiratory ailments such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. You can shield your family and yourself from negative effects of smoke from wood. Limit the time you spend in rooms with a stove, use the recirculate function on your air conditioning, and keep the doors shut.
Size
Wood burning stoves add warmth and a sense of style to any home. They are also energy efficient and help you save money on heating expenses. However, it's important to select the correct size stove. Too small and your stove won't be adequately heated If it's too large, you'll waste fuel. If you're not sure you're in the right place, seek advice from your installer. They can conduct an assessment of your property and provide you with guidance on the ideal size stove for your home.
Stoves are rated based on their nominal output of heat. This is represented as a number in kW. This is a guideline for the maximum amount of heat they can generate under test conditions. It is not recommended to rely on this figure when selecting a stove, however, since the actual amount of heat produced will vary depending on the kind and quality of the fuel you choose to use. You should also consider the insulation of your home and its draughtiness.
There are a variety of stoves available with each having a distinct design and style. Some are more traditional with rustic features, a simple color scheme, while other are more modern with clean lines, big windows, and innovative shapes.
Ecodesign is the standard that most modern stoves adhere to which ensures high efficiency and emission-free. Check for the "ClearSkies" logo to make sure you're buying an Ecodesign certified stove. They're between 80 and 90 per cent more efficient than older stoves and open fires. This can save you a lot of money on your energy bills, and is also an environmentally friendly choice.
Efficiency
Wood burning stoves, when properly designed and used they can be very efficient heaters. The latest models have very low emissions - and a kilowatt hour of heat can be supplied for a fraction of the cost of electricity, gas or oil.
One of the most important factors in a stove's efficiency is its capacity to create an efficient flame that can burn logs properly and for the longest duration possible. This prevents the fire from "going out' or producing excessive smoke. It is crucial to use only clean, kiln-dried logs from British suppliers. Also, be careful not to overload the firebox, and exceeding its maximum heating capacity.
A large amount of care is given to ensure that stoves are well-built and designed for optimum function. The top wood burning stoves are insulated, sealed fireboxes that are made of top-quality components and materials. Ideally, the firebox should be kept at a constant temperature, so that the logs burn evenly and the flue does not over-heat.
The right size stove for your space is also essential to maximize the efficiency of heating. A stove that is too big for the space will not be as efficient and an appliance that is too small will result in over-firing, and generate excessive smoke.
Eco-friendly wood stoves are becoming more popular. They are a great method to reduce the dependence of your household on fossil fuels, and also provide a warmer, more comfortable heating. Wood is a renewable energy source and is therefore more sustainable than fossil fuels or coal.
It is crucial to only use kiln dried logs that have been grown and harvested in a sustainable method. Always avoid indoor wood burner or treated timber or waste wood, oiled wood, or pallet wood since they produce unpleasant odors and may harm the stove and the flue. Buying logs from a supplier who is registered with the Defra approved 'Ready To Burn" logo will ensure that you receive a high-quality dry, smokless and carbon-neutral fuel for your stove.
Design
Wood burners are available in a range of styles and designs. Some are sleek and modern and others have a more traditional look. Some stoves are multi-fuel while others are exclusively wood. The design of your stove will influence the type of heat it provides and how well it fits into the overall design of your home.
In general, when burning wood in a stove, it goes through two distinct processes: combustion and Pyrolysis. When wood is heated, it produces carbon monoxide and other byproducts that are released into the air. Pyrolysis occurs when the wood is heated to an elevated temperature and then develops gasses such as hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide. The resulting gases are then burned again in the firebox to produce more carbon monoxide as well as other byproducts.
Many modern wood stoves utilize secondary combustion in the form of a catalytic combustor that burns off the byproducts from primary combustion. This helps reduce the amount of smoke and other pollutants dramatically. This lets wood stoves operate at lower temperatures. The less wood is required and the efficiency of the stoves increases.
Older stoves that don't employ secondary combustion are less efficient, and they are also more polluting since materials that have not been burned are allowed to escape through the flue. However, they are popular due to their ease of use and the ambiance they create.
Modern wood burners must to comply with a set of emission limits, referred to as Ecodesign. These are built around a minimum efficiency rating and lower maximum levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. They are typically certified by DEFRA and come with space for a stack of logs underneath. Some models come with cleanAir technology that draws air into the unit to clear the glass and stop blackening or sooting.
Maintenance
Wood stoves require regular maintenance and attention to work at their peak. Cleaning it regularly, removing the ashes after fires, and checking the gaskets is a crucial part of this. Gaskets seal the airtight process of combustion. If they become damaged, it could result in problems like smoke leakage or decreased efficiency. It is also crucial to clean the chimney regularly to avoid fires in the chimney. This should be done at a minimum every two years, but it might be necessary to do it more often based on how often the stove is used.
Stoves are available in various shapes and sizes. Some are better suited to certain spaces than others. A curved, cylindrical shape can be a modern and sleek addition to any space, while still offering warmth. Colour is another factor that can affect maintenance, with lighter colours displaying more dirt and soot and dark colours hiding the stains better.
The grate (a metal plate at the bottom of the stove) will wear down with use but can be replaced quickly. If the grate isn't regularly cleaned, it may crack. The combustion chamber lining can be damaged or cracked. Repeatedly closing and opening of the door can degrade rope seals. As time passes, the glass can become stained or milky. However, this is not as easy to replace as windows in homes.
It is crucial to only use well-seasoned wood in your stove, as unseasoned wood produces more smoke and creosote compared to seasoned ones. It is important to properly fuel your stove by adjusting the amount of wood you add, and making sure that it isn't overheated. This will ensure proper combustion and help to minimise the amount of pollution.