A Step-By'-Step Guide For Wood Burning Stoves Uk
Wood Burning Stoves A wood burning stove is a great addition to any home. They are available in different sizes and styles to suit your personal tastes. They can be a free-standing feature or incorporated into the wall. Modern wood stoves are compliant with strict EU legislation (often called Ecodesign) to ensure high efficiency in fuel use and low emissions. Some are also DEFRA exempt and can burn briquettes or other non-smokeless fuels. What is a wood stove? A wood stove is a self-standing heating appliance that burns firewood to generate radiant heat in your home. Wood burning stoves have been used for a long time and can be an eco-friendly alternative to heating your home with oil or gas. Modern stoves are more technologically advanced and come in a variety styles to fit any taste. They operate in the same way as fireplaces, but they generate more heat by using wood to generate radiant heat. A top-quality stove will give you high-efficiency heat and is certified as safe to use. Look for the EPA label, which informs you when the stove was built and the emission standards it meets. The older stoves are typically not certified by the EPA, so it's recommended to select newer models that have been tested and proved to be safe and efficient. Most modern stoves will burn the creosote vapours which are released during the combustion process before they can escape into your home. They also burn fuel more efficiently which helps to prevent smoke and soot issues in the fireplace. When purchasing a wood stove, you will need access to sufficient wood and storage space to ensure it is adequately stocked. You'll also require a class A chimney for venting the stove, and a proper distance between the wood stove and walls and floors around it. You'll need to have your chimney regularly inspected and cleaned by a professional to ensure the structural integrity of the stove and chimney. Wood smoke can trigger respiratory problems for any person, but is particularly dangerous to older adults, children and those suffering from respiratory issues like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. You can shield your family members and yourself from the negative effects of smoke from wood. Limit the amount of time you spend in rooms with stoves, utilize the recirculate function on your air conditioner, and keep doors shut. Size Wood burning stoves bring warmth and charm to any home. They are also energy efficient and can help you save money on heating expenses. It is important to choose the right size stove for your space, however. If your stove is too small, it won't be adequately heated or too big, and you'll waste fuel. Ask your installer for advice if you are unsure. They can carry out an assessment of the site and give you advice on the right size stove for your home. Stoves are rated in accordance with their nominal output of heat. This is displayed in kW. This is a guideline for the maximum amount of heat they can generate under test conditions. You should never use this figure as a guideline when selecting a stove, however, since the actual amount of heat produced will differ in accordance with the type and quality of the fuel you are using. You should also think about the level of insulation in your home and its draughtiness. There are a myriad of styles of stoves available, with each one offering a unique design and finish. Some are more traditional with rustic features and a basic colour scheme, whilst others are more contemporary, featuring sleek lines, large glass windows and innovative shapes. Ecodesign is the standard that the majority of modern stoves adhere to which ensures high efficiency and emission-free. Look for the ClearSkies logo to make sure you're purchasing an Ecodesign compliant stove. They're between 80 and 90 per cent more efficient than older stoves or open fires. This will help you save money on your energy bills, and is also a more green option. Efficiency Wood burning stoves, if properly designed and operated effectively, can be highly efficient heaters. The latest models emit very little pollution and can provide heat at a fraction of the cost of electricity, oil or gas. The capacity of a stove's burner to create an adequate flame, which burns logs properly and for as long as it is possible, is a major factor in its efficiency. This will stop the fire from “going out' or producing excessive quantities of smoke. Only using clean, kiln-dried logs that are sourced from reputable British suppliers will help maximize the efficiency of your stove as will making sure that you don't overload the firebox or over-heat it to the maximum capacity. Stoves are constructed with care and are designed to perform at their best. The best wood-burning stoves are insulated, sealed fireboxes that are made of top-quality components and materials. The firebox should be kept at a constant heat so that the logs can burn efficiently and prevent the flue from overheating. It is also important to choose the right size stove for your room to maximize the efficiency of heating. A stove that is too big for the room is less efficient and an appliance that is too small could result in over-firing, and generate excessive smoke. wood burners for sale -friendly wood stoves are becoming increasingly popular. woodburning fireplace can reduce household dependence on fossil fuels, and provide a more comfortable, warmer heat. Wood is an energy source that is renewable, which is better for the environment than coal or mineral fuels. It is essential to only use kiln-dried logs that have been grown and harvested in a sustainable manner. Avoid using treated or wet wood, oiled wood, pallet wood or waste. They will release unpleasant fumes that can damage your stove and flue. Buying your wood from a trusted supplier with the Defra-approved “Ready to Burn logo will ensure that you're buying high-quality, dry, smokless and carbon-neutral fuel for your stove. Design Wood burners can be found in many different styles and designs. Some are sleek, contemporary, and others have a traditional feel. Some stoves are multi-fuel, while others are exclusively for wood. The style of your stove will influence the type of heat it generates and also how well it fits into the overall design of your home. In general when wood is burned in a stove, it goes through two distinct processes which are combustion and Pyrolysis. When wood is heated, it produces carbon monoxide as well as other byproducts that are released into the air. Pyrolysis occurs when wood is heated to a higher temperature, releasing gases like hydrocarbons or carbon dioxide. The gasses produced are burned in the firebox to produce carbon monoxide and other byproducts. A lot of modern wood stoves use secondary combustion, which is catalytic combustor, which reburns the byproducts of primary combustion. This helps reduce smoke, and other pollutants, considerably. This allows wood stoves operate at lower temperatures. Less wood is needed and the efficiency of the stoves increases. Older stoves with no secondary combustion are less efficient and much more polluting because unburned stoves are allowed to escape through the flue. However, they are popular due to their ease of use and the ambience they create. Modern wood burners have to meet a set of emission limits, known as Ecodesign. These are based upon an efficiency rating that is a minimum and a reduction in maximum levels for carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. They are also usually 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 To function optimally, wood stoves need regular maintenance. Cleaning it regularly, removing ashes between fires and checking the gaskets is a crucial part of this. Gaskets are used to ensure that the combustion process is airtight If they're damaged, it can cause problems like smoke leakage and reduced efficiency. It is also crucial to clean the chimney regularly to avoid chimney fires. This should be done at least twice a year, and it could be more frequently based on how frequently the stove is used. Stoves come in different sizes and shapes. Some are more suitable for certain areas than others. A curved, circular shape can be a modern and sleek addition to any space while still offering warmth. Color is another aspect that can influence maintenance, with lighter colors showing more soot and dirt, while darker options hide the stains better. The grate (a metal plate at the bottom of the stove) will wear away with use but can be replaced quickly. If the grate is not regularly cleaned, it could crack. The lining of the combustion chamber could also break or crack. Repeatedly closing and opening of the door can weaken rope seals. Glass can also get scratched or milky over time, though it isn't as easy to replace as a house window. It is important that you only burn wood that has been properly seasoned in your stove. Insufficiently seasoned logs will create more smoke and creosote. It is also important to ensure that your stove is properly fuelled by altering the amount of wood you add and making sure that it does not overheat. This will ensure that the stove is burning properly and reduce pollution levels.