The No. 1 Question That Anyone Working In Outdoor Wood Burner Should Know How To Answer

How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner Outdoor wood burners are commonly called wood boilers. corner wood burning stove resemble small sheds with a short smokestack. They heat water or a mixture of water and antifreeze which is then circulated around your home. When used with dry wood and EPA-approved outdoor boilers they offer an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil heating. They still produce a lot of smoke. Energy Efficiency Since the beginning of time, wood has been used to warm homes. With the fluctuating costs of fossil fuels wood heat is a viable option for many. There aren't all wood boilers that have the same efficiency. As a rule, models that utilize wood gasification are more efficient than standard outdoor wood furnaces. There are a variety of elements that affect the energy efficiency of an OWB. One of them is the quality and quantity of the firewood. It is essential to choose only firewood that has been dried and kept seasoned for at minimum six months; ideally, for a full year. Dry firewood is more efficient at releasing heat into the air than green, wet wood. It also burns better and produces less pollutants. The boiler's combustion rate is a further factor. This is the amount of heat that is converted by the stove to useful heat. Many manufacturers promote their OWBs' efficiency in combustion, but it is important to look for the efficiency of the product delivered. This is a measure of how much heat produced by the wood is delivered to your home. Finally, it is important to operate the OWB to maximize its effectiveness. This means cleaning it and maintaining the vent for the flue regularly. The flue must be cleaned on a weekly basis during the heating season to prevent clogging and reduce the amount of smoke released by the burner. In contrast to stoves for indoor use that are installed within your office or home, an OWB can be installed anywhere between 90 and 200 feet from your home. The hot water that is heated in the OWB is then pumped through pipes that are insulated before it is delivered to your home. The hot water is then distributed throughout your home through a system that uses heat exchangers. Despite the negatives discussed above, an OWB is an effective way to heat your home and save money on energy costs. To maximize the efficiency of your unit, choose one that is high-efficiency and maintain it properly. Be sure to burn dry and seasoned wood in an OWB. This will keep the firewood from damaging your home and polluting the air. Environmentally Friendly Wood is a greener and more sustainable alternative to burning fossil fuels, such as gasoline, propane, and oil. It is a renewable resource, meaning that new trees will grow to replace those that were used to heat. When wood is burned, it releases carbon dioxide, however, it is absorbed and transformed back into oxygen by other plants. Wood burning produces no other environmental pollutants unlike fossil fuels. A wood furnace can be used to heat homes, garages, sheds and other buildings. These units are very cost-effective as they eliminate the need to pay high utility bills. These heaters can be used to heat hot tubs and pools which are perfect to relax in wintertime. These heaters are EPAapproved and CSA-certified and are a green option for heating your home. However, a wood stove is not without its drawbacks. Wood smoke contains tiny air particles that can aggravate the symptoms of certain health conditions, such as heart and lung problems. These particles can also contribute to climate change and contaminate water supplies. It is important to use only seasoned firewood in your outdoor wood burner. If your wood isn't seasoned, it will release more smoke, which can irritate those with sensitive respiratory systems. A substitute for a wood furnace is an electric heat pump, which extracts thermal energy from the ground or air and allows it to heat buildings and reduce the requirement for natural gas, propane or oil. These heat pumps are more efficient than traditional wood stoves, and are regarded as eco-friendly, however they require a steady supply of raw materials to function properly. Wood-burning heaters are still in high demand for some due to their low cost and eco-friendly. Many of the most efficient models have an efficiency rating of 85%, which is better than other heating alternatives. Anyone who is concerned about the environment should talk to a specialist in outdoor wood burners to learn about the most effective models available, which are both efficient and environmentally friendly. Safety A wood-burning stove, when not maintained and installed properly, can pose a serious fire risk. The smoke from fires can contain contaminants, fine particles, and carbon monoxide, which can cause respiratory problems and asthma. In addition, smoke can be harmful to carpets, furniture, and clothing. For these reasons, it is essential to engage an expert to install your wood burner. It is recommended to have a professional perform an inspection of your chimney, wood-burning appliance and stovepipe on a regular basis. These professionals can ensure that your OWB is operating safely and is in compliance with local safety regulations, which can help stop fires from happening in your home or any other structures on your property. It is crucial to only make use of dry, seasoned logs for burning wood in an OWB. Also, ensure that the area around the logs clear of any debris and combustible substances like plastic or paper, in order to minimize fire hazards. Don't burn garbage, trash or treated lumber, as these could release a variety of harmful pollutants into the air. While wood smoke is able to harm everyone but it is especially harmful for teenagers, children older adults, and those who suffer from respiratory illnesses or heart problems. It is also recommended that all new and expectant mothers beware of exposure to wood smoke as it may negatively affect their babies. Using an OWB can also cause annoyance to your neighbors. Smoke from a fire can travel through windows that are open depending on the weather or the wind. It can also cause irritation to the nose and eyes. It is a good idea to shut any windows or doors that are near the stove, and to keep pets away from the flame. Installing smoke and carbon dioxide alarms in every room of your house is also an excellent idea. Check them frequently. You should also have an escape plan for your family in place and do it at least once per year. For help with smoke and restoration services for fires, call your local PuroClean office. We can restore your smoke-damaged property or business to its pre-fire condition. Maintenance Wood burning furnaces, also known as outdoor wood burners, or OWBs are great for heating your home using renewable energy sources and creating a warm and cozy environment. However, like any appliance you use regularly they need some attention to ensure they run smoothly. You'll benefit from your outdoor wood stove when you maintain it regularly. Regularly cleaning the exterior flue, inside, and pipe is a must. Before you begin any cleaning, be sure that the fire is extinguished and that all electricity to the wood stove is off. Before you begin cleaning, collect all the materials you need. These should include newspaper to cover the floor of your home along with safety gloves and a brush. Every time you burn wood in your outdoor wood burner, it releases creosote residue that needs to be cleaned regularly to maintain optimum air flow through the combustion system and to stop the accumulation of a substance that can corrode the steel's inner layers in the water jacket. Creosote Removal Products such as Creosote buster sticks can cut down the time and effort required for cleaning. You should also clean out the ash container on your wood burner on a weekly basis. It is best to empty the ash into a steel container for ash instead of throwing it into a regular garbage can that is filled with plastics, trash, and other materials that can ignite and explode when you put the ashes that are hot in them. Depending on the type and amount of heat being attracted from your wood burner, and the atmospheric conditions depending on the weather, you may have to manage smoke on a regular basis. If smoke is a concern you should consider getting the flue pipe on your wood stove professionally cleaned regularly as well. This is a task that isn't easy for DIYers, and is a task that is better left to the professionals to avoid any health problems caused by breathing in a lot of smoke from your wood stove.