How to Properly Operate a Woodburning Stove<br /><br />Wood stoves are a fantastic option to heat your home. They're also cheap. Smoke from wood stoves can be dangerous to your health. It's important to understand how these appliances function and how to use them correctly.<br /><br />Modern stoves use catalytic or secondary combustion to limit emissions. Older stoves and open flames release large amounts of particulates.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.fireplacesandstove.com/categories/wood-burning-stoves">Fireplaces &amp; Stove</a> is the heart of any fireplace system. It's where you create a fire to heat your home and provide ambiance. It's a simple concept, but there are many important details that must be accounted for to keep your wood burning stove safe and efficient.<br /><br />The most simple way to think of the firebox is that it's an open-air combustion chamber that has walls and an entrance. Most fireplaces come with prefabricated metal fireboxes or masonry firebox. The type of box you choose will depend on your preferences as well as the type of fireplace you own.<br /><br />Most wood-burning fireplaces make use of a constant flow of air to start the fire and burn fuel. Fresh air is drawn in through adjustable dampers located in the stove's doors. This allows the fuels to be burned properly and reduces the harmful gasses that result from burning that is not complete or properly burned. The exhaust gases are then taken up by the chimney, and safely out of your home.<br /><br />Modern stoves that have catalytic secondary combustion employ a special catalyst that allows the unburned gasses to generate additional heat. This results in a much cleaner and less polluting emission than traditional wood stoves with no secondary combustion. Modern non-catalytic stoves are available, but they're typically less efficient than stoves that have secondary combustion that is catalytic.<br /><br />Certain fireplaces that burn wood have a backboiler, which can be used for space heating and water heating. They are known as "combination" or "hybrid" stoves and have been around since the beginning of the 20th century.<br /><br />Wood burning stoves can only be operated with well-seasoned wood. Freshly cut (green) wood has an extremely high moisture content that can lead to low flue temperatures and a lot of creosote accumulation in the chimney. This could lead to chimney fires that damage the stove, and can be hazardous to your family's health.<br /><br />If you're looking for an expert to look over your wood-burning stove or perform any firebox repairs ensure that the chimney professional you choose is CSIA certified and provides reviews from their customers on their website. You can inquire about their prices, and what type of work they perform.<br /><br />The pipe that allows for ventilation<br /><br />Ventilation is a must for wood stoves to help remove fumes and keep the home healthy and warm. Ventilation helps remove carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and excess moisture from the combustion process. It also helps to reduce the impact of air pollution and heat loss to the outdoors. Gas, wood and pellet stoves have different requirements for venting to adapt to the way they function. It is essential to maintain the stove's venting systems on an an annual basis for security and efficiency.<br /><br />The ventilation system is made up of the firebox as well as the ventilation pipe. The chimney and the ventilation pipe are used together to create a draft that draws smoke from the stove through the fireplace. Draft is caused through the difference in density and temperature between hot wood smoke and cold air outside. The more hot the smoke, the more it can rise through the chimney and through the ventilation pipe.<br /><br />Modern wood stoves are certified as low-emission models by the EPA. They produce far less pollutants than older models that contribute to global warming and other environmental problems. Most modern stoves have built-in pollution control systems that reduce the amount of emissions while ensuring that they are burned efficiently.<br /><br />Older stoves with open flues emit a lot more carbon dioxide, poisonous gas that should not be allowed to escape into your home. Carbon monoxide can be a source if your chimney is dirty or there is inadequate ventilation. Installing carbon monoxide alarms in your home is therefore essential.<br /><br />Before installing a brand new or used wood stove, determine the distance between where the stove sits on the floor to the chimney opening on the wall or ceiling. Multiplying this distance by 2 will give you the shortest length of stovepipe that you will require. You can use a single-wall or double-wall stovepipes, but you must allow for the proper clearance from combustibles.<br /><br />When the stove is first lit and the flame is first lit, adjust the vent until a good flame has been created and the combustion process is stable. It is recommended to avoid using wood briquettes in the stove, since they are not logs, and could contain volatile chemicals that could cause the air vent to malfunction and create a dangerous situation.<br /><br /><br /><br />The chimney<br /><br />The chimney may not seem like something that homeowners pay a lot of attention to, but it's actually a complex system that requires care and attention. From top to bottom, the chimney is comprised of a variety of essential components each of which is essential to ensure that your stove functions efficiently and safely.<br /><br />The firebox, the ventilation pipe and chimney work together to release the combustion gases produced by your woodburning fireplace to the outside. This is essential in preventing harmful emissions and reducing carbon dioxide levels within your home. To achieve this, the chimney and flue have to be hot enough to allow the gasses out of the fireplace without them cooling. This can be achieved by using a woodburning stove that has an extremely high heat output, and by adding regularly new logs to the fire.<br /><br />Modern woodburning stoves are taller chimney than older systems to enhance the drafting effect. This can be a problem in the event that your chimney's height exceeds the maximum height for your area. In this case the chimney may compete with the house's stack for airflow, causing the gases to cool before they leave. This can result in a decrease in the flow of gas and an accumulation of creosote.<br /><br />The most frequent mistake that homeowners make is to open the fireplace door and close it often. This can negatively affect the combustion. It is crucial to keep the door of your fireplace as tightly shut as you can, and only open it when you need to add firewood or ash. The door shouldn't be opened for too long. This allows the hot air from the stove to escape, making the wood cooler and less likely to light.<br /><br />Another mistake that many make is to use other kinds of combustibles with their woodburning stoves. This could result in higher emissions or even chimney fire. The truth is that woodburning stoves are built and optimized to burn wood and not other kinds of combustibles.<br /><br />The flu<br /><br />A woodburning stove requires a properly large flue that allows for proper air flow and draft development. The flue must be at least 25% larger than the stove pipe that connects the chimney and stove to allow sufficient smoke passage. A wood stove should be placed on a non-combustible hearth with a clear area in front of fireplace opening.<br /><br />Modern stoves come with a catalytic combustion system which reduces the amount of harmful byproducts released into the chimney. This feature can help increase the efficiency of wood stoves by burning a fire that produces more heat and emitting less pollutants. Making use of other types of combustibles, other than firewood however, could cause issues like lower efficiency and higher emission levels.<br /><br />When you are burning wood in a stove or fireplace it is essential to burn seasoned or dried wood. If your wood is not seasoned or dry, it will emit high levels of water vapor and creosote into the chimney. This can result in low flue temperatures and a chimney fire.<br /><br />A professional can also assist you in avoiding an explosion in your chimney by regularly checking and cleaning the flue system. This should include the stovepipe, chimney and the chimney itself, to ensure all are in good working order.<br /><br />A soiled stove or flue system can cause an unclean draft in your chimney, which can cause carbon monoxide to build up within your home. This can be dangerous to your family members and you shouldn't let it occur.<br /><br />A good guideline is to have a professional chimney sweep sweep your stove and chimney each year. This will help keep your chimney and stove in good working order.<br /><br />