Wood Burning Stoves
A wood burning stove is a wonderful addition to any home. You can pick from a wide range of styles and sizes that match your preferences. They can be freestanding or incorporated into a wall.
Modern wood stoves are compliant with strict EU regulations (often referred to as Ecodesign) to offer high efficiency in fuel use and low emissions. Fireplaces & Stoves are DEFRA exempt, and can burn briquettes, or other fuels that are smokeless.
What is a wood burning stove?
A wood stove is an independent heating appliance that makes use of firewood to generate radiant heat for your home. Wood burning stoves are utilized for hundreds of year and are an environmentally friendly alternative than heating your home with gas or oil. Modern stoves are technologically advanced and come in a variety of styles to fit any taste. They operate in the same way as fireplaces, however they produce more heat through the use of wood to generate radiant heating.
A top-quality stove will produce heat efficiently and is safe for use. The EPA label will indicate when the stove is manufactured and the emission standards it meets. It's better to choose a newer model that has been tested, and is proven safe.
Most modern stoves will burn the creosote vapours which are released during the combustion process before they are released into your home. They also burn fuel more efficiently, which helps to prevent sooting and smoke problems in the fireplace.
When purchasing a wood stove is necessary to have access to enough wood and storage space to keep it well-stocked. You will also need a suitable class A chimney to vent the stove and proper clearance between your wood stove as well as the floors and walls surrounding it. To ensure the safety and integrity of your stove and chimney it is essential to hire an expert to inspect and clean it on a regular basis.
Wood smoke can cause respiratory issues for any person, but is particularly harmful to children, older adults and those with respiratory conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease. You can protect yourself and your family from the negative health negative effects of smoke from wood by limiting the time you spend in rooms where the stove is running, using the recirculate function for air conditioning and closing doors.
Size
Wood-burning stoves can bring an authentic feeling of warmth and character to your home. They're also efficient and can help you save money on heating costs. It's important to choose the proper size stove for your space, but. If you choose a stove that is too small, it will not provide adequate heat to your home. If you choose a stove that is too large, fuel will be wasted. If you're not sure about the size of your stove, you should seek advice from your installer. They can conduct a site assessment and offer suggestions on the best size stove for your home.
Stoves are rated based on their nominal output of heat. This is shown in kW. This is a standard for the maximum amount they can produce under test conditions. This number should not be used as a guideline when selecting the stove. The amount of heat produced depends on the type and quality fuel you choose to use. You should also take into account how well the insulation of your home is and if it's humid.
There are a variety of stoves available that each have a distinct design and finish. Some are more traditional, with rustic features and a simple color scheme, whereas others are more modern, featuring clean lines, large glass windows and innovative shapes.
Ecodesign is the standard the majority of modern stoves adhere to which ensures high efficiency and low emissions. If you want to make sure that the stove is Ecodesign conforming look for the ClearSkies logo. They're 80-90 percent more efficient than older stoves and open fires. This is a huge savings on your energy bills and an environmentally friendly option.
Efficiency
If properly designed and used wood burning stoves can be very efficient heaters. The most recent models emit little pollutant and provide warmth at a fraction of the cost of electricity gas or oil.
The ability of a stove to create an adequate flame, which burns logs properly and for as long as it is possible is an important factor in its effectiveness. This helps to prevent a fire from 'going out' or producing excessive smoke. It is crucial to make sure to use only clean, kiln-dried logs from British suppliers. You should also avoid overloading the firebox and over-extending its maximum heating capacity.
A great deal of care is taken to ensure that stoves are built to last and designed for optimum function. The best wood-burning stoves made with high-quality components and materials, and have insulated fireboxes that are sealed. Ideally, the firebox must be maintained at a constant temperature, so that the logs burn properly and the flue doesn't overheat.
Choosing the correct size stove for your space is also crucial to optimise the efficiency of your heating. A stove that is too big for the space will be less effective and one that is too small can result in over-firing and create excessive smoke.
Eco-friendly wood stoves are becoming more popular. They are a great way to reduce the household's dependence on fossil fuels, and also provide a warmer, more comfortable warmth. Wood is an energy source that is renewable and is therefore more sustainable than coal or mineral fuels.
It is essential to only use kiln dried logs that have been grown and harvested in a sustainable way. Always avoid wet or treated timber, waste, oiled wood or pallet wood as these emit unpleasant odors and may damage the stove and flue. If you purchase your logs from a trusted supplier with the Defra-approved 'Ready to Burn logo means that you are purchasing a high-quality dry, smokeless, dry and carbon neutral fuel for your stove.
Design
Wood burners come in a variety of styles and designs. Some are sleek, contemporary, and others are more traditional. Some are multi-fuel while others are exclusively for wood. The design of your stove will affect the type of heat it provides and also how well it fits in with the overall aesthetic of your home.
Generally, when you burn wood in a stove, it undergoes two separate processes: combustion and pyrolysis. When wood is heated, it produces carbon monoxide, as well as other byproducts, which are released into the air. Pyrolysis occurs when wood is heated at higher temperatures, releasing gases such as hydrocarbons or carbon dioxide. The resulting gases are then burned again in the firebox, generating more carbon monoxide as well as other byproducts.
Many wood stoves are equipped with secondary combustion, which is an advanced catalytic combustion unit that reburns byproducts of primary combustion. This helps reduce smoke and other pollutants significantly. This lets wood stoves operate at lower temperatures. There is less need for wood and the efficiency of the stoves is increased.
Older stoves that do not have secondary combustion are less efficient and more polluting as unburned products are left to flow out through the flue. However, they are popular because of their ease of use and the ambiance they create.
Modern wood burners must comply with a set emissions limits called Ecodesign. They are determined by an efficiency rating of a minimum and a reduction in maximum levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. They are also usually certified by DEFRA and come with space for an underside stack of logs. Some models come with an cleanAir system that draws in air to wash the glass and prevent sooting or blackening.
Maintenance
To operate at its best, wood stoves need regular maintenance. This includes cleaning it regularly cleaning the ashes from between fires, and making sure that gaskets are in good condition. Gaskets protect the airtight process of combustion and if they become damaged, it can cause problems such as smoke leakage or decreased efficiency. To prevent chimney fires it is essential to clean the chimney regularly. This is recommended to be done at least twice a year, and it could be more often depending on how frequently the stove is used.
Stoves are available in different shapes and sizes. Some are better suited for certain spaces than others. For instance, a curved cylindrical design can be an elegant modern addition to any space but still provide warmth and creating a focal point. Colour is another factor that can affect maintenance, with lighter colors showing more dirt and soot, while darker options hide staining better.
The grate (a metal plate that is located at the bottom of the stove) will wear down with use but can be replaced easily. If the grate has not been regularly cleaned, it could crack. The lining of the combustion chamber can also break or crack. Rope seals can be damaged by repeated opening and closing. The glass can also become stained or milky with time, although it isn't as easy to replace as a house window.
It is important to only burn well-seasoned wood in your stove, as unseasoned logs produce more smoke and creosote than well-seasoned ones. It is also essential to ensure that your stove is properly fuelled by adjusting the amount of wood you add and ensuring that it doesn't overheat. This will ensure that the stove is properly fueled and help to minimise the amount of pollution.