The Benefits of a Log Burner

A log burner is a stove that burns kiln dried and seasoned lumber. They emit less carbon dioxide and provide more warmth to your home.

To get the most out of your fire, it requires oxygen. Make sure to keep the door open, and don't put in too many logs at one time - this will suffocate them and stop them burning.

Size

Despite their old-fashioned appearance log burners are modern and work at high levels of efficiency. This translates into a much larger percentage of heat produced from the fuel you feed it. Together with the low carbon emissions, this makes them an excellent choice for environmentally conscious homeowners.

There are a myriad of stoves available for sale ranging from wallet-friendly, basic models, to all-singing dance-dancing beasts. There are a few basics that every buyer must keep in mind when choosing the best log burner for their home.

First and foremost, a log burning fireplace must be the proper size for the room it will be placed in. Not just due to safety regulations, but also because it is essential that the log burner is in line with the decor of the room.

The easiest way to determine the right size log burner you need is to measure your firebox. This will include the front width, height and depth of the firebox. These measurements will assist you find an appropriate log burner of the right size for your fireplace, ensuring that it can perform as efficiently as it can and deliver the best results.

You will then be required to determine the amount of British Thermal Units that your room requires. This can be found by calculating the floor area of your room and multiplying it by 20. Once you know the maximum BTUs your room can legally accommodate, it is possible for you to search for gas logs that are in line with or exceed this figure.

The size of your log stove will be determined by the degree and quality of insulation within the home. Rooms that are not well-insulated will require more heat to stay warm than rooms with good insulation.

The type of wood you use to fuel your log burner is an additional aspect to take into consideration. Green logs that are freshly cut may have a moisture content of up to 67 percent. The logs generate heat only after the water has evaporated. The burning of kiln dried logs can increase the amount of heat produced and reduce your energy costs.

Design

A log fireplace is a great focal piece for any room. It can be framed with a stunning marble or stone surround or a simple hearth made of granite. Modern log burners can also be minimalistic, with clean lines. They can easily be integrated into a modern-day living space without appearing out of place.

A contemporary stove with a broad design looks great against an older feature such as exposed bricks or wooden beams. The sleek lines of a modern fireplace are also a great option for older homes with Georgian features, like exposed chimney breasts made of brick. A modern inset woodburner can be a perfect match for a home with an old-fashioned or rustic finish.

For a more eye-catching style, you should consider choosing a bold colour for your fireplace. Yellow is a good example. It can create a warm atmosphere when combined with a dark color palette. But, make sure to choose a colour that you're satisfied with throughout the year and will complement the rest of your interior décor.

They can also be used to heat an outdoor area, such as a garden or patio. They can be used to heat an outdoor seating area or to create warmth in colder weather. It is crucial to protect the fireplace and surrounding area from the haze of embers and fumes, whether you use an indoor or outdoor wood-burning stove. You can accomplish this by adding a suitable chimney guard or grate.

Another benefit of a wood burning stove is that it's a more sustainable alternative to gas and electricity. When properly seasoned, wood releases far less emissions than gas, electricity or coal. This is especially the case if your DEFRA-approved log burner is installed correctly. The ideal situation is that wood is separated and stored in a place that is dry prior to being burned in the log burner. This allows it to burn evenly and produce less creosote.

Safety

Log burners are often associated with warm winter evenings but they are perfect for the cooler months too. But, it is important to ensure that your log burner is properly maintained and is in compliance with the latest safety standards to avoid problems. For instance, you should, keep curtains and furniture away from the fire since embers could easily fly away and cause a fire in the home. It is also advisable to install a smoke alarm and test it regularly.

The type of fuel you burn in your log burner could also impact the safety of the stove. For example, you should only use seasoned wood. This means that it was left to dry out for up to a year, or it is kiln dried, which is more efficient. It is essential to purchase your wood from a reliable supplier (HETAS certified), and to store it in an area which is well ventilated to ensure it doesn't get damp.

Make sure to use only dry tinder or kindling, not paper or cardboard, to start a flame. These materials contain chemicals and resins that emit toxic fumes, and increase the risk of an explosion in a chimney. Similarly, you should never break synthetic logs apart to quicken the flames or let them burn in the dark, as this could increase the fire's flammability and release high levels of carbon monoxide.

In the final instance, you should determine whether your home is in a Smoke Control Area. If it is then you will be allowed to burn fuel that is approved by DEFRA in your log burner. This includes fuels that are smokeless such as anthracite.

Certain log burners can burn coke and wood however, you should never burn coal in anything other than a stove specifically designed for that purpose. It is essential to choose the correct hearth for your fireplace since HETAS regulations stipulate that any solid material (such concrete) beneath it must be at least 125mm thick.

In addition, you should not use a gas or an oil stove to burn wet or green wood since this will create too much smoke and can lead to chimney fires. Instead, make use of seasoned wood or a multi-fuel stove that can be used with any of the fuels.

Maintenance

It's a great way to bring the warmth of a genuine fireplace into your home. However, these fireplaces need more attention than pellet stoves. First of all, maintenance needs to be completed frequently to ensure that the stove is safe and operating efficiently.

This includes making sure your fireplace is properly controlled to allow you to enjoy a fire without worrying about smoke inhalation or carbon monoxide poisoning. You'll have to clean the inside of your fireplace, inspect and adjust the damper, replace the chimney cap (if necessary) and install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

It is also important to inspect your chimney and fireplace regularly for cracks and other signs of decline. You can identify problems early, and fix them before they become grave.

When it comes to maintaining your wood-burning stove, it is important to use seasoned firewood. Seasoned logs are lighter to light and produce less creosote than seasoned logs. You can determine the moisture content of your firewood by rubbing two logs together: wet wood will give an uninteresting sound, whereas the wood that is seasoned will produce a sharp one.

Cleaning the glass of your fireplace is another essential step to take in maintaining your fireplace. Make use of a fireplace glass cleaning product that doesn't contain chemicals that could react with the flames. It is also important to make sure that the damper functions correctly and that the chimney's structure is sound. Check for broken bricks, missing or crumbling mortar or loose lining.

The ashes must be removed from the fire after it has cool enough to touch. At least 12 hours until the ashes cool completely. The ashes can be safely stored away or added to garden compost or soil as a potent fertilizer. The baffle, the steel piece at the rear of the firebox, should be cleaned and inspected regularly.