How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner

Outdoor wood burners, often called wood boilers, appear like small wood burner sheds with a short smoke stack. They are heated by water, or a combination of water and antifreeze, which is then circulated throughout your home.

When used with dry wood and EPA-approved outdoor boilers, they can provide an environmentally-friendly alternative to fossil heating. They still emit plenty of smoke.

Energy Efficiency

Wood heat has been a popular choice to heat homes for centuries. With the fluctuating prices of fossil fuels, wood heat is an attractive option for many. However there are a few differences between wood boilers. Not all wood boilers are created with the same efficiency. As a general rule, models that use wood gasification technology are more efficient than standard outdoor wood furnaces (OWBs).

The efficiency of energy used by an OWB is affected by several factors. One factor is the quality and quantity of firewood. It is important to choose only firewood that has been seasoned and dried for at least six month and ideally, for the entire year. Dry firewood releases more heat into the air than green, wet wood. It also burns more efficiently and creates less pollution.

The boiler's combustion rate is a different aspect. This is the percentage of heat that is converted by the stove to useful heat. Many manufacturers boast about their OWBs' efficiency in combustion however, it is vital to check the efficiency that is delivered. This is a measure of how much heat generated by the wood reaches your home.

It is also important to operate the OWB properly to maximize its effectiveness. This includes cleaning and maintaining the vent on a regular basis. The flue must be cleaned on a weekly basis during the heating season to avoid obstruction and to reduce the amount of smoke released by the burner.

In contrast to indoor stoves that are located inside your home, an OWB is installed between 90 and 200 feet away from your house. The heated water is then piped through insulated pipes into your home. The hot water is distributed throughout your house through a system that uses heat exchangers.

Despite the negatives discussed above, an OWB can be an extremely efficient way to heat your house and save you money on energy costs. To get the most from your unit, choose one that is high-efficiency and properly maintained. Make sure to only burn dry, seasoned wood in an OWB. This will stop the firewood from damaging your home and polluting the air.

Environmentally Friendly

Wood is an environmentally friendly alternative to burning fossil fuels like propane, gasoline and oil. It is a renewable resource, which means that new trees will develop and replace the ones that were burned to provide warmth. Wood emits carbon dioxide when burned, but this is reabsorbed by other trees and plants that convert it back into oxygen for us to breathe. In contrast to fossil fuels, burning of wood doesn't produce any other environmental pollutant.

A wood furnace can be used to heat garages, homes, sheds and other buildings. These units are also very economical as they remove the need for costly utility bills. They can also be used to warm hot tubs and pools as well as provide a tranquil place to relax in winter. A lot of these heaters are EPA and CSA approved, making them an eco-friendly choice 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.

Electric heat pumps are an alternative to wood furnaces. They draw thermal energy from the air or the ground, which allows them to heat buildings and reduce their need for oil, propane, or natural gas. They are more environmentally friendly than traditional wood stoves, and they're more efficient. However they require a continuous supply of raw materials to perform their job.

Wood-burning heaters remain popular with some people because of their low price and environmental friendliness. A majority of the most efficient models have an efficiency rating of 85%, which is better than many other heating options. People who are concerned about the impact on the environment must speak with a specialist in outdoor wood burners to learn about the best models that are both efficient and eco-friendly.

Safety

A wood burning stove, in the event of not being installed and maintained properly, can pose a serious fire risk. Smoke from fires could contain contaminants, fine particles, and carbon monoxide, which can cause asthma and respiratory problems. Smoke can also be harmful to carpets, furniture, and clothing. Therefore, it is important to hire professionals to install your wood stove.

It is also a good idea to have a professional perform an inspection of your chimney or stovepipe or wood-burning appliance on a regular basis. They can make sure that your OWB meets local safety standards and is operating in a safe way. This can help prevent fires from happening in your home or any other buildings on your property.

When burning wood in an OWB, it is important to use only dry, seasoned logs. Also, ensure that the area around logs free of any debris and combustible substances such as plastic or paper, in order to avoid the danger of fire. Do not burn treated wood, micro small wood burning stove for shed garbage or trash as they could release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.

Wood smoke is harmful to everyone, but it is particularly dangerous to children, teenagers and older adults, as well as people with heart or respiratory conditions. It is also advised that pregnant women and new mothers avoid smoking cigarettes as it could adversely affect their unborn child.

Utilizing an OWB can also be a nuisance to your neighbors. Depending on the weather and winds smoke from a fire can blow through open windows. It can also irritate the nose and eyes. Close any doors or windows close to the stove and keep pets away from it.

It is recommended to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in every bedroom of your house and test them regularly. It is also recommended to have a family escape plan in place and test it at least once per year. Contact your local PuroClean branch for help with blaze and smoke restoration services. We can restore smoke-damaged houses or businesses back to their pre-fire condition.

Maintenance

Wood burning furnaces, also known as outdoor wood burners, or OWBs are ideal for heating your home with an energy source that is renewable and creating a warm, cozy environment. Like all appliances that you regularly use it will require some maintenance to ensure it is running smoothly.

Maintaining your outdoor wood stove maintenance will ensure that you get the most use out of it. The basic cleaning needs of your wood stove is cleaning the exterior, interior and flue pipe regularly. Before you start any cleaning, be sure that the fire is extinguished and that all electricity to the wood stove is turned off. You should also prepare your tools before you begin cleaning - these should include newspapers (to cover the floor of your home), safety gloves, a brush, and a small shovel, as along with a metal ash container instead of a bucket.

When you burn wood on your outdoor wood stove, creosote gets produced. This residue needs to be cleaned regularly to ensure the proper air flow within the combustion system. It also helps to prevent the accumulation of a substance which can corrode the inner layers of the steel water jacket. Creosote Removal Products like Creosote buster sticks can cut down the time and effort for cleaning.

You'll have to clean the ash tank of your wood burner every week. It is more efficient to empty the ash into an aluminum container rather than the standard trash can which is typically filled with trash, plastics and other items. They could spark or explode if the ashes are hot when placed into the can.

Smoke from your wood stove may require a controlled airflow regularly, dependent on the type of wood you use, the amount of heat is being drawn and the conditions of the air. If you are concerned about smoke it is recommended to consider getting the flue pipe on your wood stove professionally cleaned on a regular basis as well. This can be a difficult task for a do-it yourselfer. It is best left to professionals to avoid health issues that could result from inhaling a lot smoke from wood.