How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner

Outdoor wood burners, often called wood boilers, appear like small sheds that have a short smoke stack. They provide heat to water, or a combination of water and antifreeze, which is then circulated throughout your home.

When EPA-approved outdoor wood boilers are utilized with dry wood, they can be an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuel heating. They still produce a lot of smoke.

Energy Efficiency

Wood heat is a common choice for heating homes for a long time. With the fluctuating prices of fossil fuels, wood heat is an attractive option for many. Not all wood boilers have the same effectiveness. As a rule models that use wood gasification are more efficient than traditional outdoor wood furnaces.

The energy efficiency of an OWB is influenced by a variety of factors. One of them is the quality and wood Stove Burning quantity of the firewood. It is important to choose only firewood that has been seasoned and dried for at least six months and ideally, for the entire year. Dry firewood releases more of its heat into the air than wet green wood. It also burns cleaner and releases less pollutants.

The boiler's combustion rate is a further aspect. This is the proportion of heat converted by the stove to useful heat. Many manufacturers advertise their OWBs' combustion efficiencies, but it is important to determine the efficiency of the product delivered. This is a measure of how much available heat that is generated by the wood gets to the home.

It is also essential to operate the OWB correctly to maximize its effectiveness. This includes cleaning and maintaining the vent frequently. The flue must be cleaned on a regular basis during the heating season to avoid clogging and reduce the amount of smoke generated by the burner.

Unlike indoor stoves, which sit directly in your home, an OWB is located between 90 and 200 feet from your house. The heated water in the OWB is then piped through pipes that are insulated before it is delivered to your home. The hot water is then distributed throughout your house through a system that utilizes heat exchangers.

Despite the negatives discussed above, an OWB can be a highly effective way to heat your house and save you money on your energy bills. To get the most value from your OWB, select one that is energy efficient and properly maintained. Remember that only dry wood that is seasoned and clean should be burned in an OWB to avoid polluting the environment and damaging your home.

Environmentally Friendly

Wood is a greener and more friendly option to burning fossil fuels like propane, gasoline, and oil. It is a renewable resource which means that new trees will grow and replace those burned for warmth. When wood is burned it emits carbon dioxide, but it is then absorbed and transformed back into oxygen by other plants. Wood burning produces no other environmental pollutants, unlike fossil fuels.

Wood furnaces can be utilized to heat garages, homes, sheds and other structures. These units are very economical as they do away with the need to pay high utility bills. They can also be used to warm a pool or hot tub, providing a relaxing place to unwind during the winter months. These heaters are EPAand CSA-approved and are a green option for home heating.

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.

An alternative to a wood furnace is an electric heat pump, which extracts thermal energy from the air or ground, allowing it to warm buildings and decrease the requirement for natural gas, propane or oil. They are more eco-friendly than traditional wood stoves and are also more efficient. However, they require a constant supply of raw materials in order to operate.

However, wood-burning heating is still popular with a few people due to its low cost and green credentials. The top models have an 85% efficiency rating, which is much better than most other heating alternatives. People who are concerned about the impact on the environment must speak with a specialist in outdoor wood burning to find out the best models that are both efficient and environmentally friendly.

Safety

If not properly maintained and installed the wood burning stove can pose a major risk of fire. Smoke from fires can contain toxic substances, fine particles and carbon monoxide, which could cause asthma and respiratory issues. Smoke can also cause harm to carpets, furniture and clothing. For these reasons, it is important to hire a professional to install your wood burner.

A professional should also inspect your chimney or stovepipe that burns wood regularly. They will ensure that your OWB is operating in a safe manner and is in compliance with local safety regulations, which can help stop fires from happening within your home or other structures on your property.

When burning wood in an OWB it is crucial to use only dry well-seasoned logs. Also, ensure that the area around logs free of combustible and debris such as plastic or paper, in order to avoid the risk of fire. Do not burn treated wood, garbage or rubbish as they can release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.

Although wood burning stove small smoke has the potential to harm everyone but it is especially harmful for children, teenagers older adults, as well as those suffering from respiratory or heart conditions. It is also recommended that new and expectant mothers stay clear of exposure to smoke from wood, as it can negatively affect their unborn babies.

Using an OWB may also be a nuisance to your neighbors. Smoke from a fireplace can blow through windows that are not closed according to the weather or the wind. It can also irritate noses and eyes. Close any doors or windows that are close to the stove, and keep pets away from it.

It is also a good idea to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in every bedroom of your house and test them frequently. You should also develop a family evacuation plan and practice it at the very least once a month. Contact your local PuroClean branch for assistance with smoke and blaze restoration services. We can help restore smoke-damaged homes or businesses back to their pre-fire state.

Maintenance

Wood Stove Burning burning furnaces (also called outdoor wood heaters, or OWBs) are excellent for heating and creating a cozy, warm space in your home. But like any appliance that you use regularly they need some attention to keep them running smoothly.

You will benefit from your outdoor wood stove when you maintain it on a regular basis. The basic cleaning needs of your wood stove is cleaning the exterior, interior and flue pipe on a regular basis. Before you start any cleaning, be sure that the fire is out of the way and that all electricity to the wood stove is off. You will also want to prepare your tools before you begin cleaning. These should include newspaper (to cover the floor of your home) safety gloves, Wood Stove Burning a brush and a small shovel, as along with a metal ash container instead of a bucket.

Each time you burn wood in your outdoor wood burner, it produces creosote that must be cleaned regularly to ensure that the airflow is optimal through the combustion system as well as 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 reduce the time and effort needed to clean.

You will need to clean the ash container of your wood burner each week. It is better to empty the ash into a steel container for ash instead of throwing it into a regular garbage container that is filled with plastics, trash, and other materials that could ignite and explode if you put the hot ashes in them.

Smoke from your wood stove may require a controlled airflow regularly, dependent on the kind of wood used, how much heat is being drawn out and the conditions of the air. If smoke is a problem it is recommended to think about getting the flue pipe on your wood stove professionally cleaned on a regular basis as well. This is a job that can be difficult for DIYers and is likely to be a task which is best left to the professionals to avoid any health problems caused by inhaling lots of smoke from your wood stove.