15 Reasons You Shouldn't Overlook Wood Burning Stoves Uk
Wood Burning Stoves A wood-burning stove could be a fantastic addition to your home. You can choose from a variety 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 legislation (often called Ecodesign) to provide high efficiency in fuel use and emission-free. Some are also DEFRA exempt and can burn briquettes as well as other smokeless fuel. What is a wood-burning stove? A wood stove is an independent heating device that uses firewood to produce radiant heat for your home. Wood burning stoves have been in use for a long time and are an eco-friendly alternative to heating your home with oil or gas. Modern stoves have many technological advances and are available in a variety of styles to match your preferences. freestanding wood burner work on the same principle as fireplaces, but they produce more heat through the use of wood to generate radiant heat. A high-quality stove will produce efficient heat and be certified safe for use. The EPA label will tell you the date of manufacture and what emission standards it complies with. It's better to choose an older model that has been tested, and has been proven to be safe. All wood-burning stoves release vapors of creosote during the process of combustion However, the majority of modern stoves will burn these vapors prior to them being able to escape into your home. They also make use of fuel more efficiently, which can prevent smoke and soot issues in the fireplace. When you purchase wood stoves it is essential to have access to sufficient storage space and firewood to keep it well-stocked. large wood burner will also need a chimney that is suitable for class A to vent the stove as well as the proper clearance between your wood stove and the floors and walls around it. You'll require that your chimney inspected regularly and cleaned by a professional to ensure the structural integrity of the stove and chimney. Wood smoke is bad for anyone's lungs however, it is especially harmful to young children and older adults, as well as people who suffer from respiratory ailments such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. You can safeguard your family and yourself from the negative effects of smoke from wood. Limit the time you spend in rooms that have stoves, utilize the recirculate feature on the air conditioning, and keep the doors shut. Size Wood-burning stoves can bring a real feel of warmth and charm to your home. They're also efficient and can save you money on your heating bills. It is crucial to select the right size stove. Too small and your stove will not be heated enough If it's too large, you will be wasting fuel. If you're not sure about the size of your stove, you should seek advice from your installer. They will be able to carry out a site survey and advise you on the best size stove for your home. Stoves are rated on the basis of their nominal output in heat in figure of kW. This is a guideline to the maximum amount they could produce under test conditions. It is not recommended to depend on this figure when choosing a stove however, because the actual amount of heat produced will vary according to the kind and quality of the fuel you are using. You should also think about the level of insulation in your home and the draughtiness of your home. There are a variety of stoves on the market and each having a distinctive design and style. Some are more traditional with rustic features and a basic colour scheme, whilst others are more contemporary, featuring clear lines large glass windows and innovative shapes. Most modern stoves are certified under the Ecodesign standard, which guarantees high efficiency and low emissions. Look for the ClearSkies logo to be sure you're purchasing an Ecodesign certified stove. They're between 80 and 90 per cent more efficient than older stoves or open fires. This is a big saving on your energy bills and a much more environmentally friendly alternative. Efficiency If properly designed and used wood burning stoves can be very efficient heaters. The latest models have very low emissions, and a kilowatt-hour of heat is available for a fraction of the cost of electricity, gas or oil. The capacity of a stove's burner to create an effective flame that can effectively burn logs and lasts for as long as is possible is a key element in its efficiency. This will prevent the fire from “going out' or producing excessive smoke. It is crucial to use only clean, kiln dried logs from British suppliers. Also, avoid over-loading the firebox and exceeding its maximum heating capacity. A lot of care is taken to ensure that stoves are built to last and designed for optimal performance. The best wood-burning stoves constructed from high-quality materials and parts and come with an insulated firebox that is sealed. Ideally, the firebox should be maintained at a constant temperature, so that the wood burns properly and the flue doesn't over-heat. The right size stove for your space is essential to maximize the efficiency of your heating. A stove that is too large for the space is less efficient, whilst an appliance that is too small could result in over-firing, and generate excessive smoke. Eco-friendly wood-burning stoves are becoming more popular. They are a great method to reduce the dependence of your household on fossil fuels and can provide warm, more comfortable warmth. Wood is a renewable source of energy and is better for the environment than fossil fuels or coal. It is essential to only use kiln-dried logs that have been cultivated and harvested in a sustainable way. Avoid using treated or wet wood, oiled wood or waste or pallet wood. They emit unattractive fumes that can harm your stove and the flue. Buying your logs from a trusted supplier with the Defra-approved 'Ready to Burn logo will ensure that you are buying a high-quality dry, smokeless, dry and carbon-neutral fuel for your stove. Design Wood burners come in a wide range 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 the stove will determine the kind of heat it produces and how well it blends with the style of your home. Generally, when you cook wood in a stove, it undergoes two separate processes which are combustion and pyrolysis. Combustion occurs when hot wood is burned and releases carbon monoxide as well as other byproducts that go into the air. Pyrolysis occurs when the wood is heated to a higher temperature and evolves gasses like hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide. The gases that are produced are burned in the firebox to produce carbon monoxide, and other byproducts. Many modern wood stoves utilize secondary combustion, which is catalytic combustor, which recycles the byproducts of primary combustion. This reduces emissions of smoke and other pollutants by a significant amount. It also allows wood stoves to function at lower temperatures, which means less wood is needed and an increased efficiency. Older stoves that do not employ secondary combustion are less efficient and are also more polluting as unburned materials are allowed to escape through the flue. They're still popular due to their ease of use, and the ambiance they create. Modern wood burners are required to meet a set emission limits, known as Ecodesign. They are based on an efficiency rating of a minimum and reduced maximum levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. They are typically DEFRA approved and have space underneath to stack log. Some models also feature the cleanAir system that draws in air to clean the glass and stop sooting or blackening. Maintenance To perform at their best, wood stoves need regular maintenance. This includes cleaning it frequently and removing the ashes after fires, and ensuring gaskets are in good working order. Gaskets protect the airtight process of combustion and if they become damaged, it can result in problems like smoke leakage or decreased efficiency. It is also important to sweep the chimney on a regular basis to avoid chimney fires. This is recommended to be done at least twice a year, and it may need to be more frequently based on how frequently the stove is used. Stoves come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some are better suited to certain spaces than others. A cylindrical, curved shape can be a stylish and contemporary addition to any space, while still providing warmth. Color can also affect maintenance. The lighter shades show more dirt and soot while darker shades cover up stains. The grate (a metal plate that is located at the bottom of the stove) will wear out over time, but it can be replaced easily. The grate can also break if not maintained regularly. The interior of the combustion chamber may also crack or snap. Rope seals are susceptible to damage by repeated opening and closing. As time passes, the glass can become damaged or milky. However, this is not as simple to replace as a home window. It is important that you only burn wood that is properly seasoned in your stove. Insufficiently seasoned logs will create more smoke and creosote. It is also important to ensure that your stove is properly fuelled by changing the amount of wood that you add and making sure that it does not overheat. This will ensure proper combustion and help to minimise pollution levels.