15 Surprising Stats About Wood Burning Stoves Uk
Wood Burning Stoves A wood-burning stove could be a great addition to your home. You can choose from a wide range of sizes and styles to will suit your preferences. They can be installed on an existing wall or stand on their own. Modern wood stoves comply with strict EU legislation (often called Ecodesign) to offer high levels of fuel efficiency and emission-free. Some wood stoves are DEFRA exempt, and are able to burn briquettes or other non-smokeless fuels. What is a wood-burning stove? A wood stove is a self-standing heating appliance that burns wood to generate radiant heat in your home. Wood burning stoves have been in use for hundreds of years and can be an eco-friendly alternative to heating your home using gas or oil. Modern stoves are more technologically advanced and come in a variety styles to suit any taste. They work on the same principle as fireplaces, however they produce more heat through the use of wood to generate radiant heating. A top-quality stove will generate heat efficiently and be certified safe for use. The EPA label will tell you when the stove was made and the emission standards it meets. Older stoves are usually not certified by the EPA, so it is best to choose newer models that have been tested and proven to be safe and effective. Most modern stoves will burn the creosote vapours which are released in the process of combustion before they are released into your home. They also generally burn fuel much more efficiently, which can help to prevent smoke or soot issues in the chimney. If you are buying a wood stove, you will need access to sufficient storage space and firewood to keep it well-stocked. You will also need an appropriate class A chimney to vent the stove, and the proper clearance between your wood stove and the walls and floors around it. To ensure the integrity and safety of your stove and chimney, you'll need an expert to inspect and clean it up regularly. Wood smoke can cause respiratory problems in everyone, but it is particularly dangerous to older adults, children and those suffering from respiratory issues such as asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease. You can safeguard your family and yourself from the health effects of wood smoke by limiting time spent in rooms where the stove is operating, using the recirculate function for air conditioning and keeping doors shut. Size Wood burning stoves add warmth and a sense of style to any home. They're also efficient and can help you save money on your heating bills. However, it's important to select the right size stove. If it's too small, your stove won't be adequately heated; too large, and you will be wasting fuel. If you're not sure about the size of your stove, you should consult with your installer. They can carry out a site assessment and provide you with guidance on the ideal size stove for your home. Stoves are evaluated in terms of their nominal heat output which is represented as a kW figure. This is a guide to the maximum amount of heat they are able to produce under test conditions. You should never depend on this figure when selecting a stove, however, as the actual amount of heat produced will differ in accordance with the kind and quality of the fuel you are using. You should also think about how well-insulated your property is and its draughtiness. There are a myriad of styles of stoves on the market with each providing a distinct design and finish. Some are more traditional with rustic features and a simple colour scheme, whilst others are more contemporary, featuring clear lines with large glass windows as well as unique shapes. Most modern stoves are certified under the Ecodesign standard, which guarantees high efficiency and emissions that are low. If you want to make sure that your stove is Ecodesign compliant look for the ClearSkies logo. They are around 80-90 percent more efficient than older stoves or open fires. This is a significant savings on your energy bills and is a greener option. Efficiency Wood burning stoves, when properly designed and used, can be extremely efficient heaters. Modern models emit little pollution and can provide warmth at a fraction of the price of electricity, oil or gas. One of the most significant elements that determine the efficiency of a stove is its ability to create a good flame that can burn logs properly and for the longest duration possible. This will stop the fire from “going out and generating excessive quantities of smoke. It is essential to use only clean, kiln dried and hygienic logs from British suppliers. Also, avoid overloading the firebox and exceeding the maximum capacity of heating. Stoves are constructed with great care and are designed to perform optimally. The top wood-burning stoves are constructed with top-quality components and materials, and have closed fireboxes with insulated walls. The firebox must be maintained at a constant temperature to ensure that the logs can burn properly and to prevent the flue from overheating. Choosing the correct size stove for your space is important to optimize the efficiency of heating. A stove that is too big for the room is less efficient while a stove that is too small could result in over-firing, and generate excessive smoke. Eco-friendly wood stoves are becoming more popular. They can reduce household dependence on fossil fuels and provide a more comfortable, warmer heat. Wood is an energy source that is renewable and is better for the planet than fossil fuels or coal. It is essential to only use kiln dried logs that were grown and harvested sustainably. Avoid using treated or wet wood, oiled wood or pallet wood or waste. These will emit unattractive fumes that can harm your stove and flue. Buying your logs from a retailer who has the Defra approved 'Ready To Burn” logo will ensure that you get an excellent, dry, smokless, and carbon-neutral fuel for your stove. Design Wood burners are available in a range of styles and designs. Some are sleek and modern, while others are more traditional in their appearance. Some are multi-fuel while others are strictly for wood. The design of your stove will determine the type of heat it provides and how well it blends into the overall style of your home. Generally, when you cook wood in a stove it undergoes two separate processes that are pyrolysis and combustion. When wood is heated, it releases carbon monoxide as well as other byproducts, which are released into the air. Pyrolysis is when the wood is heated to a higher temperature and evolves gasses such as hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide. The gases produced are then burned again in the firebox to produce carbon monoxide, and other byproducts. Many wood stoves are now equipped with secondary combustion which is a catalytic unit that reburns byproducts from primary combustion. This reduces smoke and other pollutants, considerably. This lets wood stoves run at lower temperatures. The less wood is required and the efficiency of the stoves is increased. Older stoves that do not utilize secondary combustion are less efficient, and they're also more polluting since materials that have not been burned are allowed to escape through the flue. But, they remain popular due to their ease of use as well as the ambiance they create. Modern wood burners have to comply with a set of emission limits, known as Ecodesign. These are based upon the minimum efficiency rating and a reduction in maximum levels of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. These are usually DEFRA certified and have the space beneath for stacking log. Certain models have cleanAir technology that draws air into the unit to clean the glass and avoid sooting or blackening. Maintenance To function optimally wood stoves require regular maintenance. This means cleaning it regularly and removing the ashes after fires, and making sure that the gaskets are in good shape. Gaskets protect the airtight process of combustion and if they are damaged, it could result in problems like smoke leakage or decreased efficiency. To avoid chimney fires, it is important to clean the chimney regularly. This should be done at least twice a year, and it might be necessary to do it more often depending on how frequently the stove is utilized. Stoves are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are better suited for certain areas than others. For instance, a curved, cylindrical design can make an attractive modern addition to any room while still providing warmth and a focal feature. The color of the room can also affect maintenance. Lighter colours show more dirt and soot while darker shades hide the stains. The grate, which is a piece of metal at the bottom of the stove, which holds the firewood, will wear down over time, but can be easily replaced. If the grate is not regularly cleaned, it may crack. The lining of the combustion chamber can also snap or crack. Repeatedly closing and opening of the door can degrade seals made of rope. As time passes, the glass can become milky or scratched. However this isn't as easy to replace as windows for homes. It is crucial to only burn wood that is properly seasoned in your stove. Unseasoned wood burners near me www.fireplacesandstoves.uk will produce more smoke and creosote. It is essential to ensure that your stove is properly fueled by adjusting how much wood you add, and making sure it doesn't overheat. This will ensure that the stove is burning properly and will reduce the amount of pollution.