How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner
Outdoor wood burners, also called wood boilers, look like small sheds with a short smoke stack. They provide heat to water or a mixture of water and antifreeze that is then circulated throughout your home.
When outdoor wood boilers approved by the EPA are made of dry wood, they can provide an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuel heating. They still produce plenty of smoke.
Energy Efficiency
Since centuries, wood heat has been used to heat homes. With fluctuating prices for fossil fuels, it is a reasonable alternative for many. Not all wood boilers have the same efficiency. As a general rule models that utilize wood gasification technology are more efficient than standard models outdoor wood furnaces (OWBs).
The efficiency of energy used by an OWB is affected by a variety of factors. One of them is the quality of the wood that is used. It is crucial to select only firewood that has been dried and seasoned. dried for at least six month at the very least for a full year. Dry firewood releases more of its heat into the air than wet green wood. It also burns cleaner and produces less pollutants.
Another factor is the boiler's efficiency in combustion which is the percentage of heat energy converted into heat by the stove. It is typical for manufacturers to tout the efficiency of their combustion OWBs, but it's crucial to consider the efficiency that is delivered. This is a measure of how much of the available heat that is generated by the wood gets to the home.
It is also important to operate the OWB correctly to maximize its efficiency. This includes cleaning it and maintaining the vent frequently. The flue should be cleaned every week during the heating season to reduce the amount of smoke produced by the stove and avoid the clogging.
Unlike indoor stoves that are installed directly in your home or office, an OWB can be installed anywhere between 90 to 200 feet from your home. The heated water is piped through insulated pipes to your home. The hot water is distributed throughout your home through a system that uses heat exchangers.
Despite the disadvantages listed above, an OWB can be an extremely effective way to heat your house and save you money on energy bills. Just make sure that you select a high-efficiency unit and follow the proper maintenance guidelines to get the most benefit of it. Remember that only dry wood that is seasoned and clean should be burned in an OWB to prevent it from creating pollution and causing damage to your home.
Environmentally Friendly
Wood is a more eco sustainable alternative to burning fossil fuels such as propane, gasoline and oil. It is a renewable resource, which means that new trees will grow and replace those burning for warmth. Wood releases carbon dioxide when it is burned but it is absorbed by other plants and trees that convert the carbon dioxide back into oxygen for us to breathe. Unlike fossil fuels, the burning of wood doesn't produce any other environmental pollutants.
A wood furnace can be used to heat homes, garages, sheds and other buildings. They are cost-effective since they eliminate the need to pay costly utility bills. These heaters can be used to heat hot tubs or pool which are perfect for relaxing in wintertime. A majority of these heaters are EPA and CSA approved which makes them a green 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.
A substitute for a wood furnace is an electric heat pump which draws heat from the ground or air, allowing it to warm buildings and lessen the need for natural gas, propane or oil. These heat pumps are more environmentally friendly than traditional wood stoves and are also more efficient. However they require a constant supply of raw materials in order to perform their job.
Wood-burning heaters are still in high demand for some due to their low cost and environmental stewardship. A majority of the top models come with an 85% efficiency rating, which is far higher than the majority of other heating options. People who are concerned about the environment need to speak with a specialist in outdoor wood burners to find out about the best models available that are efficient and environmentally friendly.
Safety
If it is not properly installed and maintained the wood burning stove can pose a major risk of fire. Smoke from fires can contain toxic substances, fine particles and carbon monoxide that can cause asthma and respiratory problems. Smoke can also contaminate carpets furniture, clothing and furniture. For these reasons, it is important to hire an expert to install your wood burner.
It is recommended to have a professional perform an inspection of your chimney, wood-burning appliance and stovepipe regularly. These professionals can ensure that your OWB is working safely and is in compliance with local safety standards, which can keep fires from forming in your home or any other structures on your property.
It is important to only use dry, seasoned logs when burning wood in an OWB. To decrease the chance of fire, you should keep the area surrounding the logs free of debris or combustible materials, such as plastic or paper. Never burn garbage, trash or treated lumber, as these can release a number of harmful pollutants into the air.
While wood smoke is able to harm everyone, it is especially dangerous for teenagers, children older adults, and those suffering from respiratory or heart issues. It is also advised that pregnant women and new mothers avoid exposure to wood smoke since it can negatively impact their unborn baby.
Utilizing an OWB can cause annoyance to neighbors. Depending on the weather conditions and the wind, smoke from a fire could fly through windows. It can also irritate eyes and noses. Close any windows or doors that are near the stove, and keep pets away from the stove.
It's also a good idea to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in each bedroom of your home and test them frequently. It is also recommended to develop a family evacuation plan and practice it at the very least once a month. Contact your local PuroClean branch for assistance 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 to heat your home using an energy source that is renewable and creating a warm cozy atmosphere. As with any appliance that you use frequently it needs some attention to ensure it is running smoothly.
You'll benefit the most from your outdoor wood stove if you maintain it regularly. The basic cleaning needs of your wood stove are cleaning the exterior, interior and flue pipe on a regular basis. Before you begin any cleaning, make sure that the fire is out of the way and that all electrical power to the wood stove is turned off. You should also make sure you have all the necessary supplies before you start cleaning. These should include newspapers (to cover the floor of your home) Safety gloves, a toothbrush and an incredibly small shovel as along with a metal ash container instead of a bucket.
Every time you burn wood in your outdoor wood burner, it produces creosote that must be cleaned on a regular basis to maintain optimum air flow through the combustion system and to stop the accumulation of a substance which corrodes the steel's inner layers in the water jacket. Using a creosote remover like Creosote Buster sticks in your fire can reduce the amount of time and effort needed to clean the process.
You will also need to clear the ash tank on your wood burner on a weekly basis. It is recommended to empty the ash into a metal ash container instead of dumping it into a regular garbage container that is filled with plastics, trash and other items that could ignite and explode if you put the hot ashes in them.
Smoke from your wood stove may require to be controlled regularly, dependent on the type of wood you use, the amount of heat is being drawn in and the weather conditions. If smoke is a concern it is recommended to think about having the flue pipe on your wood stove professionally cleaned on a regular basis as well. This is a challenging task for a do-it yourselfer. contemporary wood burning stoves is best to leave it to experts to avoid health issues that could result from breathing in a lot of wood smoke.