How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner

Outdoor wood burners are often called wood boilers. They look like small sheds with a short smokestack. They are heated by water, or a mix of antifreeze and water which is then circulated throughout your house.

When outdoor wood boilers approved by the EPA are made of dry wood, they can provide an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuel heating. However, they still generate substantial amounts of smoke.

Energy Efficiency

Wood heat has been a popular choice for heating homes for a long time. With fluctuating prices for fossil fuels, it is an affordable alternative for many. Not all wood boilers have the same effectiveness. In general models that utilize wood gasification technology are more efficient than standard model outdoor wood furnaces (OWBs).

The energy efficiency of an OWB is affected by several factors. One is the quality of the wood used. It is crucial to choose only firewood that has been dried and seasoned for at least six months, and best for a year. Dry firewood is more efficient at releasing heat into the atmosphere than wet, green firewood. It also produces more efficiently and emits less pollution.

Another aspect is the boiler's efficiency in combustion (or percentage) of heat energy converted into heat by the stove. It is common for manufacturers to advertise the efficiency of their OWBs, however it is important to look at the delivered efficiency. The latter is a measurement of how much available heat from the wood is absorbed by the home.

Finally, it is important to operate the OWB to maximize its efficiency. This includes cleaning it and maintaining the vent frequently. The flue must be cleaned every week during the heating season in order to reduce the amount smoke generated by the stove and to prevent the clogging.

In contrast to indoor woodburner stoves, which are installed in your office or home, an OWB can be installed anywhere between 90 and 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 utilizes heat exchangers.

Despite the disadvantages listed above, an OWB is an efficient method of heating your house and save you money on energy bills. Just make sure that you choose a high-efficiency unit and follow proper maintenance procedures to get the most benefit of it. And don't forget that only dry, seasoned firewood is recommended to be burned in an OWB to avoid harming the best wood burning stoves (click this link now) environment and your home.

Environmentally Friendly

Wood is a greener and more friendly option to burning fossil fuels, such as gasoline, propane and oil. It is a source of renewable energy which means that new trees will sprout to replace the ones that were used to heat. When wood is burned it emits carbon dioxide, but it is then absorbed and transformed back into oxygen by other plants. In contrast to fossil fuels, burning of wood does not produce any other environmental pollutant.

A wood furnace can be used to heat homes, garages sheds, and other buildings. These units are very economical as they do away with the need to pay costly utility bills. These heaters can be used to heat hot tubs or pool which are perfect for relaxing in the winter months. A lot of these heaters are EPA and CSA approved and are therefore a green alternative 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 a great alternative to wood furnaces. They extract thermal energy from the ground or air and can be used to heat buildings and decrease their need for oil, propane or natural gas. These heat pumps are more efficient than traditional wood stoves, and are regarded as environmentally friendly, but they require a steady supply of raw materials to work properly.

Wood-burning heaters remain popular for some due to their low cost and eco-friendly. A majority of the top models have an 85% efficiency rating, which is better than most other heating alternatives. Anyone who is concerned about the environment should consult a professional in outdoor wood burners to find out the best models available, which are both efficient and eco-friendly.

Safety

A wood burning stove, if not installed and maintained properly, can pose a serious fire risk. The smoke from a fire may contain carbon monoxide, toxins and fine particles that may cause health problems, including asthma and reduced lung function. In addition, smoke can be harmful to carpets, furniture, and clothing. Therefore, it is important to hire professionals to install your wood stove.

A professional should also examine your chimney or stovepipe for wood burning regularly. They can make sure that your OWB is operating in a safe manner and that it meets the local safety regulations. This will help to keep fires from forming in your home or other buildings on your property.

When burning wood in an OWB, it is important to select dry well-seasoned logs. Also, keep the area around the logs free of combustible and debris, such as plastic or paper, to reduce fire hazards. Never burn treated wood, garbage or rubbish as they can release harmful pollutants into the air.

Wood smoke is harmful to everyone, but it is particularly dangerous to children, teenagers and older adults as well as those who suffer from respiratory or heart conditions. It is also recommended that pregnant women and new mothers avoid exposure to wood smoke since it could negatively affect their unborn child.

Using an OWB could also cause annoyance to your neighbors. Depending on the weather and winds, smoke from a fireplace can fly through windows. It can also irritate the nose and eyes. It is recommended to shut any windows or doors near the stove and to keep pets from the fire.

It is recommended to install carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in each bedroom of your home, and to test them regularly. You should also develop a family evacuation plan and practice it at minimum once per month. For assistance with smoke and restoration services for fires, call your local PuroClean office. We can restore your damaged home or business to its pre-fire condition.

Maintenance

Wood burning furnaces, also referred to as outdoor wood burners, or OWBs are ideal to heat your home using a renewable energy source and creating a warm and cozy environment. But like any appliance that you regularly use, they require some maintenance to keep them running smoothly.

Keeping up with the maintenance of your outdoor wood stove will ensure that you get the maximum enjoyment from it. Regularly cleaning the exterior flue, inside, and pipe is essential. Before you begin any cleaning, make sure that the fire is extinguished and that all electrical power to the wood stove is off. Before you begin cleaning, collect all your supplies. These include newspapers to cover the floor in your home along with safety gloves and a brush.

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

You will also need to clear the ash tank on your wood burner on a regular basis. It is more efficient to empty the ash in metal containers rather than a regular trash can, which is typically filled with plastics, trash and other materials. They could ignite or explode when the hot ashes are placed in the container.

Depending on the type and amount of heat being attracted from your wood burner, as well as the conditions in the air depending on the weather, you may have to manage smoke on a regular schedule. If smoke is a concern, you will want to think about having the flue pipe of your wood woodburner stove professionally cleaned regularly as well. This is a challenging task for a DIYer. It is best to leave it to professionals to avoid health problems that could result from inhaling a lot smoke from corner wood burning stove.