How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner
Outdoor wood burners are typically called wood boilers. They look like small sheds with the appearance of a small smokestack. They provide heat to water or a mixture of antifreeze and water which is then circulated through your home.
When used with dry wood and EPA-approved outdoor boilers, they can be an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil heating. They still produce a lot of smoke.
Energy Efficiency
Wood heat has been a popular choice for heating homes for a long time. Today, with fluctuating prices for fossil fuels it is a cost-effective choice for a lot of people. Not all wood boilers have the same effectiveness. As a rule models that employ wood gasification technology are much more efficient than standard model outdoor wood furnaces (OWBs).
The energy efficiency of an OWB is affected by a variety of factors. One of them is the quality and quantity of the firewood. It is important to select only firewood that has been dried and thoroughly seasoned for at least six months, and best for a whole year. Dry firewood ejects more of its heat into the air than wet, green wood. It also burns more efficiently and creates less pollution.
The rate of combustion in the boiler is another factor. This is the proportion of heat that is converted by the stove to useful heat. It is typical for manufacturers to advertise the efficiency of their OWBs, but it's important to consider the efficiency of the product. This is a measure of how much available heat from the wood is absorbed by the home.
Finally, it is important to operate the OWB to ensure its efficiency. This means keeping it clean and maintaining the flue vent regularly. The flue must be cleaned at least once a week during the heating season in order to reduce the amount smoke generated by the stove and to prevent clogging.
In contrast to indoor stoves, which are installed in your home or office, an OWB can be set up anywhere between 90 and 200 feet away from your house. The hot water that is heated in the OWB is then piped through pipes that are insulated before it is delivered to your home. The hot water is then circulated through a system of heat exchange units to provide warmth throughout your home.
Despite the drawbacks mentioned above, an OWB can be a highly efficient way to heat your home and save money on energy costs. Just make sure that you select a high-efficiency model and follow the proper maintenance guidelines to make the most of it. Remember that only dry, seasoned firewood is recommended to be burned in an OWB to stop it from harming the environment and your home.
Environmentally Friendly
Wood is a green alternative to burning fossil fuels such as gasoline, propane and oil. It is a renewable resource which means that new trees will sprout to replace those that were used to heat. Wood releases carbon dioxide when it is burned however, it is absorbed by other trees and plants that convert it back into oxygen to allow us to breathe. The combustion of wood creates no other environmental pollutants, unlike fossil fuels.
Wood furnaces can be utilized for heating homes, garages sheds, and other structures. They are extremely cost-effective as they eliminate the need to pay expensive utility bills. They can be used to heat hot tubs and pools and provide a place to unwind during the winter months. These heaters are EPAapproved and CSA-certified and are an environmentally friendly option 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 extracts thermal energy from the ground or air which allows it to heat buildings and lessen the requirement for natural gas, propane or oil. They are more sustainable than traditional wood stoves and are also more efficient. However, they require a constant supply of raw materials to operate.
Nevertheless, wood-burning heating is still popular with some people because of its low cost and environmental friendliness. A majority of the top models have an efficiency of 85% rating, which is much superior to other heating alternatives. Those who are concerned about the environment should talk to a specialist in outdoor wood burners to find out about the most effective models available that are both efficient and environmentally friendly.
Safety
If it is not properly installed and maintained, a wood-burning stove can pose a major risk of fire. The smoke from a fire may contain toxins, carbon monoxide and fine particles that could cause health problems, including asthma and diminished lung function. Smoke can also be harmful to carpets, furniture, and clothing. It is therefore essential to employ professionals to install your wood stove.
It is also a good idea to have a professional perform an inspection of your chimney or stovepipe or wood-burning appliance on a regular basis. These experts can ensure that your OWB is in compliance with local safety standards and is operating in a safe manner. contemporary wood burning stoves can help prevent fires from your home or other buildings on your property.
When burning wood in an OWB it is essential to only use dry, seasoned logs. You should also ensure that the area around logs clear of combustible and debris like plastic or paper, to avoid the risk of fire. Do not burn treated wood, garbage or trash because they release harmful pollutants into the air.
Wood smoke poses danger to everyone, but it is particularly dangerous to children, teenagers and older adults and those suffering from respiratory or heart problems. It is also recommended that all new pregnant mothers stay clear of exposure to smoke from wood because it could negatively affect their unborn babies.
Using an OWB can also be a nuisance for neighbors. Depending on the weather conditions and the wind, smoke from a fire could blow through open windows. It can also cause irritation to noses and eyes. It is a good idea to close any windows or doors that are near the stove, and to keep pets away from the fire.
It's also a good idea to install carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in every room of your house, and to test them regularly. It is also recommended to have an escape plan for your family in place and practice it at least once per year. If you need help with smoke or restoration services after a fire, contact your local PuroClean office. We can restore smoke-damaged homes or businesses to their pre-fire condition.
Maintenance
Wood burning furnaces (also called outdoor wood heaters or OWBs) are great for heating your home and creating a warm, cozy ambience in your home. Like any appliance that you use frequently, it requires some maintenance to keep it running smoothly.
You'll benefit the most from your outdoor wood stove if maintain it on a regular basis. Cleaning the exterior flue, interior, and pipe is essential. Before you begin any cleaning, make sure that the fire is extinguished and that all electricity to the wood stove is off. You should also make sure you have all the necessary supplies prior to beginning cleaning - these include newspapers (to cover the floor of your house) safety gloves, a toothbrush and a small shovel as well as a ash-filled metal container instead of a bucket.
When you burn wood on your outdoor wood stove, creosote will be produced. This residue needs to be cleaned regularly to maintain the proper air flow within the combustion system. It also helps to prevent the accumulation of a substance which can cause corrosion to the inner layers of the steel water jacket. Creosote Removal Products such as Creosote buster sticks can reduce the time and effort for cleaning.
You'll need to clean the ash tank of your wood stove every week. It is better to empty the ash into a steel ash container instead of dumping it in a regular garbage container that is filled with trash, plastics and other materials that could ignite and explode if you put the ashes that are hot in the containers.
contemporary wood burning stoves from your wood burner could require a controlled airflow regularly, depending on the kind of wood used, how much heat is being drawn out and the weather conditions. If smoke is a problem it is recommended to ensure that the flue pipe on your wood stove cleaned regularly. This is a task that can be difficult for the do-it-yourselfer and is probably a job that should be left to the experts to avoid any health problems caused by inhaling a lot of smoke from wood.