How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner

Outdoor wood burners, sometimes called wood boilers, appear like small sheds that have an elongated smoke stack. They provide heat to water, or a mixture of antifreeze and water which is then circulated throughout your home.

When EPA-approved outdoor wood boilers are utilized with dry large wood burner, they are an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuel heating. However, they do produce an enormous amount of smoke.

Energy Efficiency

Since centuries, wood heat has been used to warm homes. With fluctuating prices for fossil fuels, it is an affordable alternative for many. However, not all wood boilers are created to be equally efficient. In general, models that utilize wood gasification are more efficient than traditional outdoor wood furnaces.

The energy efficiency of an OWB is influenced by a variety of factors. One of the factors is the quality and quantity of the firewood. It is crucial to select only firewood that has been seasoned and dried for at least six month; ideally for an entire year. Dry firewood is more efficient at releasing heat into the air than wet, green firewood. It also burns better and produces less pollutants.

The boiler's rate of combustion is a different aspect. This is the proportion of heat that is converted by the stove into useful heat. Many manufacturers promote their OWBs' combustion efficiency, but it is important to look for the efficiency of the product delivered. The latter is a measure of how much heat produced by the wood is delivered to your home.

Finally, it is important to properly operate the OWB to ensure its efficiency. This means keeping it clean and maintaining the flue vent regularly. The flue vent should also be cleaned weekly during the heating season to reduce the amount of smoke generated by the stove and prevent the clogging.

Contrary to stoves that are indoor that are installed directly in your home, an OWB is set up between 100 and 200 feet from your home. The heated water in the OWB is then pumped through pipes that are insulated to get to your home. The hot water is circulated through a system of heat exchange units to distribute warmth throughout your home.

Despite the disadvantages listed above, an OWB can be an extremely effective way to heat your home and save money on energy costs. To get the most from your unit, choose one that is efficient and maintain it in a proper manner. Remember that only dry, seasoned firewood is recommended to be burned in an OWB to stop it from creating pollution and causing damage to your home.

Environmentally Friendly

Wood is a green alternative 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 those which were burned to provide warmth. When wood is burned, it releases carbon dioxide but this is reabsorbed and transformed back into oxygen by other plants. As opposed to fossil fuels burning of wood does not produce any other environmental pollutants.

A wood furnace can be used to heat garages, homes sheds, and other buildings. These units are also very economical as they remove the need for costly energy bills. These heaters can be used to heat hot tubs or pools which are perfect for relaxing in winter months. These heaters are EPAapproved and CSA-certified, making them 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.

An alternative to a wood furnace is an electric heat pump that extracts heat from the air or ground, allowing it to warm buildings and reduce the requirement for propane, natural gas or oil. These heat pumps are more efficient than traditional wood stoves, and are regarded as green, but they require a constant supply of raw materials in order to function effectively.

Wood-burning heaters remain popular with some people due to their low price and environmental stewardship. The top models have an efficiency of 85% rating, which is much better than most other heating alternatives. People who are concerned about the environment should speak with a specialist in outdoor wood burners to learn about the best models available, which are both efficient and environmentally friendly.

Safety

A wood burning stove if not installed and maintained properly, could pose a serious fire risk. Smoke from a fire can be contaminated by carbon monoxide, toxins and fine particles that can cause health problems, including asthma and a reduced lung function. Smoke can also be harmful to carpets, furniture, and clothing. It is therefore essential to hire professionals to install your wood stove.

It is recommended to have a professional do an inspection of your chimney or wood-burning appliance and stovepipe regularly. These professionals can ensure your OWB is in compliance with local safety standards and is operating in a safe way. This can help avoid fires from your home or other structures on your property.

When burning wood in an OWB, it is important to only use dry and seasoned logs. Also, keep the area around the logs clear of debris and combustible materials like plastic or paper, to reduce the risk of fire. Do not burn treated lumber, garbage or trash as they could release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.

cheapest wood burning stove smoke is harmful to anyone, but it's particularly harmful to children, teenagers and older adults as well as those with heart or respiratory conditions. It is also recommended that pregnant women and new mothers avoid exposure to wood smoke since it can negatively impact the unborn baby.

Using an OWB can be a nuisance for neighbors. Smoke from a fire may travel through windows that are not closed depending on the weather or the wind. It can also irritate eyes and noses. It is a good idea 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 test them regularly. Also, you should make a family evacuation strategy and practice it at the minimum every month. If you need help with smoke or restoration services for fires, call your local PuroClean office. We can restore your damaged property or business to its pre-fire state.

Maintenance

Wood burning furnaces (also known as outdoor wood heaters, or OWBs) are ideal for heating and creating a cozy, warm space within your home. As with any appliance you use regularly it will require some maintenance to ensure it is running smoothly.

You'll benefit the most from your outdoor wood stove when you maintain it regularly. The primary cleaning requirements of your wood stove are cleaning the exterior, interior and flue pipe regularly. Before you begin any cleaning, be sure that the fire has been completely out of the way and that all electricity to the wood stove is off. You should also gather your supplies before you start cleaning. These should include newspaper (to cover the floor of your house) Safety gloves, a brush and an incredibly small modern wood stove shovel as well as a metal ash container instead of a bucket.

Each time you burn wood on your outdoor wood stove, creosote is produced. This residue must be cleaned regularly to maintain an optimal air flow through the combustion system. It also helps to stop the build-up of a chemical that can cause corrosion to the inner layers of the steel in the water jacket. Using a creosote removal product like Creosote Buster sticks in your fire can help reduce the amount of time and effort needed to clean.

You should also clear the ash tank on your wood burner on a regular basis. It is more efficient to empty the ash into metal containers rather than the regular trash can which is usually filled with plastics, trash and other items. These could spark or explode if the ashes are hot when placed into the can.

Depending on the type and amount of heat being drawn from your wood burner, and the weather conditions, you may need to control smoke on a regular basis. If smoke is an issue you might want to have the flue pipe of your wood stove cleaned on a regular basis. This is a task that isn't easy for DIYers and is likely to be a task which is best done by experts to avoid any health issues caused by breathing in a lot of smoke from wood.