How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner

Outdoor wood burners are often called wood boilers. They look like small corner wood burning stove sheds with a short smokestack. They heat water or a mixture of antifreeze and water which is then circulated through your home.

When combined with dry wood and EPA-approved outdoor boilers they can be an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil heating. However, they still produce an enormous amount of smoke.

Energy Efficiency

Since the beginning of time, wood has been used to warm homes. With fluctuating prices for fossil fuels, it is an affordable option for many people. Wood boilers are not all built with the same effectiveness. As a rule models that utilize wood gasification technology are much more efficient than standard models outdoor wood furnaces (OWBs).

There are many elements that affect the efficiency of energy used by an OWB. One is the quality of the wood that is used. It is crucial to select only firewood that has been seasoned and dried for at least six month at the very least for a full year. Dry firewood is more efficient at releasing heat into the atmosphere than wet, green wood. It also burns more efficiently and creates less pollution.

The rate of combustion in the boiler is a different factor. This is the amount of heat converted by the stove to useful heat. It is common for manufacturers to tout the efficiency of their OWBs, however it is important to also look at the efficiency that is delivered. The latter is a measure of how much heat generated by the wood reaches your home.

Finally, it is important to properly operate the OWB to maximize its effectiveness. This includes cleaning it and maintaining the vent frequently. The flue should be cleaned on a regular basis during the heating season to avoid obstruction and to reduce the amount of smoke released by the burner.

In contrast to stoves for indoor use that are installed in your home or office, an OWB can be installed anywhere between 90 and 200 feet away from your home. The hot water that is heated in the OWB is then run through insulated pipes to your home. The hot water is then distributed via a network of heat exchange units to distribute warmth throughout your home.

Despite the drawbacks mentioned above, an OWB can be a highly efficient method of heating your house and save you money on your energy bills. To maximize the efficiency of your OWB, select one that is energy efficient and properly maintained. Remember that only dry and seasoned firewood is recommended to be burned in an OWB to avoid creating pollution and causing damage to your home.

Environmentally Friendly

Wood is a green alternative to burning fossil fuels like gasoline, propane and oil. It is a source of renewable energy, meaning that new trees will grow to replace those that were burned for warmth. Wood releases carbon dioxide when it burns however, it is absorbed by other plants and trees, which then convert the carbon dioxide back into oxygen for us to breathe. The burning of wood produces no other environmental pollution, unlike fossil fuels.

Wood furnaces can be used for Stoves online heating garages, homes sheds and other structures. They are extremely economical as they do away with the need to pay costly utility bills. They can also be used to heat hot tubs or pools, providing a relaxing space to relax in the winter months. A majority of these heaters are EPA and CSA approved which makes 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.

A substitute for a wood furnace is an electric heat pump, which extracts thermal energy from the air or ground which allows it to heat buildings and lessen the need for propane, natural gas or oil. 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 in order to function properly.

Nevertheless, wood-burning heating is still a favorite among some due to its low cost and green credentials. Many of the best models have an efficiency of 85% rating, which is much superior to other heating alternatives. Talk to an expert in outdoor wood burning to learn about the most efficient and environmentally friendly models.

Safety

A wood burning stove if not installed and maintained properly, could create a significant fire risk. The smoke from a fire may be contaminated by carbon monoxide, toxins and fine particles that may cause health problems, including asthma and diminished lung function. In addition, smoke can contaminate furniture, carpeting and clothing. This is why it is crucial to employ an expert to install your wood burner.

It is recommended to have a professional do an inspection of your chimney, stovepipe and wood-burning appliance regularly. They will ensure that your OWB is operating safely and that it meets local safety standards, which will help to keep fires from forming in your home or other buildings on your property.

It is crucial to only use dry, seasoned logs for burning wood in an OWB. To reduce the risk of fire, keep the area around the logs clear of any debris or combustible materials such as paper or plastic. Never burn garbage, trash or treated lumber, as they could release a variety of harmful pollutants into the air.

Although wood smoke is able to harm everyone however, it is particularly dangerous for children, teenagers, older adults and people with respiratory diseases or heart problems. It is also recommended that newly born pregnant mothers beware of exposure to wood smoke as it may negatively affect their babies.

Utilizing an OWB can also be a nuisance for neighbors. Smoke from a fire may travel through windows that are not closed according to the weather or the wind. It can also cause irritation to the nose and eyes. It is a good idea to shut any windows or doors that are near the stove, and to keep pets away from the fire.

It is recommended to install carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in every room of your house and test them frequently. It is also recommended to have an escape plan for your family in place and do it at least once a year. For assistance with smoke and fire restoration services, contact your local PuroClean office. We can restore smoke-damaged homes or businesses to 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, cozy environment. Like all appliances you use regularly, it requires some maintenance to ensure that it runs smoothly.

You'll benefit from your outdoor wood stove if maintain it on a regular basis. The primary cleaning requirements of your corner Wood Heater stove include cleaning the exterior, interior and flue pipe on a regular basis. Make sure to shut off the power and the fire before you begin cleaning. Before you begin cleaning, gather all the items you require. This includes newspapers to cover the floor of your home as well as safety gloves and a toothbrush.

Each time you burn wood in your outdoor wood burner, it creates creosote residue, which must be cleaned regularly to ensure that the airflow is optimal through the combustion system and also to prevent the buildup of a substance that corrodes the inner layers of steel in the water jacket. Using a creosote removal product like Creosote Buster sticks in your fire will help reduce the amount of time and effort needed for the cleaning process.

You will also need to clean out the ash container on your wood burner on a regular basis. It is better to empty the ash into an iron container for ash instead of throwing it into a garbage container that is filled with plastics, trash and other items that can ignite and explode when you put the hot ashes inside them.

Smoke from your wood burner could need to be controlled on a regular basis according to the type of wood used, how much heat is being drawn and the weather conditions. If smoke is a problem it is recommended to consider getting the flue pipe on your wood stove professionally cleaned on a regular basis as well. This is a job that isn't easy for DIYers, and is likely to be a task which is best left to experts to avoid any health problems caused by inhaling a lot of wood smoke.