"The Ultimate Cheat Sheet For Wood Burner Fireplace
How to Get the Most From a Wood Burner Fireplace
Wood stoves, in contrast to traditional open fireplaces, are engineered to burn wood. This enables them to comply with stricter emission standards.
Wood burning stoves provide dancing yellow flames, cosy crackling sound and that innate sensation of warmth. The smoke that is produced is contaminated by air pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Efficient
Wood burning stoves and fireplaces provide a beautiful and natural heat source to the home, but they are also extremely efficient. A high-quality wood burner can be eco-friendly up to 77 percent. It is crucial to get the most value of your wood burner, especially with increasing energy costs. The good thing is that it's much easier than ever to do!
A key factor in the effectiveness of a wood burning stove is is the moisture content of the firewood. We recommend using only dried and seasoned wood that has dried over a period of at least one year and often two years. The more dry the wood more dry, the better it burns. This means lesser smoke and fewer harmful emissions.
Another great benefit of a wood-burning stove is that it's an eco-friendly source of fuel, which is excellent for the environment. By purchasing locally sourced wood, you are also helping to contribute to the active management and conservation of forests. This is great for wildlife.
The only thing a wood burning stove requires in terms maintenance is to remove and get rid of ash. It's a bit of a hassle however it is worth it to get the maximum heat from every log. If you allow the ashes 2-3 days to completely cool and then, they can be used as a non-toxic, eco-friendly ice melt. They can also be used to polish jewellery and remove odors.
A wood burner fireplace is a truly timeless classic. Although they're less popular than gas fires but there's no denying the appeal and allure of a roaring log fire. These fires are perfect for snuggling up with on cold evenings, and they create a warm and welcoming space in your home. Make sure you invest in a high-quality wood stove and you'll be benefiting for many years to be! Our expert chimney sweeps are here to help you get the most from your stove - give us a call now to learn more.
Low Carbon
Wood burners that are efficient and clean are among the most efficient ways to save money on logs and keep your home warm. They also support local woodland management. This is an excellent option to help wildlife in your area.
fireplaces wood and wood-burning stoves cause minimal pollution when they are maintained properly and operated with dry, seasoned firewood. If they are not properly maintained or use wood of poor quality, the smoke that is produced contains fine particles often referred to as particulate pollutants that can cause irritation to lungs and other body organs. It also contains carbon monoxide as well as toxic air pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Inhaling these types of air pollution can cause irritation to the lung as well as wheezing, coughing, and asthma attacks. It could even lead to serious health conditions such as cancer, heart disease or premature death.
Many are concerned that wood-burning stoves will contribute to climate change however this isn't true. Wood burning is a carbon neutral energy source. Through the life of a tree it absorbs carbon dioxide and when burned the absorbed carbon is released back into the atmosphere.
Because the wood is harvested locally, it reduces the amount of pollutants released in the process of transportation. It is important to use hardwoods that have been seasoned and of high quality. They burn longer and more evenly than softwoods.
Modern, EPA certified wood stoves and heaters (such as those made by Charlton & Jenrick) have much lower emissions than older stoves. They have been tested and certified to meet 2020 EPA standards which are considerably more stringent than previous emissions limits.
All wood-burning stoves must be fully vented to the outside of your home to ensure that they don't cause a build-up of exhaust within your home. By keeping the flames in the vicinity of the logs and making sure you use dry, seasoned wood, all our current clean burn and DEFRA exempt stoves can produce extremely clear exhaust and have particulate levels 60 or more lower than the DEFRA limit.
A wood burning stove equipped with an acatalytic converter or hybrid unit can offer the ultimate low-carbon heating solution. These units ignite the gases and particulates that were ignited during the initial combustion in a subsequent stage by mixing them with superheated air. The remaining gases and particulates are then transported through a catalytic combustion unit for a final and third combustion. This further reduces emissions to levels far below government standards.
Clean Burn
Cleanburn wood stoves burn fuel at the highest efficiency. This results in minimal particles emitted into the atmosphere when burning wood. The air management system of the stove controls the intake and exhaust of gases to ensure that the combustion process takes place in a controlled and sealed environment. It also regulates the flame's height to minimize emissions and increase heat output.
This means that your chimney and the surrounding area will be much cleaner than older stoves. Particulate matter, also referred to as particle pollution, resulting from incompletely burned wood can trigger respiratory problems, such as wheezing and coughing, and contribute to heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, and other serious conditions. The smoke from wood burning is also an element that contributes to poor air quality in urban areas.
Smoke from poorly combusted timber contains fine particulate pollutants and harmful air pollutants such as carbon monoxide as well as other harmful air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as benzene and formaldehyde. These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, and other organs, causing discomfort and damage and even death. Dust particles from the air can also cause a hazard to surfaces within your home and give them a rough feel.
If you're using a fireplace with wood burning it is important to use firewood of the highest quality that has been properly seasoned and dried. The most valuable woods for heating are hardwoods, such as oak, ash and beech. Hardwoods are dense and BTU content, fireplace suite and they provide more heat than softwoods.
It is also important to determine if your local authority has regulations regarding wood burning. They could include rules for nuisance or odor and visible emissions, or opacity limits for smoke.
If you have a wood burner with a glass door, it's important to keep the glass clear of dirt and deposits. This can be done with a dry cloth or oven cleaner spray. You can also add bicarbonate soda and water to the glass.
Regular maintenance of your chimney and stove is also vital. This includes regular chimney cleanings to eliminate creosote as well as ensure proper operation of the flue. Also be sure to mark dates for regular inspections in your calendar, as this will help you avoid costly repairs and extend the longevity of your wood burner.
Low Maintenance
Many people opt to install wood burning fireplaces electric fireplaces (learn here) because of the warmth and natural beauty they provide. However, this kind of fire requires some care and maintenance. The chimney, flue, and stove can all be the cause of house Ethanol Fires if they are not cleaned and maintained regularly. These fireplaces are also an excellent source of heat when power is out, especially in winter when snow storms can cause branches to fall from trees and knock down under-hanging power lines.
By using a wood stove to heat your home, you'll be able to reduce your carbon footprint as compared to other fossil sources of energy like gas. Modern wood stoves and inserts have been designed to conform to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) standards, which means that they produce very low emissions. The more well-seasoned wood is and the better it is, the more efficient it will be as well, so you'll burn less to generate the same amount of heat.
The fireplaces need some maintenance and care. They should be kept away from combustible material and have a screen in place. Making sure the grate is free of debris and ash will allow airflow, which will prevent the fire from dying out too quickly and keep your indoors clean. You should have your stove and chimney cleaned at least twice per year to prevent creosote build-up, which can be an extremely dangerous fire hazard as well as a clog that can restrict ventilation.
It may take some time for a new homeowner to master the art of to ignite, light and maintain a constant fire in the fireplace. Once you've learned the art, your wood burning stove will be an excellent source of warmth and comfort in your home.
Fireplaces that burn wood have been in use in some form or another for more than 500 years and they've regained popularity because of their energy efficiency, sustainability, and the natural warmth and scent of real wood. Talk to your local Regency dealer about the advantages of wood stoves or inserts for your home if you're looking to purchase a new heater.