How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner
Outdoor wood burners are commonly called wood boilers. They resemble small sheds that have the appearance of a small smokestack. They provide heat to water, or a mix of antifreeze and water which is then circulated throughout your house.
When used in conjunction with dry wood and EPA-approved outdoor boilers, they can provide an environmentally-friendly alternative to fossil heating. They still generate a lot of smoke.
Energy Efficiency
Wood heat has been a popular option for heating homes for centuries. With fluctuating prices for fossil fuels, it is a cost-effective alternative for many. Not all wood boilers have the same effectiveness. As a rule, models that use wood gasification technology are more efficient than standard models outdoor wood furnaces (OWBs).
There are a variety of factors that impact the efficiency of energy used by an OWB. One is the quality of the wood utilized. It is important to select only firewood that has been dried and kept seasoned for at minimum six months, and ideally for a whole year. Dry firewood releases more heat into the atmosphere than wet, green wood. It also burns more efficiently and creates less pollution.
The boiler's combustion rate is another aspect. This is the percentage of heat that is converted by the stove into useful heat. Many manufacturers advertise their OWBs' combustion efficiencies, but it is important to check the efficiency of the product delivered. The latter is a measure of how much heat produced by the wood gets to your home.
In the end, it is essential to ensure that you are operating the OWB to ensure its efficiency. This means keeping it clean and maintaining the flue vent on a regular basis. The flue should be cleaned on a regular basis during the heating season to avoid blockages and to reduce the amount of smoke generated by the burner.
In contrast to stoves for indoor use that are installed in your home or office, an OWB can be set up anywhere between 90 and 200 feet from your home. The heated water is then piped through insulated pipes into your home. The hot water is then circulated through a system of heat exchange units that provide warmth throughout your home.
Despite the drawbacks mentioned above, an OWB is an efficient way to heat your home and save money on energy costs. To maximize the efficiency of your unit, choose one that is energy efficient and properly maintained. Don't forget to only burn dry, seasoned wood in an OWB. This will stop the firewood from destroying your home and polluting the air.
Environmentally Friendly
Wood is a more environmentally friendly option to burning fossil fuels such as gasoline, propane and oil. It is a source of renewable energy, meaning that new trees will be planted to replace those which were burned to provide warmth. When wood is burned, it releases carbon dioxide, but it is then absorbed and transformed back into oxygen by other plants. The burning of wood produces no other environmental pollutants, unlike fossil fuels.
A wood furnace can be used to heat garages, homes sheds, homes and other structures. These units are very economical as they do away with the need to pay expensive utility bills. These heaters can be used to heat hot tubs or pool that are ideal to relax in wintertime. A lot 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.
An alternative to a wood furnace is an electric heat pump, which extracts thermal energy from the ground or air which allows it to heat buildings and reduce the requirement for natural gas, propane or oil. These heat pumps are more efficient than traditional wood stoves, and are regarded as green, but they require a steady supply of raw materials to perform effectively.
Wood-burning heaters remain popular with some people due to their low cost and eco-friendly. Many of the most efficient models have an efficiency rating of 85 percent which is more than the majority of other heating alternatives. Talk to an expert in outdoor wood burning to find out about the most efficient and environmentally friendly models.
Safety
If it is not properly maintained and installed, a wood burning stove could pose a serious fire hazard. The smoke from a fire may be contaminated by carbon monoxide, toxins and fine particles that can cause health problems, including asthma and diminished lung function. In addition, smoke can contaminate furniture, carpeting and clothing. Therefore, it is important to employ professionals to install your wood stove.
A professional should also examine your wood-burning stovepipe or chimney regularly. They can make sure that your OWB is working safely and is in compliance with the local safety regulations. This will help to stop fires from happening in your home or other buildings on your property.
It is important to only use dry, seasoned wood when burning wood in an OWB. To reduce the risk of fire, you should keep the area surrounding the logs free of debris or combustible material, like paper or plastic. Do not burn trash, garbage or treated lumber, as they can release a range of harmful pollutants into the air.
While wood smoke is able to harm anyone but it is especially harmful for children, teenagers older adults, and those who suffer from respiratory illnesses or heart issues. It is also advised that pregnant women and newly-wed mothers avoid smoking cigarettes as it can negatively impact the unborn baby.
Using an OWB can also be a source of trouble for neighbors. Smoke from a fire may blow 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 recommended to shut all windows and doors that are near the stove, and to keep pets away from the fire.
Installing smoke and carbon dioxide alarms in every bedroom of your house is also a great idea. Test them regularly. It is also recommended to create a family evacuation plan and practice it at minimum once per month. Contact your local PuroClean branch for help with blaze and smoke restoration services. We can help restore smoke-damaged homes or businesses back to their pre-fire state.
Maintenance
Wood burning furnaces, also known as outdoor wood burners, or OWBs, are ideal for heating your home using a renewable energy source and creating a warm and cozy environment. Like wood burner fireplace that you regularly use it needs some attention to ensure that it runs smoothly.
You'll benefit the most from your outdoor wood stove if you maintain it on a regular basis. Regularly cleaning your wood stove's exterior flue, inside, and pipe is essential. Make sure to shut off the electricity and the fire prior to beginning cleaning. You should also prepare your tools before you begin cleaning - these include newspapers (to cover the floor of your home), safety gloves, a brush and an incredibly small shovel as well as a ash-filled metal container instead of a bucket.
Every time you burn wood in your outdoor wood burner, it releases creosote residue, which must be cleaned on a regular basis to ensure optimal air flow through the combustion system as well as to stop the accumulation of a substance that corrodes the steel's inner layers in the water jacket. Using a creosote remover such as Creosote Buster sticks in your fire can help reduce the amount of time and effort required to clean the process.
You'll need to clean the ash container of your wood stove every week. It is more efficient to dispose of the ash in a metal container than in the standard trash can which is typically filled with plastics, trash and other materials. These could ignite or explode when the ashes are hot when placed in the can.
Based on the type of fuel and amount of heat attracted from your wood burner, as well as the conditions in the air it is possible to manage smoke on a regular basis. If you are concerned about smoke you should think about having the flue pipe on your wood stove professionally cleaned on a regular basis as well. This is a challenging task for a DIYer. It is best to leave it to professionals to avoid health problems that may arise from breathing in a lot of smoke from the wood stove.