How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner

Outdoor wood burners, also called wood boilers, look like small sheds with an elongated smoke stack. They are used to heat water or a mixture of water and antifreeze that is then circulated throughout your home.

When outdoor wood boilers that are EPA-approved are used with dry wood, they can be an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuel heating. However, they still produce an enormous amount of smoke.

Energy Efficiency

Wood heat has been a popular option for heating homes for centuries. Today, with fluctuating fossil fuel prices, it is a cost-effective option for many people. Not all wood boilers have the same efficiency. As a rule models that make use of wood gasification are more efficient than traditional outdoor wood furnaces.

The energy efficiency of an OWB is affected by several factors. One of them is the quality and quantity of firewood. It is essential to choose only firewood that has been dried and seasoned for at least six months, and ideally for a full year. Dry firewood ejects more of its heat into the air than wet, green wood. It also burns more efficiently and produces less pollution.

Another element is the boiler's combustion efficiency, which is the percentage of heat energy converted into heat by the stove. It is standard for manufacturers to tout the efficiency of their OWBs, however it is important to look at the efficiency that is delivered. The latter is a measurement of how much of the available heat from the wood is absorbed by the home.

It is also crucial to operate the OWB to maximize its effectiveness. This includes keeping it clean and Wood Burners maintaining the flue vent regularly. The flue vent should be cleaned at least once a week during the heating season in order to minimize the amount of smoke produced by the stove and avoid the clogging.

Unlike indoor stoves, which sit directly in your home, an OWB is set up between 90 and 200 feet from your home. The heated water is piped through insulated pipes to your home. The hot water is then circulated through a system of heat exchange units to provide warmth throughout your home.

Despite the disadvantages listed above, an OWB is an efficient way to heat your house and save you money on energy bills. To get the most value from your OWB, select one that is efficient and maintain it properly. Don't forget to only burn dry, seasoned wood in an OWB. This will prevent the wood from destroying your home and polluting the air.

Environmentally Friendly

Wood is an environmentally friendly alternative to burning fossil fuels like propane, gasoline and oil. It is a renewable resource, which means that new trees will develop and replace the ones that were burned to provide warmth. Wood releases carbon dioxide when burned but it is absorbed by other trees and plants that convert the carbon dioxide back into oxygen for us to breathe. Unlike fossil fuels, the burning of wood doesn't generate any other environmental pollution.

Wood furnaces can be utilized for heating homes, garages sheds, and other structures. They are cost-effective since they eliminate the need to pay high utility bills. They can be used to heat hot tubs or pools, providing a relaxing place to relax in winter. Many of these heaters are EPA and CSA approved and are therefore a green option for home heating.

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.

Electric heat pumps are a viable alternative to wood furnaces. They draw thermal energy from the ground or air and can be used to heat buildings and decrease their use of oil, propane, or natural gas. These heat pumps are more efficient than traditional wood stoves, and are regarded as green, but they require a steady supply of raw materials in order to function properly.

However, wood-burning heaters are still a favorite among some due to its low cost and green credentials. A majority of the top models have an 85% efficiency rating, which is much superior to other heating alternatives. Consult with a professional in outdoor wood burning to learn about the most efficient and eco sustainable models.

Safety

If not properly installed and maintained, a wood-burning stove can be a significant fire hazard. The smoke from fires can contain toxic substances, fine particles and carbon monoxide, which can cause asthma and respiratory problems. Smoke can also be harmful to carpets, furniture, wood burners and clothing. This is why it is essential to engage 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. These professionals can ensure your OWB is in compliance with local safety standards and is operating in a safe manner. This can help prevent fires from happening in your home, or in other structures on your property.

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

While wood smoke has the potential to harm everyone but it is especially harmful for children, teenagers older adults, and those with respiratory diseases or heart conditions. It is also advised that pregnant women and new mothers avoid smoking cigarettes as it could negatively affect their unborn baby.

Using an OWB could also cause trouble to your neighbors. Depending on the weather and wind smoke from a fire can fly through windows. It can also irritate the nose and eyes. It is a good idea to close any windows or doors near the stove and to keep pets from the fire.

Installing carbon dioxide and smoke alarms in every bedroom of your house is also an excellent idea. Check them frequently. Also, you should develop a family evacuation plan and practice it at the very least once a month. Contact your local PuroClean branch for help with blaze and smoke restoration services. We can restore smoke-damaged houses or businesses to pre-fire state.

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 and cozy atmosphere. However, like any appliance is used regularly they need some attention to ensure they run smoothly.

Being on top of your outdoor wood stove maintenance will ensure that you get the maximum use out of it. The basic cleaning needs of your wood stove is cleaning the exterior, interior and flue pipe regularly. Make sure to shut off the electricity and the fire before you begin cleaning. Before you begin cleaning, gather all the items you require. These include newspapers to cover the floor in your home, safety gloves and a toothbrush.

When you burn wood on your outdoor wood stove, creosote is produced. This residue needs to be cleaned frequently to ensure the proper air flow within the combustion system. It also helps to prevent the build-up of a chemical that can cause corrosion to the inner layers of the steel water jacket. Using a creosote remover such as Creosote Buster sticks in your fire will help reduce the amount of time and effort required to clean.

You will need to clean the ash tank of your wood burner every week. It is best to empty the ash into a steel ash container instead of dumping it into a regular garbage container that is filled with plastics, trash, and other items that could ignite and explode when you put the hot ashes in the containers.

Smoke from your contemporary wood burning stoves stove may need to be controlled on a regular basis dependent on the kind of wood used, how much heat is being drawn and the weather conditions. If you notice smoke it is recommended to make sure that the flue pipe of your wood stove cleaned on a regular basis. This is a challenging task for a do-it yourselfer. It is best left to experts to avoid health issues that may arise from smoking a lot of smoke from the wood stove.