How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner

Outdoor wood burners are commonly called wood boilers. They resemble small sheds with an elongated smokestack. They provide heat to water or a mixture of water and antifreeze that is then circulated throughout your home.

When used in conjunction with dry wood and EPA-approved outdoor boilers, they offer an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil heating. However, they still produce an enormous amount of smoke.

Energy Efficiency

Wood heat has been a popular option for heating homes for a long time. With the fluctuating prices of fossil fuels, wood heat is a viable alternative for a lot of. However, not all wood boilers are equal in terms of efficiency. As a rule, models that use wood gasification technology are more efficient than standard outdoor wood furnaces (OWBs).

The efficiency of energy used by an OWB is affected by a variety of factors. One of them 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 at the very least for a full year. Dry firewood is more efficient at releasing heat into the air than wet, green firewood. It also produces more efficiently and emits less pollution.

Another factor is the boiler's combustion efficiency which is the percentage of heat energy converted into heat by the stove. Many manufacturers boast about their OWBs' combustion efficiency however it is crucial to check the efficiency of the product delivered. This is a measure of how much heat generated by the wood reaches your home.

It is also important to operate the OWB in a way that maximizes its effectiveness. This means cleaning it and maintaining the vent for the flue regularly. The flue must be cleaned at least once a week during the heating season in order to reduce the amount smoke produced by the stove and avoid the clogging.

In contrast to stoves for indoor use that are installed directly in your home or office, an OWB can be installed anywhere between 90 and 200 feet away from your home. The heated water is piped through insulated pipes into your home. The hot water is distributed throughout your home by a system that uses heat exchangers.

Despite the disadvantages discussed above, an OWB is an extremely efficient method of heating your home, and it can reduce your energy bills. Just make sure that you select a high-efficiency unit and follow proper maintenance procedures to make the most of it. Make sure to only burn dry, seasoned wood in an OWB. This will keep the firewood from damaging your home and polluting the air.

Environmentally Friendly

Wood is an environmentally friendly alternative 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 the ones that were used to heat. When wood is burnt, it emits carbon dioxide, but it is then absorbed and converted back into oxygen by other plants. In contrast to fossil fuels, burning of wood does not create any other environmental pollution.

Wood furnaces can be utilized for heating homes, garages sheds, and other structures. 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 that are ideal for relaxing in wintertime. These heaters are EPAapproved and CSA-certified and are an environmentally friendly 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.

Electric heat pumps are a viable alternative to wood furnaces. They extract heat from the ground or air, which allows them to heat buildings and decrease the need for propane, oil or natural gas. These heat pumps are more efficient than traditional wood stoves and are seen as green, but they require a steady supply of raw materials to function properly.

However, wood-burning heating is still popular with some people because of its low cost and eco-friendly. A majority of the most efficient models have an efficiency rating of 85 percent, which is better than the majority of other heating alternatives. Talk to an expert in outdoor wood burning to know about the most efficient and environmentally friendly models.

Safety

A wood-burning stove, when not maintained and installed properly, could be a fire hazard. Smoke from fires could contain contaminants, fine particles, and carbon monoxide, which could cause respiratory problems and asthma. Smoke can also contaminate carpets as well as furniture and clothing. It is therefore essential to employ professionals to install your wood stove.

It is recommended to have a professional do an inspection of your chimney or stovepipe and wood-burning appliance on a regular basis. They can make sure that your OWB is operating in a safe manner and is in compliance with local safety standards, which can prevent fires from occurring in your home or other structures on your property.

When burning wood in an OWB it is crucial to use only dry and seasoned logs. It is also important to keep the area around the logs clear of combustible and debris like plastic or paper, in order to minimize the risk of fire. Never burn treated wood, garbage or trash as they could release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.

Although wood smoke has the potential to harm everyone but it is especially harmful for children, teenagers, older adults and people suffering from respiratory or heart conditions. 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 fireplace can travel through windows that are not closed according to the weather or the wind. It can also irritate the nose and eyes. Close any doors or windows that are close to the stove, and keep pets away from the stove.

It's recommended to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in every bedroom of your house, and to test them regularly. It is also recommended to create a family evacuation plan and practice it at minimum every month. For Wood Burner assistance with smoke and restoration services for fires, call your local PuroClean office. We can help restore smoke-damaged homes or businesses to their pre-fire condition.

Maintenance

Wood burning furnaces, also referred to as outdoor wood burning stove wood burners, or OWBs are great to heat your home using an energy source that is renewable and creating a warm cozy atmosphere. Like any appliance you regularly use they need some attention to ensure they run smoothly.

Keeping up with the maintenance of your outdoor wood stove will ensure that you get the maximum enjoyment from it. Regularly cleaning the exterior, interior, and flue pipe is a must. Before you start any cleaning, be sure that the fire is extinguished and that all electricity to the wood stove is turned off. It is also important to gather your supplies before you start cleaning. These should 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 on your outdoor wood stove, creosote will be produced. This residue needs to be cleaned regularly to maintain an optimal air flow through the combustion system. It also helps stop the accumulation of a substance that could damage the inner layer of the steel water jacket. Creosote Removal Products like Creosote buster sticks can help reduce the time and effort to clean.

It is also necessary to clean the ash container on your wood burner on a weekly basis. It is better to empty the ash into a metal container for ash instead of throwing it into a garbage can that is filled with plastics, trash and other items that can ignite and explode when you place the ashes that are hot in the containers.

Based on the type and amount of heat drawn from your wood burner, as well as the weather conditions depending on the weather, you may have to manage smoke on a regular basis. If you are concerned about smoke you should look into getting the flue pipe on your wood stove professionally cleaned regularly as well. This is a job that can be difficult for the do-it-yourselfer and is likely to be a task that is better left to experts to avoid any health problems caused by breathing in a lot of smoke from wood.