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9 . What Your Parents Taught You About Outdoor Wood Burner How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner Outdoor wood burners, often called wood boilers, look like small sheds that have the appearance of a small 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 approved by the EPA are utilized with dry wood, they can provide an environmentally friendly alternative to heating with fossil fuels. However, they still produce an enormous amount of smoke. Energy Efficiency Wood heat has been a popular choice for heating homes for a long time. Today, 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 are more efficient than traditional outdoor wood furnaces. The efficiency of energy used by an OWB is affected by several factors. One of these is the quality of the firewood that is used. It is crucial to select only firewood that has been seasoned and dried for at least six month; ideally for an entire year. Dry firewood ejects more of its heat into the air than wet green wood. It also burns better and releases less pollutants. The boiler's rate of combustion is another factor. This is the amount of heat that is converted by the stove into usable heat. It is standard for manufacturers to tout the efficiency of their combustion OWBs, however it is important to look at the efficiency of the product. The latter is a measure of how much heat generated by the wood is delivered to your home. Finally, it is important to ensure that you are operating the OWB to maximize its effectiveness. This includes keeping it clean and ensuring that the vent is maintained on a regular basis. The flue must also be cleaned weekly during the heating season in order to reduce the amount smoke generated by the stove and prevent obstruction. In contrast to stoves for indoor use that are installed in your office or home, an OWB can be set up anywhere between 90 and 200 feet from your home. The heated water is then piped through insulated pipes to your home. The hot water is distributed throughout your house through a system that uses heat exchangers. Despite the disadvantages discussed above, an OWB is a very efficient way to heat your home and can help you save money on your energy bills. Just make sure that you choose a high-efficiency unit and follow the proper maintenance guidelines to make the most of it. Don't forget that only dry wood that is seasoned and clean is recommended to be burned in an OWB to avoid creating pollution and causing damage to your home. Environmentally Friendly Wood is a more environmentally sustainable alternative to burning fossil fuels like gasoline, propane and oil. It is a renewable resource, which means that new trees will grow and replace those that were burned to provide warmth. Wood releases carbon dioxide when it is burned but it is absorbed by other trees and plants that convert it back into oxygen to allow us to breathe. As opposed to fossil fuels burning of wood doesn't create any other environmental pollutants. A wood furnace can be used to heat homes, garages, sheds and other buildings. They are also economical as they remove the need for expensive utility bills. They can be used to heat a pool or hot tub and provide a place to unwind in winter. These heaters are EPAapproved and CSA-certified and are an eco-friendly option 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. wood burning fire to a wood furnace is an electric heat pump, which draws heat from the ground or air, allowing it to warm buildings and lessen the requirement for propane, natural gas or oil. These heat pumps are more sustainable than traditional wood stoves and are also more efficient. However, they require a constant supply of raw materials to perform their job. Wood-burning heaters remain popular with some people because of their low price and eco-friendly. The most efficient models have an efficiency rating of 85 percent which is higher than other heating options. Talk to an expert 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 risk of fire. The smoke from fires can contain contaminants, fine particles, and carbon monoxide, which could cause respiratory problems and asthma. Smoke can also be harmful to carpets as well as furniture and clothing. It is therefore important to get a professional to install your wood stove. It is recommended to have a professional conduct an inspection of your chimney, wood-burning appliance and stovepipe on a regular basis. These professionals can ensure that your OWB is operating safely and that it is compliant with local safety regulations, which can help keep fires from forming in your home or other structures on your property. When burning wood in an OWB it is essential to select dry well-seasoned logs. To minimize the risk of fire, keep the area around the logs free of debris or combustible materials such as paper or plastic. Never burn treated wood, garbage or rubbish as they could release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Wood smoke poses danger to everyone, but it is particularly dangerous to teenagers, children and older adults and those who suffer from respiratory or heart conditions. It is also recommended that new pregnant mothers beware of exposure to wood smoke as it may negatively affect their babies. Using an OWB could also be a nuisance to your neighbors. Depending on the weather and winds smoke from a fire can blow through open windows. It can also irritate the eyes and noses. It is a good idea to close any windows or doors near the stove and to keep pets away from the flame. Installing carbon dioxide and smoke alarms in each bedroom of your house is also a great idea. Make sure to test them regularly. You should also develop a family evacuation plan and practice it at the minimum once per month. If you need help with smoke or fire restoration services, contact your local PuroClean office. We can restore your smoke-damaged home or business to its pre-fire state. Maintenance Wood burning furnaces, also known as outdoor wood burners or OWBs are ideal for heating your home with a renewable energy source and creating a warm, cozy environment. As with any appliance you use regularly it will require some maintenance to ensure it is running smoothly. Keeping up with your outdoor wood stove maintenance will ensure that you get the most use out of it. Cleaning the exterior, interior, and flue pipe is a must. Before you do any cleaning, ensure that the fire is completely extinguished and that all electricity to the wood stove is off. Before you begin cleaning, gather all the materials you need. These include newspapers to cover the floor of your home along with safety gloves and a brush. Each time you use wood in your outdoor wood burner, it produces creosote residue that needs to be cleaned on a regular basis to maintain optimum air flow through the combustion system and also to prevent the buildup of a substance that can corrode the steel's inner layers in the water jacket. Creosote Removal Products such as Creosote buster sticks can help reduce the time and effort required to clean. You'll have to clean the ash tank of your wood burner each week. It is recommended to empty the ash into a steel ash container instead of dumping it in a regular garbage container that is filled with plastics, trash and other materials that could ignite and explode when you place the hot ashes in the containers. Based on the type of fuel and amount of heat generated by your wood burner, and the atmospheric conditions depending on the weather, you may have to manage smoke on a regular basis. If smoke is a problem you should look into getting the flue pipe on your wood stove professionally cleaned regularly as well. This is a job that can be a challenge for DIYers, and is a task that is better left to experts to avoid any health issues caused by inhaling a lot of smoke from wood.
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