How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner
Outdoor wood burners, often called wood boilers, appear like small sheds with an elongated smoke stack. They provide heat to water or a mixture of antifreeze and water which is then circulated around your home.
When combined with dry wood and EPA-approved outdoor boilers they can be an environmentally-friendly alternative to fossil heating. They still emit plenty of smoke.
Energy Efficiency
Wood heat has been a popular choice for heating homes for centuries. Today, with fluctuating fossil fuel prices, it is an affordable choice for a lot of people. However not all wood boilers are to be equally efficient. As a rule models that use wood gasification are more efficient than traditional outdoor wood furnaces.
There are several elements that affect the efficiency of energy used by an OWB. One factor 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 months at the very least for a full year. Dry firewood is more efficient in releasing its heat into the air than wet green wood. It also burns better and produces less pollutants.
The rate of combustion in the boiler is another factor. This is the proportion of heat converted by the stove to useful heat. Many manufacturers promote their OWBs' combustion efficiency however, it is vital to determine the efficiency that is delivered. The latter is a measurement of how much heat generated by the wood is delivered to your home.
It is also important to operate the OWB properly to maximize its efficiency. This includes cleaning it and maintaining the vent regularly. The flue must be cleaned every week during the heating season to minimize the amount of smoke produced by the stove and to prevent clogging.
In contrast to indoor stoves that are located inside your home, an OWB is set up between 90 and 200 feet from your house. The hot water that is heated in the OWB is then pumped through pipes that are insulated to get to your home. The hot water is distributed via a network of heat exchange units to provide warmth throughout your home.
Despite the drawbacks mentioned above, an OWB is a very efficient way to heat your home and reduce your energy bills. Make sure you select a high-efficiency model and follow the proper maintenance guidelines to get the most benefit of it. Be sure to burn dry and seasoned wood in an OWB. This will prevent the firewood from destroying your home and polluting the air.
Environmentally Friendly
Wood is an environmentally friendly 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 burned for warmth. When wood is burnt, it releases carbon dioxide however, it is absorbed and transformed back into oxygen by other plants. Wood burning produces no other environmental pollutants, unlike fossil fuels.
A wood furnace can be used to heat homes, garages, sheds and other buildings. They are also economical as they remove the need for costly energy bills. They can also be used to heat hot tubs and pools, providing a relaxing place to unwind in the winter months. A majority of these heaters are EPA and CSA approved which makes them 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.
An alternative to a wood furnace is an electric heat pump, which extracts thermal energy from the air or ground, allowing it to warm buildings and reduce the requirement for propane, natural gas or oil. They are more eco-friendly than traditional wood stoves, and they are more efficient. However, they require a constant supply of raw materials in order to operate.
Wood-burning heaters are still in high demand with some people due to their low price and environmental friendliness. Many of the best models have an efficiency of 85% rating, which is far higher than the majority of other heating options. Speak with an expert in outdoor wood burning to learn about the most efficient and environmentally sustainable models.
Safety
If it is not properly maintained and installed, a wood burning stove could pose a serious risk of fire. Smoke from a fire could contain toxins, carbon monoxide and fine particles that may cause health issues, including asthma and a reduced lung function. Smoke can also contaminate furniture, carpeting and clothing. It is therefore important to hire professionals to install your wood stove.
A professional should also inspect your chimney or stovepipe for wood burning on a regular schedule. These professionals can ensure that your OWB is operating in a safe manner and that it meets local safety standards, which can help stop fires from happening in your home or other structures on your property.
It is crucial to only use dry, seasoned logs for burning wood in an OWB. It is also important to keep the area around the logs clear of debris and combustible materials like plastic or paper, to minimize fire hazards. Do not burn trash, garbage or treated lumber as they can release a number of harmful pollutants into the air.
Wood smoke is harmful to all, but it's particularly harmful to teenagers, children and older adults and those with heart or respiratory conditions. It is also recommended that pregnant women and newly-wed mothers avoid exposure to wood smoke since it could adversely affect their unborn baby.
Utilizing an OWB could also cause annoyance to neighbors. Depending on the weather and winds, smoke from a fire can be blown through windows that are not closed. It can also irritate the nose and eyes. Close fireplacesandstove or doors close to the stove, and keep pets away from it.
Installing smoke and carbon dioxide alarms in each bedroom of your house is also an excellent idea. Test them regularly. Also, you should make a family evacuation strategy and practice it at the minimum every month. If you need help with smoke or restoration services for fires, call your local PuroClean office. We can help restore smoke-damaged homes or businesses back to their pre-fire condition.
Maintenance
Wood burning furnaces, also referred to as outdoor wood burners, or OWBs, are ideal to heat your home using renewable energy sources and creating a warm cozy environment. Like any appliance that you use frequently it will require some maintenance to ensure that it runs smoothly.
Being on top of your outdoor wood stove maintenance will ensure that you get the best enjoyment from it. The primary cleaning requirements of your wood stove are cleaning the interior, exterior and flue pipe on a regular basis. Make sure you turn off the electricity and fire prior to beginning cleaning. Before you begin cleaning, gather all the items you require. This includes newspapers to cover the floor of your home as well as safety gloves and a toothbrush.
Each time you use wood in your outdoor wood burner, it produces creosote residue that needs to be cleaned regularly to maintain optimum air flow through the combustion system and to prevent the buildup of a substance which corrodes the inner layers of steel in the water jacket. Creosote Removal Products such as Creosote buster sticks can reduce the time and effort needed to clean.
You'll need to clean the ash tank of your wood burner each week. It is better to empty the ash into a steel Ash container rather than dumping it in a regular garbage container that is filled with trash, plastics and other materials that could ignite and explode if you place the hot ashes inside the containers.
Depending on the type and amount of heat being generated by your wood burner, and the weather conditions, you may need to control smoke on a regular schedule. If smoke is a concern it is recommended to think about getting the flue pipe on your wood stove professionally cleaned on a regular basis as well. This is a task that can be difficult for DIYers, and is likely to be a task that is better left to professionals to avoid any health problems caused by inhaling lots of smoke from wood.