How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner
Outdoor wood burners are often called wood boilers. They resemble small sheds that have a short smokestack. They are used to heat water or a mixture of antifreeze and water that is then circulated throughout your home.
When outdoor wood boilers approved by the EPA are used with dry wood, they can provide an environmentally friendly alternative to heating with fossil fuels. However, they still generate a significant amount of smoke.
Energy Efficiency
Since the beginning of time, wood heat has been used to warm homes. With fluctuating prices for fossil fuels, it is an affordable choice for a lot of people. However not all wood boilers are equal in terms of efficiency. As a rule, models that utilize wood gasification are more efficient than standard outdoor wood furnaces.
There are a variety of factors that impact the efficiency of energy used by an OWB. One factor is the quality and quantity of firewood. It is important to choose only firewood that has been seasoned and dried for at least six month at the very least for a full year. Dry firewood releases more of its heat into the air than wet, green wood. It also produces more efficiently and emits less pollution.
Another element is the boiler's combustion efficiency (or percentage) of heat energy converted into useful heat by the stove. It is typical for manufacturers to tout the efficiency of their OWBs, but it's important to consider the delivered efficiency. The latter is a measure of how much heat produced by the wood gets to your home.
It is also crucial to operate the OWB properly to maximize its effectiveness. This includes cleaning and maintaining the vent on a regular basis. The flue vent should be cleaned at least once a week during the heating season in order to reduce the amount of smoke generated by the stove and avoid the clogging.
Unlike indoor stoves that are installed directly in your home or office, an OWB can be installed anywhere between 90 to 200 feet from your house. The hot water that is heated in the OWB is then piped through pipes that are insulated to get to your home. The hot water is then circulated through a system of heat exchange units to distribute warmth throughout your home.
Despite the negatives discussed above, an OWB is an effective way to heat your house and save you money on your energy bills. Make sure you select a high-efficiency model and follow the correct maintenance procedures to make the most of it. Remember that only dry, seasoned firewood should be burned in an OWB to prevent it from creating pollution and causing damage to your home.
Environmentally Friendly
Wood is a green alternative to burning fossil fuels such as propane, gasoline and oil. It is a renewable resource, which means that new trees are able to grow and replace the ones that were burning for warmth. Wood emits carbon dioxide when it is burned but it is absorbed by other trees and plants, which then convert the carbon dioxide back into oxygen for us to breathe. Unlike fossil fuels, the burning of wood doesn't generate any other environmental pollutant.
A wood furnace can be used to heat homes, garages, sheds and other buildings. They are extremely economical as they do away with the need to pay costly utility bills. These heaters can be used to heat hot tubs or pool that are ideal for relaxing in winter. Many of these heaters are EPA and CSA approved, making them an eco-friendly choice for heating your home.
However, used wood burning stoves for sale 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 an alternative to wood furnaces. They extract heat from the air or ground and can be used to heat buildings and decrease the need for oil, propane or natural gas. They are more environmentally friendly than traditional wood stoves, and they are more efficient. However they require a continuous supply of raw materials to operate.
Wood-burning heaters are still in high demand with some people due to their low price and environmental stewardship. Many of the most efficient models have an efficiency rating of 85%, which is better than many other heating options. People who are concerned about the environment need to consult a professional in outdoor wood burning to find out about the best models that are both efficient and environmentally friendly.
Safety
A wood-burning stove, when not maintained and installed properly, could pose a serious fire risk. The smoke from a fire may contain carbon monoxide, toxins and fine particles that can cause health issues, such as asthma and a reduced lung function. Smoke can also cause harm to carpets, furniture and clothing. Therefore, it is 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. They will ensure that your OWB is operating in a safe manner and is in compliance with local safety standards, which can help keep fires from forming 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. You should also ensure that the area around logs clear of combustible and debris, such as paper or plastic, to avoid the danger of fire. Don't burn garbage, trash or treated lumber as they can release a range of harmful pollutants into the air.
Although wood smoke is able to harm everyone but it is especially harmful for children, teenagers older adults, as well as those with respiratory diseases or heart conditions. It is also recommended that pregnant women and newly-wed mothers avoid wood smoke as it could adversely affect their unborn baby.
Utilizing an OWB could also cause annoyance to neighbors. Smoke from a fire can be blown through windows that are not closed in response to weather conditions or winds. It can also cause irritation to eyes and noses. Close any windows or doors close to the stove and keep pets away from it.
It is also a good idea to install carbon monoxide and smoke alarms in each bedroom of your home and test them regularly. It is also recommended to develop a family evacuation plan and practice it at minimum once per month. For help with smoke and fire restoration services, contact your local PuroClean office. We can help restore your smoke-damaged home or business back to its pre-fire state.
Maintenance
Wood burning furnaces (also called outdoor wood heaters or OWBs) are ideal for heating your home and creating a cozy, warm ambience inside your home. As with any appliance you use regularly it needs some attention to ensure it is running smoothly.
You will get the most out of your outdoor wood stove if you maintain it regularly. Regularly cleaning the exterior flue, interior, and pipe is a must. Make sure you turn off the power and the fire prior to beginning cleaning. Before you begin cleaning, collect all the materials you need. These should include newspaper to cover the floor of your home along with safety gloves, and a brush.
Every time you burn wood in your outdoor wood burner, it produces creosote residue that needs to be cleaned on a regular basis to ensure optimal air flow through the combustion system and to stop the accumulation of a substance that can corrode the inner layers of steel in the water jacket. Using a creosote removal product like Creosote Buster sticks in your fire can reduce the amount of time and effort required for the cleaning process.
You should also clean out the ash container on your wood burner on a regular basis. It is best to empty the ash into an iron Ash container rather than dumping it in a regular garbage can that is filled with plastics, trash, and other materials that can ignite and explode when you place the hot ashes inside the containers.
Smoke from your wood stove may require a controlled airflow on a regular basis depending on the type of wood used, the amount of heat is being drawn and the weather conditions. 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 challenging task for anyone who wants to do it themselves. It is best to leave it to professionals to avoid health issues caused by inhaling a lot smoke from wood.