11 Strategies To Refresh Your Outdoor Wood Burner

How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner

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

When used with dry wood and EPA-approved outdoor boilers, they offer an environmentally-friendly alternative to fossil heating. However, they do produce substantial amounts of smoke.

Energy Efficiency

Since the beginning of time, wood heat was used to warm homes. With fluctuating prices for fossil fuels, it is a reasonable alternative for many. However, not all wood boilers are to be equally efficient. As a rule, models that utilize wood gasification are more efficient than traditional outdoor wood furnaces.

There are a variety of elements that affect the efficiency of energy used by an OWB. One of them is the quality and quantity of firewood. It is important to select only firewood that has been dried and thoroughly seasoned for at least six months, and best for a whole year. Dry firewood ejects more of its heat into the air than wet green wood. It also produces more efficiently and emits less pollution.

The boiler's combustion rate is a different aspect. This is the percentage of heat that is converted by the stove into usable heat. It is standard for manufacturers to tout the efficiency of their OWBs, but it's important to look at the efficiency that is delivered. The latter is a measurement of how much heat produced by the wood gets to your home.

It is also crucial to operate the OWB correctly to maximize its effectiveness. This includes keeping it clean and ensuring that the vent is maintained regularly. The flue should be cleaned on a regular basis during the heating season to avoid obstruction and to reduce the amount of smoke generated by the burner.

Unlike indoor stoves that are installed within your office or home, an OWB can be set up anywhere between 90 to 200 feet from your home. The hot water that is heated in the OWB is then piped through pipes that are insulated before it is delivered to your home. The hot water is then distributed throughout your house through a system that utilizes heat exchangers.

Despite the disadvantages mentioned above, an OWB is a very efficient way to heat your home and help you save money on your energy bills. To get the most from your OWB, select one that is efficient and maintain it in a proper manner. Be sure to burn dry well-seasoned wood in an OWB. This will keep the wood from destroying your home and polluting the air.

Environmentally Friendly

Wood is a green alternative to burning fossil fuels like propane, gasoline 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. Wood releases carbon dioxide when burned however, it is absorbed by other trees and plants and then transform it back into oxygen for us to breathe. Unlike fossil fuels, the burning of wood does not create any other environmental pollutant.

A wood furnace can be used to heat garages, homes, sheds and other buildings. They are also economical, since they eliminate the need for expensive utility bills. They can also be used to warm a pool or hot tub as well as provide a tranquil place to relax during the winter months. These heaters are EPA- and CSA-approved, making them a green 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.

Electric heat pumps are a viable alternative to wood furnaces. They draw thermal energy from the air or the ground and can be used to heat buildings and reduce their need for propane, oil, or natural gas. These heat pumps are more sustainable than traditional wood stoves, and they're more efficient. However they require a constant supply of raw materials to operate.

Wood-burning heaters are still popular with some people due to their low cost and eco-friendly. A majority of the top models have an efficiency of 85% rating, which is much higher than the majority of other heating alternatives. Anyone who is concerned about the environment should consult a professional in outdoor wood burners to find out the most effective models available that are efficient and eco-friendly.

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 can cause asthma and respiratory problems. Smoke can also be harmful to carpets as well as furniture and clothing. For these reasons, it is important to hire a professional to install your wood burner.

It is also a good idea to have a professional perform an inspection of your chimney, stovepipe and wood-burning appliance on a regular basis. They will ensure that your OWB is operating in a safe manner and is in compliance with the local safety regulations. This can help stop fires from happening in your home or other structures on your property.

It is essential to use dry, seasoned wood for burning wood in an OWB. It is also important to keep the area around the logs free of combustible and debris such as plastic or paper, to reduce the risk of fire. Never burn treated wood burner fireplace, garbage or rubbish as they can release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.

Wood smoke is harmful to everyone, but it is particularly harmful to children, teenagers and older adults, as well as people with heart or respiratory conditions. It is also advised that pregnant women and new mothers avoid exposure to wood smoke since it could negatively affect the unborn baby.

Using an OWB could also cause annoyance to neighbors. Smoke from a fire can blow through windows that are open depending on the weather or the wind. It can also irritate eyes and noses. Close all doors and windows that are near the stove and keep pets away from it.

Installing smoke and carbon dioxide alarms in each bedroom of your home is a great idea. Make sure to test them regularly. It is also recommended to have an escape plan for your family in place and test it at least once a year. Contact your local PuroClean branch for assistance with smoke and blaze restoration services. We can 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 great for heating your home using a renewable energy source and creating a warm cozy atmosphere. However, like any appliance you use regularly they require some care to keep them running smoothly.

You will get the most out of your outdoor wood stove if you maintain it on a regular basis. The basic cleaning needs of your wood stove is cleaning the interior, exterior and flue pipe on a regular basis. Before you start any cleaning, be sure that the fire is gone and all electrical power to the wood stove is turned off. You should also make sure you have all the necessary supplies before you begin cleaning. This include newspapers (to cover the floor of your house), safety gloves, a brush, and a small shovel, as along with a metal ash container instead of a bucket.

Each time you burn wood in your outdoor wood burner, it produces creosote that must be regularly cleaned to ensure optimal air flow through the combustion system and to prevent the buildup of a substance that can corrode the steel's inner layers in the water jacket. Creosote Removal Products like Creosote buster sticks can cut down the time and effort to clean.

You'll need to clean the ash tank of your wood burner every week. It is better to empty the ash into a steel Ash container rather than dumping it into a regular garbage can that is filled with plastics, trash, and other items that could ignite and explode if you put the hot ashes in them.

Smoke from your wood burner may require a controlled airflow on a regular basis, dependent on the kind of wood used, the amount of heat is being drawn in and the conditions of the air. If smoke is a problem you should look into having the flue pipe on your wood stove professionally cleaned regularly as well. This isn't an easy task for a do-it yourselfer. It is best to leave it to experts to avoid health issues caused by breathing in a lot of smoke from the wood stove.