How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner
Outdoor wood burners are often called wood boilers. They look like small sheds with a short smokestack. They provide heat to water or a mixture of antifreeze and water which is then circulated around 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 substantial amounts of smoke.
Energy Efficiency
Since the beginning of time, wood heat was used to heat homes. With the fluctuating prices of fossil fuels wood heat is an attractive alternative for a lot of. Wood boilers are not all built with the same efficiency. In general models that use wood gasification are more efficient than traditional outdoor wood furnaces.
The energy efficiency of an OWB is influenced by a variety of factors. One of the factors is the quality and quantity of the firewood. It is essential to choose only firewood that has been dried and seasoned for at least six months, and ideally for a whole year. Dry firewood releases more heat into the air than green, wet wood. It also burns cleaner and emits less pollution.
Another factor is the boiler's efficiency in combustion which is the percentage of heat energy converted into useful heat by the stove. It is common for manufacturers to promote the combustion efficiency of their OWBs, however it is important to look at the efficiency that is delivered. The latter is a measure of how much heat produced by the wood reaches your home.
Finally, it is important to operate the OWB to maximize its efficiency. This means keeping it clean and maintaining the flue vent regularly. The flue vent should also be cleaned weekly during the heating season in order to reduce the amount smoke generated by the stove and to prevent obstruction.
Contrary to stoves that are indoor, which sit directly within your home, an OWB is set up between 100 and 200 feet from your house. The heated water is then piped through insulated pipes to your home. The hot water is then distributed via a network of heat exchange units that provide warmth throughout your home.
Despite the disadvantages listed above, an OWB is an efficient method of heating your home and save money on energy bills. Just make sure that you choose a high-efficiency unit and follow the proper maintenance guidelines to get the most benefit of it. And modern wood stove forget that only dry and seasoned firewood is recommended to be burned in an OWB to prevent it from polluting the environment and damaging your home.
Environmentally Friendly
Wood is an environmentally friendly alternative to burning fossil fuels like propane, gasoline and oil. It is a source of renewable energy which means that new trees will grow to replace those which were burned to provide warmth. When wood is burned it releases carbon dioxide, however, it is absorbed and transformed back into oxygen by other plants. As opposed to fossil fuels burning of wood does not generate any other environmental pollutants.
Wood furnaces can be utilized to heat garages, homes, sheds and other structures. These units are also very cost-effective, as they eliminate the need for costly utility bills. These heaters can be used to heat hot tubs or pools, which are great to relax in winter. A lot of these heaters are EPA and CSA approved which makes them a green 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 great alternative to wood furnaces. They draw thermal energy from the ground or air which allows them to heat buildings and decrease the need for propane, oil, or natural gas. They are more eco-friendly than traditional wood stoves and are also more efficient. However, they require a constant supply of raw materials in order to operate.
Wood-burning heaters are still popular among 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 alternatives. Talk to an expert in outdoor wood burning to know about the most efficient and environmentally sustainable models.
Safety
If it is not properly installed and maintained, a wood burning stove can pose a major risk of fire. Smoke from fires could contain contaminants, fine particles, and carbon monoxide that can cause respiratory problems and asthma. Smoke can also be harmful to carpets as well as furniture and clothing. It is therefore essential to get a professional to install your wood stove.
A professional should also examine your chimney or stovepipe that burns wood on a regular schedule. They can make sure that your OWB is operating safely and that it meets local safety regulations, which will help to keep fires from forming in your home or any other structures on your property.
It is important to only make use of dry, seasoned logs for burning wood in an OWB. To decrease the chance of fire, you should keep the area around the logs free of debris or combustible materials, such as plastic or paper. Never burn garbage, trash or treated lumber, as these can release a number of harmful pollutants into the air.
Wood smoke is dangerous to everyone, but it is particularly dangerous to teenagers, children and older adults, as well as people suffering from respiratory or heart problems. It is also recommended that pregnant women and newly-wed mothers avoid wood smoke as it could negatively affect their unborn child.
Utilizing an OWB could also be a nuisance for neighbors. Smoke from a fireplace can be blown through windows that are open according to the weather or wind. It can also irritate eyes and noses. It is recommended to close any windows or doors near the stove and to keep pets away from the fire.
It's also a good idea to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in every bedroom of your home and test them frequently. Also, you should have an escape plan for your family in place and practice it at least once a year. For help with smoke and fire restoration services, contact your local PuroClean office. We can restore your damaged home or business back to its pre-fire condition.
Maintenance
Wood burning furnaces (also known as outdoor wood heaters or OWBs) are great for heating your home and creating a cozy warm space inside your home. But like any appliance that you regularly use, they require some maintenance to ensure they run smoothly.
You will get the most out of your outdoor wood stove if you maintain it on a regular basis. The primary cleaning requirements of your wood stove are cleaning the interior, exterior and flue pipe regularly. Make sure you turn off the electricity and fire prior to beginning cleaning. It is also important to gather your supplies prior to beginning cleaning. These should include newspaper (to cover the floor of your home) safety gloves, a toothbrush 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 creates creosote residue that needs to be cleaned on a regular basis to maintain optimum air flow through the combustion system as well as to prevent the buildup of a substance that corrodes 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 for cleaning.
You'll have to clean the ash container of your wood burner every week. It is better to empty the ash into a metal Ash container rather than dumping it in a regular garbage can that is filled with trash, plastics and other items that could ignite and explode if you place the hot ashes in the containers.
Smoke from your wood burner may require a controlled airflow on a regular basis depending on the kind of wood used, how much heat is being drawn and atmospheric conditions. If you are concerned about smoke it is recommended to think about getting the flue pipe on your wood stove professionally cleaned regularly as well. This isn't an easy task for a DIYer. It is best to leave it to professionals to avoid health issues that could result from smoking a lot of smoke from the wood stove.