Fireplaces Wood Burning Stoves
Wood stoves are elegant and contemporary, and complement a variety of home styles. They are a potent heating source that can provide radiant heat throughout the space.
Modern wood-burning stoves are EPA certified and feature high efficiency in heating and lower particle emissions. By correctly controlling the air controls you can improve these efficiencies.
Energy Efficiency
Wood stoves use a very energy-efficient source of heat and can complement the heating system in your home. Some models are just as efficient as furnaces or other oil-burning appliances. Modern stoves are engineered to extract the most heat from each piece of wood that is burned. This means you don't have to buy as much firewood and can enjoy a warm fire all winter.
Stoves that have been certified by the EPA burn extremely cleanly and reduce waste and emission by burning longer and using less fuel. This is in contrast to older fireplaces that use open flames or combustion. They waste fuel, pollute air and cause dust contamination of your home.
The EPA certification of your wood stove will ensure that it complies with the highest safety and efficiency standards. It also permits you to get a tax credit on the purchase of a qualified stove that will help you save money in addition to decreasing your energy costs.
A wood stove can help you cut out the big energy companies and any monopolies they have in your region, freeing you from their fluctuating prices for gas and electricity. You'll still be paying for wood however, the price fluctuations are likely to be less drastic than the price hikes you'd face when relying on the utility company.
Another benefit of heating your home with a wood stove is that it can be used in power outages. If the power goes out during the midst of a snowstorm, you are able to keep your home warm by using wood-burning stoves to produce heat for your kitchen as well as living areas. In some instances, the chimney on the stove can be used to release hot water through the wall to a hot-water tank inside your home to provide even more warmth.
If your fireplace that burns wood is not adequately insulated, you may lose heat and create drafts. This issue can be easily solved by adding an insulated liner for your wood-burning stove. This will not only help you save energy, but also prolong the life of your stove since it keeps the heat from going through the chimney.
Cleanliness
Wood stoves are an excellent way to save energy and keep warm, but they produce lots of soot. Clean stoves are essential to keep your home safe and healthy. To achieve this, you should clean your stove every week and your chimney at least once a year. Keeping your stove clean will ensure that there is adequate air flow and is safer to use.
Cleaning out the ash pan is the first step to cleaning your stove. The ashes can be dumped into a trash can, and then placed in a non-combustible bin or bag. If your fireplace has a andirons grate or grate they can be cleaned using a broom and brush and then dispose of them in the same way. Then take a soft, clean cloth to clean the front of your stove and any other surfaces that you'd like to wash. You can also use this occasion to clean your ash tray or re-line it with fresh liners, which are readily available at your local hardware store.
After cleaning your stove, you'll have to get rid of any creosote that remains on the walls of your fireplace. You can use a broom that has hard bristles to do this. Start as high as possible and gradually lower. You can also make use of an attachment for a vacuum cleaner with hard bristles to remove the sooty residue.
If needed, you must remove any obstructions from your chimney. This could include twigs, leaves, branches or even the nesting materials of small animals (which are known to nest in chimneys and stove pipes!). Your chimney may be susceptible to the wind-blown debris like sand or leaves, depending on the location you live in.
It is also recommended that you have your chimney examined every year at a minimum, and that you replace your catalytic filter every 1-4 years, as well as having your chimney professionally cleaned if required. These regular chores can help to prevent harmful fumes such as carbon monoxide and flames from entering your home.
Convenience
Wood burning stoves provide warmth and a cozy atmosphere that electric or gas fireplaces can't compete with. Whether free standing or installed into the wall, there are a variety of designs and styles to fit your home. There's nothing better than curling into a cozy fireplace on a cold winter night in the southeast of NY.
A wood stove will help you save money on your energy bills. It's also a great option for those who reside in a smoke control zone (most of London and many major cities are).
Stoves are an excellent option to heat your home. They can be used as a primary source for heating or for supplementary heating. The amount of heat they produce is contingent on the size of the room, how quickly the fire is burning and how much air flow is around it. If you're considering using your stove as your primary heating source, it is important to think about the type and quality of logs you purchase.
Locally woodburning stoves can help you lower your costs while reducing the carbon footprint of your stove. However splitting, stacking and hauling logs is lengthy and back-breaking task if you don't have the right equipment. Many people choose to install a log heater in their home to eliminate the frustration of collecting, chopping and storing wood.
The majority of modern wood stoves are designed to be more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional open fires. This means that they have to meet government regulations on emissions, and they have a catalytic combustor which assists in keeping the wood burning for longer, starts combustion at a lower temperature and reduces the amount of pollution.
It is still necessary to maintain your stove on a regular basis. This includes cleaning the glass door, inspecting your flue and chimney and removing the ash from the bottom, and ensuring there are enough dry wood logs to fuel the stove. These requirements for maintenance are less than the energy required to run your heating system.
A wood stove is hazardous for pets and children who are close to the flame. A stray ember could cause burns if it touches the glass or flames of your stove. If you have children or pets, we highly recommend adding an extra safety gate to your fireplace and keeping them from the flame.
Aesthetics
Wood burning stoves can add an elegant ambiance to any room. They can be the focal point in a room when they are outfitted with a stunning mantel. A fireplace constructed with bricks, stacked stones and veneers can look stunning. Freestanding stoves are an alternative for homeowners who wish to find a style and price that fits their home.
Fireplaces should be swept regularly to remove particulates from the chimney. These particulates can re-ignite and cause fires to become dangerous. They also could block the chimney, which is dangerous and may cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Additionally, the regular use of fireplaces demands regular supply of logs. This can be costly and time consuming to maintain.
Stoves don't need to be cleaned or swept as frequently as fireplaces. This saves homeowners time and money, while also eliminating the necessity of a fireplace liner. In addition, stoves don't produce the same carbon monoxide poisoning as fireplaces do. They only produce a small amount of carbon monoxide which is released into the atmosphere by hot gases as the fire is burning.
A wood stove has a closed combustion chamber, meaning sparks are not as much of a danger to children and pets as fireplaces are. However, it is recommended to install screens and/or doors for stoves and fireplaces as sparks can still fly from the flame and cause injury and property damage. Additionally, stoves should be kept a stated distance away from any combustible materials such as wallpaper and plasterboard.
The EPA has established emission standards that restrict the amount of air pollution a new stove is allowed to generate per hour. The EPA also requires that chimneys be swept at least once a year to ensure they are in good condition and do not have any cracks. A chimney liner is recommended to ensure that the flue is vented correctly.
The benefits for the environment of a wood stove are numerous. Wood is a renewable, environmentally friendly source of energy that can be harvested and grown within a reasonable amount of time. Hickory, oak, and cherry are some of the trees that can be used as firewood. The process of cutting down and transforming the wood into firewood only takes 20-30 years. It is also a renewable resource as the tree can be planted again after it has been cut down.