Five Killer Quora Answers To Wood Burning Fires

Wood Burning Fires Need to Be Hot and Clean

Wood burning fires are not only relaxing and captivating They're also an essential part of our health and wellbeing. However, they must be clean and hot in order to work effectively.

Green, or unseasoned, wood is very moist that makes it challenging to burn and light efficiently. Kiln dried, or seasoned wood has a low moisture content and is therefore easier to ignite and burn for longer.

Efficient Combustion

A wood fire must be hot enough to drive out water and reach temperatures that are above 540 degrees F ( The process of producing heat in secondary combustion begins at around 900 degrees F (in ideal conditions). This is the first step to efficient combustion of fuel and minimizing pollution and smoke that enters the flue.

It is important to note that the temperature required for secondary combustion varies based on the type of fuel and the conditions in the environment. The best way to limit the variations is to use seasoned firewood with a moisture content below 20 percent.

Additionally, the amount of air that is supplied to a fire can significantly impact its heat output and burn time. The more oxygen available, the faster the fire will burn. A wood fire will produce less energy and burn slower when the air supply is limited.

A fireplace or wood stove insert that has an adjustable air damper can increase burn time and efficiency. The wide-open setting gives the fire to get all the oxygen it can get and will quickly exhaust the fuel supply. A fire that is contained within an area of limited size is less likely to spread.

A well-dried firewood load is also crucial for efficient wood burning. Wood that is freshly cut and hasn't been dried will have a high water content which makes it difficult to burn. To ensure optimal performance it is recommended you use only wood that has been seasoned that has been stored outside for six to nine month.

The BTU content of wood is another aspect to take into consideration. White pine and spruce could be less expensive than eastern hardwoods such as shagbark, hickory and black locust, but their BTU values are greater. This means that they will produce more heat with the same amount of wood. This is the reason it's important to take into consideration your heating requirements and the fuel costs when selecting your firewood.

Clean Burning

Wood smoke can cause indoor air pollution, which can cause irritation to the lungs and respiratory distress in children and seniors. These pollutants include volatile aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo-a-pyrene and formaldehyde, as well as volatile organic compounds like benzene. When wood is burned and smolders, volatile tars like creosote are also released.

Smoke from old, poorly designed fireplaces and wood stoves can contribute to poor outdoor air quality by decreasing visibility and causing photochemical smog. When used correctly, however, modern wood burner technology for combustion in wood stoves that burn clean and in fire places can help reduce the emissions.

Stage 1 - Moisture Vaporizes: As the log heats up it releases water vapor, which escapes through the chimney flue. This uses up more energy than it would if the log was seasoned to dry before burning. This is a waste of energy which could be used to warm your home.

In the flue, the vapors mix with carbon particles to form smoke. Smoke is one of the major contributors to particulate matter in the air and is among the major sources of smog we experience on clear days.

If properly used Wood stoves and fireplaces that utilize clean burn technology can lessen the risk of this issue by converting the logs to a charcoal-like state that releases less volatile gasses and generates the majority of the energy produced by the logs as usable heat.

Avoid using damp or sour wood for your fire because it's more difficult to burn and creates much more creosote than well-seasoned wood. Also, don't overload your stove with thin and soft wood such as fir or pine; it takes more energy to burn them, and they also produce more smoke which can cause chimney fires.

Use a metal bucket to remove ashes from the stove, and always wait until they cool before handling them. Be sure to keep them in a safe place or dispose of them in a safe manner since ashes could ignite when exposed to water, and they are hazardous in landfills. Make use of them in your garden or at home instead.

Properly properly storing, seasoning and burning your wood will save you money on fuel and keep your stove running efficiently. Cleaning your chimney on a regular basis is crucial to get rid of creosote, particulates, and other deposited matter. This will also prevent chimney fires as well as maintain safe operation.

Safety

There's nothing like a warm fire to warm up chilly winter evenings, but proper safety precautions are essential. When fires are improperly built or burned, or left unattended, harmful fumes can escape into the home, and potentially dangerous creosote deposits may build up inside the chimney. These deposits can clog the flue, block airflow and cause your wood stove or furnace to work less efficiently.

Never burn treated or painted wood, household garbage paper, rags, or other combustible materials inside your wood-burning fireplace or stove. They emit noxious gases and can release toxic fumes, such as carbon monoxide. Don't use explosive liquids to ignite fires. Gasoline, lighter fluid and kerosene may cause fires in chimneys which can increase emissions and cause toxic creosote.

Keep combustible objects, such as curtains, furniture and toys, a safe distance from your fireplace or stove. Don't hang clothes near your wood-burning fireplace. Make sure that children understand that the fireplace is extremely hot and should not be touched.

Make sure to use only wood that has been seasoned for your stove or fireplace. The wood that is seasoned has been dried through the summer to reduce moisture content. The wood that is damp produces more smoke and creosote, while seasoned logs burn more efficiently and with less mess. The wood that is seasoned appears darker and has cracks in the end grain, and makes a hollow sound when tapping. Store your logs outdoors stacked neatly with the top covered and allowing air to circulate around them.

Be careful not to overload your stove or fireplace as appliances that are overloaded produce more smoke and less heat. Fires that are overloaded can also create dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. If you have an older appliance with a metal liner, check it frequently for indications of wear. This could lead to an explosion in the chimney.

The EPA recommends reducing smoke inside your home by using dry, split and well-seasoned wood and constructing a hot fire with small wood burning stove pieces. Avoid using soft woods like pine, which are good for starting your fire up and running but shouldn't be used for anything more than. These soft woods contain resin and sap, which, when burnt, deposits too much creosote in the chimney.

Maintenance

A warm fire in a wood burning fireplace is an ideal way to warm up during the cold winter nights. It is crucial to maintain your fireplace in order to ensure that you reap the maximum benefit from your fire. Regular cleaning and inspections of your fireplace can help you avoid any issues. This prevents the build-up of creosote and helps keep the chimney clean to ensure maximum efficiency.

Creosote is a dark, crusty flammable material that forms in the flue when wood does not completely burn. If a large wood burning stove amount of creosote is accumulated, it can trigger chimney fires, which are the second-leading cause of house fires in the United States. The inability of a fire to completely burn can be caused by a number of reasons such as dampers that are not properly sealed or cracks in the chimney's liner and the absence of regular cleaning and removal of ash.

Wood that is not properly seasoned can cause the accumulation of creosote to an excessive degree. This is due to the fact that up to half of the weight of a piece of wood is water. When the fire is burning, this water boils and releases heat, but it also consumes energy in the process. The water vapor created then condenses into creosote or is released into the air as a part of smoke.

Soot is another noxious product of burning wood. Soot, while softer than creosote, is able to block airflow and adhere to walls. It is also an hazard to fire because it is easily ignited when exposed to gases that are combustible.

Remove the ashes from your fireplace and place them in an ash container made of metal. Keep it outside on a non-flammable surface. Don't forget that the remains of the ashes are a good source of nutrients for your plants. Spread them out in your yard!

Regularly ensure that your chimney and fireplace are inspected by a Regency Dealer certified. The technician will look for cracks, creosote and soot levels, a properly shut damper, and the condition of the catalyst. If you have a double-stage fireplace with an air tube, you should remove the catalyst and visually inspected for any blockages. Refer to your user manual for directions on how to do this for your particular unit.