Wood Burning Fires Need to Be Hot and Clean
Wood Burning Fires (Yogicentral.Science) are not just a relaxing and enchanting experience they're also a vital aspect of our health and well-being. They should be hot and clean in order to work.
Green wood, also known as unseasoned wood, has an excessive amount of moisture, making it difficult to ignite and burn efficiently. Kiln dried or seasoned wood has a lower moisture content, making it easier to ignite and maintain a fire.
Efficient Combustion
A wood fire must be sufficiently hot to draw out moisture and reach temperatures above 540 deg F ( 800 deg F in ideal conditions) in ideal conditions) where the secondary combustion process starts. This is the most important process for efficiently burning the fuel and minimizing pollutants, smoke, and creosote buildup in the flue.
It is important to keep in mind that the temperature required for secondary combustion varies based on the type of fuel and the conditions in the environment. The best method to reduce these variations is by using well-seasoned firewood that has less than 20 percent.
The amount of air provided to a flame can also have a significant impact on its energy output and time to burn. The higher the amount of oxygen available, the hotter a fire will burn and the shorter its burn duration. A wood fire produces less energy and burn slower when the air supply is limited.
A fireplace or wood stove insert that has an adjustable air damper will maximize burn time and efficiency. A wide-open setting permits the fire to use up all oxygen available and quickly exhaust the supply of usable fuel. The reverse is true for the fire that is restricted to a limited area, in which the fire cannot expand as far.
A firewood pile that is well-dried is also essential for efficient wood burning. When wood is freshly cut and hasn't had a chance to dry out it will have a high levels of water, which may make it difficult for logs to burn. It is recommended to use only wood that is seasoned and has been stored outdoors for between six and nine months for the best performance.
The BTU content of wood is another aspect to take into consideration. For instance, white pine or spruce wood may be cheaper than eastern hardwoods like shagbark hickory and black locust but the BTU values of the latter are much higher, meaning they will provide more heat for the same amount of wood. It is crucial to consider your heating needs and the cost of fuel when selecting your firewood.
Clean Burning
Wood smoke can trigger indoor air pollution, which can irritate lungs and cause respiratory discomfort in senior citizens and children. These pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene and formaldehyde, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo-a-pyrene, which can cause cancer. Volatile Tars (such as creosote) are also released when firewood burns.
Smoke from old, poorly-designed fireplaces and wood burning stoves ideas stoves could contribute to poor outdoor air quality, making it harder to see and contributing to photochemical pollution. However, modern clean burning wood stoves and fireplaces with modern combustion technology, when properly used, can greatly reduce the emissions.
Stage 1 - The vaporization of moisture: As the log warms, it releases water vapour, which escapes through the chimney flue. This uses up more energy than had the log been seasoned to dry before burning. This is a waste of energy that could be used to warm your home.
These vapors combine in the flue with carbon particles to produce smoke. Smoke is one of the major contributors to particulate matter in the air and is one of the main sources of smog that we see on clear days.
If used properly, wood stoves and fireplaces that utilize clean burn technology can lessen the problem by burning the logs into charcoal-like conditions that releases less volatile gasses and generates most of the energy from the log as usable heat.
Avoid using damp or sour wood to fuel your fire as it is more difficult to burn and creates much more creosote than well-seasoned wood. Avoid overburdening the stove with brittle and thin woods such as fir or pine. They require more energy to burn and create more smoke, which can cause chimney fires.
Use a metal bucket to remove ashes from the stove, and wait until they cool before handling them. Be sure to store or dispose of them in a safe manner as ashes can ignite when exposed to water, and they can be hazardous in landfills. Use them in your garden or at home instead.
Properly conserving, securing and burning your wood correctly will save you money on fuel and keep your stove functioning efficiently. Regularly cleaning your chimney is important to remove creosote and particulates as well as other debris that is deposited. This can also stop chimney fires and keep your chimney operating safely.
Safety
There's nothing better than a warm fire to while away chilly winter evenings, but proper safety precautions are required. When fires are improperly built, burned or left unattended, hazardous fumes can escape into the home, and potentially dangerous creosote accumulations can form within the chimney. These deposits could block the flue and reduce the flow of air, making your wood stove or furnace not to function as efficiently.
Never burn treated or painted wood, household trash paper, rags, or other combustible substances in your wood-burning fireplace or stove. They produce noxious gases and may release toxic fumes like carbon monoxide. Avoid using flammable liquids as a fire starter. Gasoline, kerosene and lighter fluids can increase emissions, create toxic creosote and possibly cause chimney fires.
Keep combustibles, like furniture or curtains, as well as toys, at a safe distance from your fireplace or stove. Do not hang clothes on or near your wood-burning fireplace. Make sure that children understand that the fireplace is extremely hot and should not be touched.
Only use seasoned wood in your fireplace or stove. Seasoned wood has been dried throughout the summer to decrease the moisture content. Wet woods produce more creosote and smoke, whereas seasoned logs burn much more efficiently and cleanly. The wood that is seasoned appears darker, has cracks in the end grain, and is hollow when tapping. Store your wood burners for sale outside, neatly stacking them with the top partially covered but still allowing air circulation around them.
Be careful not to over-load your stove or fireplace because overloaded appliances produce more smoke and less heat. In addition, overloaded fires can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. If you have an older appliance that has a metal lining, inspect the liner on a regular basis for signs of wear and tear that can cause a chimney fire.
The EPA recommends reducing smoke in your home by using dry, well-seasoned, split and dry wood and constructing a hot fire using small pieces. Avoid using soft woods such as pine. Pine is a good starter material for the fire, but it shouldn't be used beyond that. These softer woods have resin and sap that, when burnt, deposits excessive creosote inside the chimney.
Maintenance
A warm fire in a wood burning fireplace is an ideal way to warm up during the cold nights of winter. But, it is essential to maintain your fireplace to ensure that you get the most benefit from your fire. Regular cleaning and inspection of your fireplace is the best way to avoid any issues that might occur. This prevents creosote buildup and keeps the chimney clean for maximum efficiency.
If wood doesn't completely burn, creosote forms in the chimney. When a large amount of creosote accumulates it can result in chimney fires. These are the second hand wood burning stoves most frequent causes of house fires across the United States. A variety of issues could cause a fire to fail to completely burn, including dampers that are improperly closed or damaged in the chimney liner, and a lack of regular cleaning and ash removal.
Creosote can accumulate excessively when corner wood burning stove is not properly seasoned. This is due to the fact that up to half of the weight of a piece wood is water. This water boils during the fire and releases heat. It also consumes energy. The water vapor that results is then absorbed as creosote, or released into the air as part of the smoke.
Another hazard of burning wood is soot. Soot, while softer than creosote can block airflow and stick to the walls. It can also be an ignition risk since it is easily ignited when exposed to combustible gases.
Remove the ashes from your fireplace and put them in an ash bucket made from metal. Keep it outside on a non-flammable area. The ashes can also serve as sources of nutrients for plants, so don't forget to scatter them across the yard!
You should have a Certified Regency Dealer inspect your chimney and fireplace regularly. The technician can look for cracks, creosote levels, soot levels, a properly shut damper, and the condition of the catalyst. If you have a double-stage chimney that includes an air tube, you should remove the catalyst and visually checked for blockages. Consult your user's manual for directions on how to do this for your specific unit.