Wood Burning Fires Need to Be Hot and Clean
The warmth and ambience of wood-burning fires is not just soothing and enchanting but also essential to our health and well-being. They need to be warm and clean in order to be effective.
Unseasoned, or green, wood has high moisture content that makes it challenging to light and burn efficiently. Kiln dried or seasoned wood has a low moisture content, making it much easier to light and maintain a fire.
Efficient Combustion
A wood fire must be hot enough to push out water and reach temperatures that are above 540 deg F ( 800 deg F in ideal conditions) at which the secondary combustion process begins. This is the most crucial step to efficiently burning the fuel and minimizing pollutants smoke, creosote, and buildup in the flue.
It is crucial to remember that the temperature needed for secondary combustion is dependent on the type of fuel used and the environmental conditions. The best way to minimize the variation is to use seasoned firewood with a moisture content below 20 percent.
The amount of air that is delivered to a fire can also have a significant influence on its temperature and burning time. The higher the amount of oxygen available, the more hot a fire will burn and the shorter its burn time. A wood fire will produce less energy and burn slower when the air supply is restricted.
To ensure maximum burn time and efficiency, a wood stove or fireplace insert should be fitted with an adjustable air damper. The wide-open setting allows the fire to take all the oxygen it can get and quickly draw down the fuel supply. A fire that is contained within an area of limited size is less likely to spread.
A dry load of firewood is also critical for efficient wood burning. When wood is freshly cut and hasn't had a chance to dry, it will have high water content, which can be difficult for logs to burn. To ensure optimal performance, it is recommended that you use only seasoned wood that has been stored outside for six to nine month.
The BTU content of wood is a different factor to take into consideration. For instance, white pine or spruce wood may be cheaper than eastern hardwoods like black locust or shagbark, but the BTU values of the latter are much higher, meaning they will offer more heat for the same amount of wood. This is why it's important to take into consideration your heating requirements and fuel costs when selecting your firewood.
Clean Burning
Wood smoke can create indoor air pollution that can irritate lungs and cause respiratory distress in children and seniors. These pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde and benzene, as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo-apyrene, are carcinogenic. Volatile tars (such as creosote) are also released when firewood burns.
Smoke from older, poorly-designed wood stoves and fireplaces can contribute to poor outdoor air quality by reducing visibility and contributing to photochemical smog. If used properly however modern combustion technology in new clean-burning wood stoves and places can help reduce the emissions.
Stage 1 - Vaporization of Moisture: As the log heats it releases water vapour which escapes through the chimney flue. This requires more energy than when the log was dried before burning. It also wastes energy that could be used for warming your home.
These vapors mix in the flue with carbon particles to produce smoke. Smoke is a major contributor to particulate matter in the air and is among the main sources of smog that we experience on clear days.
Fireplaces and wood stoves that use clean burn technology, if used correctly, can significantly reduce the risk of this by burning the logs to charcoal state, which releases far less volatile gases, and producing the majority of the energy in the log from usable heat.
Avoid using damp or sour wood to fuel your fire as it is more difficult to burn and generates lots of creosote compared to well-seasoned wood. Don't over-load your stove with soft and thin wood like pine or fir as it requires more energy to burn them and they create more smoke which can cause chimney fires.
Always wait until the ashes have cool before handling them. Make sure you store or dispose of them correctly - ashes can reignite if exposed to water, and they are hazardous in landfills. Use them in your garden or at home.
Storing, seasoning and correctly burning your wood will help you save money and ensure that your stove is operating efficiently. It is also important to regularly clean your chimney to get rid of creosote and other particles as well as to avoid chimney fires and ensure safe operation.
Safety
There's nothing like a cozy fire to while away 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 dangerous creosote deposits can build up within the chimney. These deposits can clog up the chimney and restrict airflow, causing your furnace or wood stove not to function as efficiently.
Never burn painted or treated wood, household waste paper, rags, or other combustible materials in your wood-burning stove or fireplace. They emit noxious gases and may release toxic fumes, like carbon monoxide. Avoid using liquids that are flammable as a starter. Gasoline, lighter fluid, and kerosene could cause chimney fires, increase emissions, and create toxic creosote.
Keep combustibles such as furniture, curtains and toys, in a safe distance from your fireplace or stove. Do not hang clothes on or near your fireplace that is wood burning. Make sure your children know 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 during the summer months to lessen moisture. Woods that are damp emit more smoke and creosote. On the other hand, the wood that has been seasoned is more efficient and cleaner. Seasoned wood is darker and cracks appear along the end grain, and sounds hollow when you tap it. Keep your logs outside stacked neatly with the top securing, but allowing air to circulate around them.
Be cautious not to overload your fireplace or stove as appliances that are overloaded produce more smoke and less heat. Overloaded fires can also generate unsafe carbon monoxide levels. If you own an older appliance that has an insulated metal liner, check the liner on a regular basis for signs of wear and tear that can cause an explosion in the chimney.
The EPA recommends using split, dry and well-seasoned wood to minimize the amount of smoke that your home produces. Create conservatory wood burner using small pieces. Avoid using soft woods such as pine. Pine is a great fuel for an open flame, but should not be used beyond that. These softer woods have sap and resin which is a result of burning, and deposits excessive creosote into the chimney.
Maintenance
Warming up in front of a fireplace with wood is a great option to relax during winter evenings. It is crucial to keep your fireplace in good condition to get the most out of it. Regular cleaning and inspections of your fireplace will allow you to avoid any problems. This prevents excessive creosote accumulation and keeps the chimney clean for maximum efficiency.
If the wood doesn't fully burn it forms creosote in the chimney. When a large amount of creosote accumulates it can result in chimney fires. They are the second most common causes of house fires across the United States. The inability of a fire to burn completely can be caused by a variety of reasons, including improperly closed dampers and cracks in the liner of the chimney and the absence of regular cleaning and ash removal.
Creosote can build up excessively when wood isn't properly seasoned. Best wood burning stoves can make up half of the weight of a wooden piece. During the fire it boils and releases heat, but it also consumes energy during the process. The water vapor that is produced then condenses into creosote, or is released into the air as part of smoke.
Another harmful side effect of burning wood is soot. Soot, while softer than creosote, is able to block airflow and stick to the walls. It could also pose a fire hazard because it ignites easily when exposed to gasses that are combustible.
The ashes should be removed and place them in a metal ash container that you keep outside on a nonflammable surface. Don't forget that dust is a fantastic source of nutrients for your plants. Spread them out in your yard!
It is recommended to make sure that your chimney and fireplace are examined by a Regency Dealer Certified. The technician can look for cracks, creosote levels, soot levels, a properly shut damper, and the condition of the catalyst. If you have a two-stage fireplace that includes an air tube the catalyst must be removed and checked visually for blockages. Refer to the user manual to find out how to do it for your fireplace.