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How to Properly Install and Maintain an Outdoor Wood Burner Outdoor wood burner s, sometimes called wood boilers, look like small sheds that have an elongated smoke stack. They provide heat to water or a mixture of antifreeze and water which is then circulated around your home. When outdoor wood boilers approved by the EPA are utilized with dry wood, they can provide an environmentally friendly alternative to heating with fossil fuels. However, they do produce a significant amount of smoke. Energy Efficiency Since centuries, wood heat has been used to heat homes. Today, with fluctuating fossil fuel prices, it is a reasonable alternative for many. However, not all wood boilers are equal in terms of efficiency. As a general rule, models that use wood gasification technology are more efficient than standard models outdoor wood furnaces (OWBs). There are a variety of elements that affect the efficiency of energy used by an OWB. One of them is the quality and quantity of firewood. It is essential to choose only firewood that has been dried and thoroughly seasoned for at least six months, and ideally for a whole year. Dry firewood ejects more of its heat into the air than wet, green wood. It also burns cleaner and emits less pollution. Another aspect is the boiler's efficiency in combustion which is the percentage of heat energy converted into useful heat by the stove. It is standard for manufacturers to tout the efficiency of their OWBs, but it's important to also look at the efficiency that is delivered. This is a measure of how much of the available heat from the wood reaches the home. It is also crucial to ensure that you are operating the OWB to maximize its efficiency. This includes cleaning it and maintaining the vent frequently. The flue should be cleaned on a regular basis during the heating season to avoid obstruction and to reduce the amount of smoke released by the burner. In contrast to stoves for indoor use that are installed in your office or home, an OWB can be set up anywhere between 90 and 200 feet from your home. The heated water is then piped through insulated pipes to your home. The hot water is distributed throughout your home by a system that uses heat exchangers. Despite the drawbacks mentioned above, an OWB is a highly efficient method of heating your home, and it can save you money on your energy bills. Be sure to choose a high-efficiency unit and follow the correct maintenance procedures to get the most benefit of it. Remember that only dry wood that is seasoned and clean is recommended to be burned in an OWB to prevent it from creating pollution and causing damage to your home. Environmentally Friendly Wood is a more environmentally friendly option to burning fossil fuels like gasoline, propane and oil. It is a renewable resource, meaning that new trees will grow to replace those that were used to heat. Wood releases carbon dioxide when burned but it is absorbed by other plants and trees that convert it back into oxygen for us to breathe. In contrast to fossil fuels, burning of wood does not produce any other environmental pollution. Wood furnaces can be utilized to heat garages, homes, sheds and other structures. They are also economical as they remove the need for costly utility bills. They can also be used to warm hot tubs or pools, providing a relaxing place to unwind during the winter months. A lot of these heaters are EPA and CSA approved and are therefore a green option for home heating. 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 viable alternative to wood furnaces. They extract thermal energy from the air or the ground and can be used to heat buildings and decrease the need for propane, oil, or natural gas. These heat pumps are more eco-friendly than traditional wood stoves, and they're more efficient. However, they require a constant supply of raw materials in order to perform their job. However, wood-burning heating is still popular with a few people because of its low cost and environmental friendliness. A majority of the top models have an 85% efficiency rating, which is far superior to other heating alternatives. Speak with an expert in outdoor wood burning to find out about the most efficient and environmentally green models. Safety If not properly installed and maintained the wood burning stove can pose a major danger to fire. The smoke from fires can contain contaminants, fine particles, and carbon monoxide, which could cause asthma and respiratory problems. Smoke can also be harmful to carpets furniture, clothing and furniture. Therefore, it is important to employ professionals to install your wood stove. A professional should also check your wood-burning stovepipe or chimney on a regular schedule. They can make sure that your OWB meets the local safety standards and is operating in a safe way. This can help prevent fires from your home or any other buildings on your property. When burning wood in an OWB it is crucial to use only dry, seasoned logs. It is also important to ensure that the area around the logs free of combustible and debris such as plastic or paper, in order to reduce fire hazards. Do not burn treated wood, garbage or rubbish as they could release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Although wood smoke is able to harm everyone, it is especially dangerous for teenagers, children older adults, and those suffering from respiratory or heart conditions. It is also recommended that pregnant women and newly-wed mothers avoid smoking cigarettes as it could adversely affect their unborn baby. Using an OWB could also be a source of trouble for neighbors. Depending on the weather conditions and winds smoke from a fireplace can blow through open windows. It can also irritate the eyes and noses. It is a good idea to shut all windows and doors near the stove, and to keep pets away from the fire. Installing carbon dioxide and smoke alarms in every bedroom of your home is an excellent idea. Make sure to test them regularly. It is also recommended to have a family escape plan in place and test it at least once a year. For assistance with smoke and restoration services for fires, call your local PuroClean office. We can restore smoke-damaged homes or businesses back to their pre-fire condition. Maintenance Wood burning furnaces (also known as outdoor wood heaters or OWBs) are ideal for heating and creating a warm, cozy ambience within your home. Like all appliances that you regularly use, it requires some maintenance to ensure it is running smoothly. Maintaining the maintenance of your outdoor wood stove will ensure that you get the maximum use out of it. The most basic requirements for cleaning your wood stove is cleaning the exterior, interior and flue pipe regularly. Be sure to turn off the electricity and the fire prior to beginning cleaning. You will also want to prepare your tools prior to beginning cleaning – these should include newspapers (to cover the floor of your house) Safety gloves, a brush and a small shovel as well as a metal ash container instead of a bucket. When you burn wood on your outdoor wood stove, creosote is produced. This residue needs to be cleaned regularly to ensure optimal air flow in the combustion system. It also helps to stop the build-up of a chemical that can damage the inner layer of the steel within the water jacket. Using a creosote remover like Creosote Buster sticks in your fire can help reduce the amount of time and effort needed for the cleaning process. It is also necessary to clean out the ash container on your wood burner on a weekly basis. It is best to empty the ash into a steel Ash container rather than dumping it in a regular garbage bin that is stuffed with plastics, trash and other items that could ignite and explode if you put the hot ashes in them. Based on the type and amount of heat generated by your wood burner, and the atmospheric conditions depending on the weather, you may have to manage smoke on a regular basis. If smoke is a concern you should consider having the flue pipe on your wood stove professionally cleaned on a regular basis as well. This is a job that can be a challenge for the do-it-yourselfer and is probably a job that should be left to professionals to avoid any health problems caused by inhaling a lot of smoke from wood.