Fireplaces Wood Burning Stoves
Wood stoves have a classy, modern look that complements the wide range of home designs. They are a powerful heating source and can radiate heat throughout the room.
Modern wood burning stoves are EPA certified and feature high efficiency for heating and less particle emissions. By correctly controlling the air controls, you can increase the efficiency of your stove.
Energy Efficiency
Wood stoves are a fantastic source of heat that can be used to complement your current heating system. Additionally, they are extremely efficient heaters and some models are nearly as efficient as your furnace or oil-burning appliance. Modern stoves are designed to maximize the heat produced by each piece of wood. This means you don't have to purchase as much wood and can enjoy an ambiance of warmth throughout winter.
Stoves that are EPA-certified are extremely clean and reduce emissions and waste by keeping the fire burning for longer with less fuel. This is in contrast to older fireplaces that use open flames and combustion, which create waste of fuel, pollute air and cause dust to contaminate your home.
The EPA certification of your wood stove will ensure that it is in compliance with strict safety and efficiency standards. It also lets you claim a tax credit towards the purchase of a stove that is certified which can help you save money while reducing your energy costs.
Wood stoves can help you avoid the high costs of electricity and gas that are charged by big energy companies. Although you'll need to pay for the wood but the price fluctuations should be less than those that you would encounter if you were to rely on a utility provider.
A wood stove can also be used to warm your home during power outages. If the power goes out during a snowstorm, you can keep your home warm by using wood-burning stoves to produce warmth for your kitchen and living areas. In some instances you can use the chimney of the wood stove to vent hot water into an underground storage tank for hot water in your home for additional warmth.
If your wood-burning stove hasn't been insulated it may be leaking heat from the room and causing drafts in the house. This problem is easily fixed by adding an insulated liner to your wood-burning stove. This will not only help you save energy, but also extend the life of your stove by stopping heat from leaving the chimney.
Cleanliness
Wood stoves are a great way to save energy and keep warm, but they also produce plenty of soot. Keeping a clean stove is important to ensure your home is safe and healthy. It is recommended to clean your stove at least once a week, and your chimney once a year. Keeping your stove clean will ensure that there is proper air flow and it is safer to use.
The first step in cleaning your stove is to clean out the ash pan. The ashes can be dumped into a pan, and then disposed of in a noncombustible bin or bag. If your fireplace has a andirons or grates, you can clean them using the broom and brush, and then dispose of the ashes in the same manner. After that, clean the stove's front and any other surfaces you want to clean using a soft cloth. You could also take this occasion to clean your Ash tray or line it with fresh liners, which are readily available at your local hardware store.
After your stove has been cleaned, the next step is to clean any remaining creosote from the walls of your fireplace. This can be done using a hard-bristled broom, starting at the highest point you can before moving downwards. If you own an air-tight vacuum cleaner that has an attachment that is hard-bristled it is possible to use this to clean up loose soot as well.
You should also clean out any obstructions in your chimney in the event that it is necessary. This could be 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 leaves or sand, depending on where you live.
It is also recommended to have your chimney inspected every year and to replace your catalytic filters every 1-4years. You should also get your chimney cleaned professionally if necessary. These regular tasks will aid in preventing burning and harmful gases like carbon monoxide from entering your home.
Convenience
Wood burning stoves provide warmth and a cozy atmosphere that electric or gas fireplaces aren't able to compete with. There are woodburning stove of designs and styles to choose from, whether they're a free-standing or built into the wall. There is nothing better than relaxing in front of a warm fire on a cold southeast NY winter night.
A wood stove can help you save money on energy costs. It's also a good option when you live in a smoke control area (most of London and many other major cities are).
Stoves can be utilized as a primary heating source or as a supplement to your heating system. The amount of heat that they generate is contingent on the size and air flow of the room. If you're planning on using your stove as your primary source of heating, it is important to consider the kind and quality of the logs you buy.
Buying locally sourced wood is a great way to cut costs and lower the carbon footprint of your stove. However splitting, stacking, and dragging logs around can be a significant time consuming and back breaking task when you don't have the equipment required. This is why many homeowners opt to install a log burner in their home as a more practical alternative to collecting cutting, storing and chopping wood for heating needs.
Modern wood stoves are designed to be a more efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional open-fires. They must comply with government emission regulations and have a catalytic combustion system which helps keep the wood burning for longer, start the combustion at lower temperatures, and reduces the amount of pollutants.
It is still necessary to maintain your stove regularly. This includes cleaning the glass door, examining your flue and chimney and removing the ash from the bottom, and making sure there is enough dry wood logs to fuel the stove. However, these maintenance requirements are less than you would need to spend on energy to run your heating system.
A wood stove could be dangerous for children and pets who are close to the fire. A stray spark could cause them to burn if they touch the flames or the glass of your stove. If you have children or pets we strongly recommend putting up a safety gate for your fireplace and keeping them away from the fire.
Aesthetics
Wood burning stoves can add a beautiful ambience to any room. When adorned with a beautiful mantle and gorgeous tiling, they become the focal point of a living space. A masonry fireplace built with bricks, stacked stone and veneers can be beautiful in its appearance. Freestanding stoves are another option for homeowners who wish to discover a style and a price that is suitable for their home.
Regularly clean the chimney to remove any particulates. These particles can ignite again and cause fires to become dangerous. They also could block the chimney, which is hazardous and can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Additionally, the regular use of fireplaces demands an ongoing supply of wood. This can be expensive and time-consuming to maintain.
Stoves aren't required to be cleaned or swept as frequently as fireplaces. This saves homeowners time and money, as well as eliminating the need for a chimney liner. Stoves don't produce as much carbon monoxide as fireplaces. They only release a small amount of carbon monoxide that is pushed into the atmosphere by hot gases when the fire heats up.
A wood stove has a closed combustion chamber, so sparks are not as much of a hazard for children and pets as fireplaces can be. It is recommended that both fireplaces and wood stoves have doors or screens fitted, as sparks could still erupt from the fire and cause injury or property damage. Stoves should be kept at a certain distance from any combustible materials, like wallpaper and plasterboard.
The EPA has set emission standards that limit how much pollution a new stove can produce in an hour. The EPA also requires that chimneys be cleaned once every year to ensure that they are in good working order and do not have any cracks. Additionally a chimney liner needs to be installed to ensure that the flue vents properly.
A wood stove has numerous environmental advantages. Wood is a renewable and environmentally friendly source of energy that can be harvested and grown in a reasonable amount of time. Oak, hickory and cherry are a few of the trees which can be used as firewood. The process of cutting down and processing the wood into firewood only takes about 20 to 30 years. It is also a renewable resource, because the tree can be planted again after it has been cut down.