Wood Burning Fires Need to Be Hot and Clean
The warmth and ambience of wood-burning fires are not just relaxing and captivating but is also vital to our health and well-being. But, they have to be clean and hot in order to function effectively.
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 low moisture content, making it easier to ignite and keep a flame.
Efficient Combustion
A wood fire needs to be hot enough to drive out moisture and reach temperatures above 540 deg F ( The heat-producing process of secondary combustion starts at 900 degrees F (in ideal conditions). This is the primary process for efficiently burning the fuel while minimizing pollution smoke, creosote, and accumulation in the flue.
It is crucial to remember that the temperature needed for secondary combustion varies based on the type of fuel used and the conditions of the environment. The best way to minimize the variation is to use seasoned firewood with an average moisture content of less than 20%.
Additionally, the amount of air supplied to the fire can greatly affect the amount of heat produced and time to burn. The more oxygen that is available, the hotter the fire will burn. When the air supply is not sufficient, a wood fire produces less heat and burn slower.
To ensure maximum burn time and efficiency To maximize the efficiency and time of burn, a wood stove or fireplace insert should be equipped with an adjustable air damper. The wide-open setting allows the fire to take all the oxygen it can get and will quickly draw down the fuel supply. The reverse is true for a fire that is confined to a small area in which the fire cannot expand as much.
A firewood load that has been properly dried is crucial for efficient wood burning. Freshly cut wood that hasn't been allowed to dry will contain high levels of water, making it difficult to burn. For optimal performance it is recommended you only use seasoned wood that has been stored outside for six to nine month.
The BTU content of wood is another factor to take into consideration. White pine and spruce could be less expensive than eastern hardwoods like shagbark, hickory and black locust, but their BTU numbers are higher. This means they'll produce more heat from the same amount of wood. This is why it's important to take into consideration your heating requirements and the fuel costs when selecting your firewood.
Clean Burning
Wood smoke can create indoor air pollution, which can cause irritation to the lungs and respiratory distress in seniors and children. These pollutants include volatile aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo-a-pyrene and formaldehyde, as well as volatile organic compounds like benzene. Volatile tars (such as creosote) are also released when firewood is burnt.
Smoke from poorly-designed wood stoves and fire places can contribute to poor air quality outside, reducing visibility and contributing photochemical pollution. If properly used, however, modern combustion technology in clean-burning wood stoves and fire places can help reduce the emissions.
Stage 1 - The vaporization of Moisture: As the log heats, it releases water vapour, which escapes through the chimney flue. This uses up more energy than it would if the log was seasoned to dry prior to burning. This also wastes energy that could be used for to heat your home.
In the flue, the vapors mix with carbon particles and form smoke. Smoke is among the major sources of particulate matter and smog in the air.
Wood stoves and fireplaces with clean burn technology, when used correctly, can significantly reduce the risk of this by converting the logs into a charcoal state, which releases far less volatile gases, as well as producing the majority of the energy in the log from usable heat.
Avoid using damp, sour or decayed wood to ignite your fire. It's more difficult to burn and creates more creosote. Avoid overburdening the stove with soft and thin woods such as fir or pine. They require more energy to burn and create more smoke, which can cause chimney fires.
Always wait until the ashes are cool before handling them. Be indoor wood burning stove to keep them in a safe place or dispose of them correctly - ashes can reignite when exposed to water, and they are hazardous in landfills. Instead, you should use them around your garden or around the home.
Storing, seasoning and correctly burning your wood can help you save money and ensure that your stove is operating efficiently. Cleaning your chimney on a regular basis is important to remove creosote, particulates, and other deposited matter. This will also prevent chimney fires as well as keep your chimney operating safely.
Safety
There's nothing like a warm fire to warm up chilly winter evenings, however proper safety precautions are essential. If fires are not properly constructed or burned, or left unattended, dangerous fumes can escape into the home, and potentially dangerous creosote accumulations can form inside the chimney. These deposits can block the flue, inhibit airflow, and cause your wood stove or furnace to run less efficiently.
Never burn painted or treated wood, household trash paper, rags, or other combustible substances in your wood-burning stove or fireplace. They can emit toxic fumes, such as carbon dioxide and create toxic gases. Also, do not use explosive liquids to ignite fires. Gasoline, lighter fluid and kerosene may cause chimney fires that can cause emissions to rise and create toxic creosote.
Keep combustibles, such as furniture, curtains and toys, at a safe distance from your fireplace or stove. Don't hang clothing close to or on your fireplace with wood burning. Children should be taught that the fireplace is hot and shouldn't be touched.
Only use seasoned wood in your stove or fireplace. The wood that is seasoned has been dried during the summer months to reduce the moisture content. Wet woods produce more creosote and smoke, however, seasoned logs burn more efficiently and with less mess. The wood that is seasoned appears darker, has cracks in the end grain and makes a hollow sound when tapping. Store your logs outside, neatly stacked and with the top partially covered but still allowing air circulation around them.
The appliances that are overloaded generate more smoke, but less warmth. Fires that are overloaded can also create dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. If you own an older appliance with an insulated metal liner, check the liner regularly for signs of wear and tear that could cause 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 using small pieces. Avoid using softer woods, like pine, which are a great for starting your fire going but shouldn't be used for more than that. These woods with softer sap contain and resin that when burned, create large amounts of creosote into the chimney.
Maintenance
A warm flame in a wood burning fireplace is a great method to relax during the cold winter nights. It is important to maintain your fireplace in order to make the most of it. Regular cleaning and inspections of your fireplace can help you avoid any issues. This maintenance prevents excessive creosote and keeps the chimney clear for maximum efficiency.
When wood doesn't burn completely it forms creosote in the chimney. If a large amount of creosote is accumulated, it can cause chimney fires which are the second most common cause of house fires in the United States. A number of issues can cause a fire to burn completely, including dampers that are improperly closed or damaged in the chimney liner as well as the absence of regular cleaning and the removal of ash.
Creosote can accumulate excessively when wood is not properly seasoned. Water can comprise half of the weight of a wood piece. In the course of a fire the water boils and releases heat, but it also consumes energy during the process. The water vapor that results is then absorbed as creosote and released into the atmosphere as part of the smoke.
Soot is another harmful byproduct from burning wood. Soot is more pliable than creosote, but it can cling to the walls of your fireplace and impede air flow. It also poses an hazard to fire because it is easily ignited when exposed to gasses that ignite.
The ashes should be removed and place them in a metal ash bucket, which you should keep outside on a nonflammable surface. Don't forget that the ashes are a great source of nutrients for your plants. Spread them around in your yard!
Regularly have your fireplace and chimney checked by a Regency Dealer certified. The technician can look for cracks, creosote and soot levels, a properly shut damper and the condition of the catalyst. If you have a two-stage chimney that has an air tube, the catalyst should be removed and visually checked for blockages. Consult your user's manual for instructions on how to accomplish this for the particular unit you have.