Wood Burner Fireplace: 10 Things I'd Love To Have Known Earlier

How to Get the Most From a Wood Burner Fireplace

Unlike traditional open fireplaces wood stoves are specifically designed and optimized to burn wood. This allows them meet tighter emissions regulations.

Wood burning stoves produce sparkling yellow flames and soft crackling noises. They also give a primal feeling of warmth. However, the smoke it creates contains carbon monoxide and toxic air pollutants, such as benzene, formaldehyde and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Efficient

Wood burning stoves and fireplaces provide a beautiful and natural heat to the home, and they are incredibly efficient. A good quality wood burner can achieve an Ecodesign rating of as high as 77%. It is crucial to get the most benefit of your log burner in light of rising energy costs. The good thing is that it's now easier than ever before to do!

The moisture content of firewood is an important factor that determines how efficient a wood-burning stove is. We recommend using only well-seasoned wood that has been dried over a period of at least one year and in many cases two years. The more dry the wood more dry, the better it burns. This results in less smoke, and less harmful emissions.

Another great benefit of a wood burning stove is that it's a low carbon source of fuel, which is excellent for the environment. If you buy locally-sourced wood, you also help to contribute to the active management and conservation of woodlands. This is beneficial for wildlife.

As far as maintenance is involved, the sole requirement for a wood burner is to frequently take out and dispose of the ash. This can be a bit of a hassle, but is well worth it to ensure you get most heat from each log. If you allow the ashes 2-3 days to completely cool, they can also be used as a non-toxic and eco-friendly melt of ice. They can also be used to polish jewellery and absorb smells.

A fireplace made of wood is a timeless classic. While they're not as popular than gas fireplaces, their appeal and ambiance of a fire that is roaring can't be denied. These fires are great to cuddle in on cold winter nights, and they make a warm and inviting area in your home. A high-quality wood stove will pay off for many years. Call us today to learn more about how our experienced chimney sweeps can assist you in getting the most out of your stove.

Low Carbon

Wood burners that burn cleanly and efficiently are the most effective method to save money while keeping your home warm. They also aid local woodland management. This is an excellent way to support wildlife in your local area.

Wood-burning fireplaces shop and stoves create very little pollution if they are properly maintained and used with dry, seasoned firewood. However, when they are not maintained properly or are used with poor quality wood, the smoke produced by them contains fine particles (known as particulate pollution) that can cause irritation to the lung and other organs. It also contains carbon monoxide and toxic air pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Inhaling air pollution can cause lung irritation and cause asthma attacks wheezing, coughing, and lung irritation. It may also cause cancer, heart disease or premature death.

Some people worry that using a wood burning stove can cause climate change, but this is not necessarily true. Burning wood is a carbon-neutral energy source. The tree absorbs carbon dioxide over its lifespan. When burned carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.

The wood is local, which decreases the amount of pollution produced during the transport process. It is crucial to choose hardwoods that are seasoned and of high quality. They burn longer and more evenly than softwoods.

Modern, Electric Fireplace EPA certified wood stoves and heaters (such as those manufactured by Charlton & Jenrick) have significantly lower emissions than older stoves. They have been tested and certified to meet 2020 EPA standards, which are significantly more strict than previous emissions limits.

All wood-burning stoves must be fully vented to the outside of your home to ensure that they don't create a haze of exhaust inside your home. By keeping flames above the logs and making sure you use dry, seasoned and dry wood, all of our current clean burn and DEFRA exempt stoves are capable of producing very clear exhaust. They also have particulate levels that are 60% or more below the DEFRA limit.

A wood-burning stove that has a hybrid unit or catalytic converter could be the ultimate low carbon heating solution. These units ignite the gasses and particulates from the initial combustion in a subsequent stage by mixing them with superheated air. They then funnel the remaining gasses and particulates through a catalytic combustor for an additional and final combustion, decreasing emissions to levels well below government standards.

Clean Burn

Cleanburn wood stoves are designed to burn fuel with the greatest efficiency that is possible. This means that there are fewer emissions of particles into the air when burning wood. The stove's air management system regulates the intake and exhausting of gases, ensuring that the combustion process is conducted in a sealed, controlled atmosphere. It also regulates the flame height to minimise emissions and maximise heat output.

This means your chimney and surrounding area will be cleaner than older stoves. Particulate matter, also known as particle pollution, resulting from incompletely burned wood can cause respiratory issues, such as coughing and wheezing, and can contribute to heart disease as well as stroke, diabetes and other serious ailments. The air pollution resulting from wood combustion is a contributory factor in poor air quality in urban areas.

Smoke from poorly burned timber is a source of fine particulate pollutants as well as hazardous air pollutant such as carbon monoxide, as well as other dangerous air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), benzene and formaldehyde. These particles can be absorbed into the lungs and other organs, causing discomfort, damage and even death. Airborne dust can also harm the surfaces in your home and give an unpleasant sludge-like feel to rooms.

It is important to select top quality, seasoned, and dried firewood for your wood burner fireplace. The most effective woods for heating are hardwoods like beech, oak and ash. Hardwoods are incredibly dense and have a more BTU than softwoods. They also provide more heat.

You should also determine if your local authority has regulations regarding wood burning. These could include nuisance/odor regulations and visible emissions or opacity limits for smoke.

It is important to keep the glass of a stove with a glass front free of grime and deposits. You can use a dry towel or oven cleaner spray for this. You can also add bicarbonate soda mixed with water to the glass.

Regular maintenance of your stove and chimney is also essential. This includes regular chimney cleanings that remove creosote and ensure proper functioning of your flue. It is also important to mark the dates of periodic inspections on your calendar. This will allow you avoid costly repairs and extend the life of your wood burner.

Low Maintenance

Wood burning fireplaces are very popular due to their natural warmth. This kind of fireplace insert requires a bit of maintenance and upkeep. The chimney, flue and stove can all be the cause of house fires if not cleaned and maintained regularly. They also provide warmth in the event of a power outage, particularly during winter storms where branches of trees can fall and power lines can be ripped down.

Using a wood burner to heat your home will reduce your carbon footprint considerably compared to other fossil fuel sources like gas. modern fireplace wood stoves and inserts are made to conform to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) standards, which means that they produce very low emissions. The more well-seasoned the wood is, the more efficient it will be as well and you'll use less of it to produce the same amount of heat.

These fireplaces require some maintenance and care, including ensuring they are placed away from combustible materials and a screen is installed. Making sure the grate is free of debris and ash will allow airflow, which will prevent the fire from dying quickly. It will also help keep your home clean. You should have your chimney and stove swept at least twice per year to prevent creosote build-up which could be an extremely dangerous fire hazard as well as a clog that can restrict circulation.

A wood-burning stove has to be maintained on a regular basis and it could take some time for a beginner homeowner to learn how to light, ignite and maintain a steady fire in the fireplace. But, once you've achieved the art of creating and maintaining the fire in your wood stove, it can be a source of lasting pleasure that can provide heat and warmth for your home every year.

Wood burning fireplaces have been in use in a variety of forms or styles for over 500 years. They've gained a lot of attention due to their efficiency, sustainability and the natural warmth of real wood. If you're thinking of buying a new heater, talk with your local certified Regency dealer to find out more about the advantages of an insert or stove made of wood for your home.