Fireplaces Wood Burning Stoves
Wood stoves have an elegant modern style that matches the wide range of home designs. They are a powerful heating source that can provide radiant heat throughout the room.
Modern wood burning stoves have been EPA certified for their high heating efficiency and less particle emissions. These efficiency levels can be increased by operating the air controls in a correct manner.
Energy Efficiency
Wood stoves use a very energy-efficient source of heat and can supplement your home's current heating system. Some models are just as efficient as furnaces and oil-burning appliances. Modern stoves are designed to maximize the heat produced by each piece of wood. This means you don't have to buy as much wood and can enjoy a cozy fire all through winter.
Stoves that have been endorsed by the EPA burn extremely cleanly and reduce emissions and waste through burning longer and using less fuel. This is in contrast to older fireplaces that use open flames and burning, which create waste of fuel, pollute air and cause dust to contaminate your home.
The EPA certification on your wood stove will guarantee that it is in compliance with strict safety and efficiency standards. You can also claim a tax rebate for the purchase of a stove with EPA certification. This can help you save money and reduce your expenses for energy.
A wood stove will help you get rid of the big energy companies and any monopolies they may have in your region, freeing you from their fluctuating prices for gas and electricity. Although you'll need to pay for wood but the price fluctuations should be less than what you would have to face when you rely on a utility company.
Another benefit of heating your home with wood stoves is that it works well during power outages. If power goes out during the midst of a snowstorm, you are able to keep your home warm by using wood-burning stoves to produce warmth for your kitchen and living areas. In some instances the chimney of the wood stove could be used to release hot water through the wall to a hot water tank inside your home for even more heat.
If your wood-burning stove hasn't been insulated it may be leaking heat from the room, causing drafts in the house. It is possible to solve this problem by putting in an insulation-proof wood stove liner to your fireplace. 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 an excellent way to conserve energy and stay warm, but they also produce a lot of soot. Clean stoves are crucial to keep your home safe and healthy. To do this, you should clean your stove every week and your chimney at least once per year. Cleaning your stove will ensure an air flow that is proper and is safer to use.
The first step in cleaning your stove is to empty the ash pan. The ashes can be emptied into a trash can, and then disposed of in a noncombustible bin or bag. If your fireplace is equipped with grates or andirons you can clean them with a brush and broom and then dispose of the ashes in the same manner. After woodburning stoves , clean the stove's front as well as any other surfaces you wish to clean using a soft cloth. You could also take the occasion to clean your ash pan or reline it with new liners available at the local hardware store.
After cleaning your stove, you'll have to get rid of any creosote that remains on the walls of your fireplace. You can use a broom with bristles that are hard for this. Start as high as possible and work your way down. You can also use a vacuum cleaner attachment with bristles that are hard to remove the soot that has escaped.
You should also clean out any obstructions to your chimney, should they be required. This could be twigs, branches, leaves, fruit or even nesting materials of small animals (which are known to nest in stove pipes and chimneys!). Your chimney could be vulnerable to wind-blown substances like leaves or sand, based on where you live.
It is recommended that you have your chimney inspected every year, and to replace your catalytic filters every 1-4years. It is also recommended that you have your chimney cleaned by a professional when necessary. These regular chores will help to prevent the spread of dangerous gasses like carbon monoxide from escaping your home.
Convenience
Wood burning stoves create warmth and a cozy atmosphere that gas or electric fireplaces can't compete with. It can be freestanding or installed into the wall, there are many designs and styles that will fit your home. There's no better feeling than curling up in front of a crackling fire on a chilly southeast NY winter night.
Having a wood stove can help you cut your energy costs. It's also a good choice if you reside in a smoke control area (most of London and a lot of major cities are).
Stoves can be utilized as a primary heating source or as a supplement to your existing heating system. The amount of heat they produce is dependent on the dimensions of the room, the speed at which the fire burns, and the amount of air circulation around it. If you're considering using your stove as your primary source of heat it is essential to consider the kind and quality of the logs you buy.
Locally sourced wood is an excellent way to cut your costs and reduce the carbon footprint of your stove. However splitting, stacking, and dragging logs around can be an extremely time-consuming and back ache when you don't have the equipment required. Many homeowners opt for the use of a log heater at their home to avoid the burden of chopping, gathering and the storage of wood.
The majority of modern wood stoves are designed to be more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional open-fires. They must meet the emission standards of the government and include an engineered combustion system that helps keep the wood burning for longer, and starts the combustion at lower temperatures and reduces the amount of pollutants.
You'll still have to maintain your stove on a regular basis. This means emptying the all ash from the bottom of the stove, having your chimney and flue checked as well as cleaning the glass door, and making sure that there are enough dry logs to fuel it. The maintenance requirements are less than the energy cost to operate your heating system.
One of the main disadvantages when you have wood stoves is that it poses an issue of safety for pets and children who be too close to the flames. A stray spark could burn them if they touch the flames or the glass of your stove. If you have pets or children we strongly recommend putting up a safety gate to your fireplace and keeping them away from the fire.
Aesthetics
Wood burning stoves can provide an elegant ambiance to any room. They become the focal point of the room when outfitted with a stunning mantle. A fireplace constructed with bricks, stacked stones and veneer can look stunning. Freestanding stoves also offer many options for homeowners who want to find the perfect style for their space and budget.
Fireplaces need to be swept regularly to remove any particulates that are lodged in the chimney. These particles could ignite and cause fires to become dangerous. They can also block the chimney which is dangerous and may cause carbon monoxide poisoning. small wood burning stove of fireplaces requires a constant supply. This can be costly and time-consuming to maintain.
Stoves do not need to be cleaned or swept as frequently as fireplaces. This can save homeowners time and money, as well as eliminating the necessity for a chimney liner. Stoves do not produce the same amount of carbon monoxide as fireplaces. They only produce a tiny amount, which is then pushed out into the atmosphere by hot gasses.
A wood stove has a sealed combustion chamber, which means sparks are not as much of a hazard for pets and children as fireplaces are. It is still recommended that both fireplaces and wood stoves have doors or screens installed, as sparks can still fly from the fire and cause injuries and property damage. Stoves must also be kept at a specific distance from combustible materials like wallpaper and plasterboard.
The EPA has set emissions standards that limit the amount of pollution a new stove can create per hour. The EPA requires that chimneys be swept at least once a year in order to ensure that they are in good shape and free of cracks. A chimney liner is recommended to ensure that the flue vents properly.
The environmental benefits of a wood stove are numerous. Wood is a renewable, green source of energy that can be grown and harvested in a reasonable amount of time. Hickory, oak, and cherry are a few of the trees that can be used as firewood. The cutting and processing the wood into firewood only takes between 20 and 30 years. It's also a resource that is sustainable because after the tree is cut down it can be replanted again.