Five Killer Quora Answers To Wood Burning Fires

Wood Burning Fires Need to Be Hot and Clean

wood burning fires (Going Here) are not only comforting and mesmerising, but they're a critical part of our health and well-being. They need to be warm and clean to be effective.

Green, or unseasoned, wood has high moisture content that makes it challenging to burn and light efficiently. Kiln dried or seasoned wood has a lower moisture content, making it easier to light and maintain a flame.

Efficient Combustion

The wood fire should be sufficiently hot to burn off water and reach temperatures that exceed 540 deg F. 900 degrees F in ideal conditions) where the heat-producing secondary combustion process begins. This is the most important step in efficiently burning fuel while reducing emissions and smoke in the flue.

It is crucial to remember that the temperature required for secondary combustion is dependent on the type of fuel used and the environmental conditions. The best way to limit these variations is by using seasoned firewood with less than 20 percent.

In addition, the quantity of air supplied to the fire can have a significant impact on the amount of heat produced and time to burn. The more oxygen available, the more hot the fire will burn. A wood fire will produce less energy and burn at a slower rate when the air supply is slowed.

A fireplace or wood stove insert fitted with an adjustable air damper can increase the time to burn and efficiency. The wide-open setting gives the fire to get all the oxygen it needs and will quickly drain the fuel supply. The converse is true of an area that is limited to a limited area, where the fire can not expand as far.

A load of firewood that has been properly dried is essential for efficient wood burning. Freshly cut wood that hasn't been allowed to dry will have a high water content, making it difficult to burn. It is recommended to use only seasoned firewood that has been stored outdoors for six to nine months for the best performance.

Another factor to consider is the BTU content of various types of wood. White pine and spruce could be less expensive than eastern hardwoods, such as shagbark and hickory as well as black locust, but their BTU numbers are higher. This means they'll generate more heat from the same amount of wood. It's important to consider your heating requirements and fuel costs when choosing your firewood.

Clean Burning

Wood smoke can cause indoor air pollution, which can cause irritation to lungs and respiratory discomfort in senior citizens and children. These pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde and benzene, as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons like benzo-a-pyrene, that are carcinogenic. Volatile Tars (such as creosote) are also released when firewood is burned.

Smoke from older, poorly-designed wood stoves and fireplaces can contribute to poor outdoor air quality, decreasing visibility and causing photochemical pollution. However, new clean burning fireplaces and wood stoves equipped with modern technology for combustion, when used correctly, can greatly reduce the emission.

Stage 1 - Moisture Vaporizes: As the log gets heated, it releases water vapor which escapes through the chimney flue. This takes more energy than if the log had been dried prior to burning. This is a waste of energy that could be used to heat your home.

These vapors combine in the flue with carbon particles to create smoke. Smoke is one of the major contributors to particulate matter in the air and is among the main sources of smog we encounter on clear days.

Wood stoves and fireplaces with clean burn technology, when utilized correctly, can dramatically reduce the risk of this by converting the wood to the state of charcoal, which releases far less volatile gases, as well as producing most of the energy in the log from usable heat.

Avoid using damp, sour or decayed wood to ignite your fire. It is more difficult to burn and generates more creosote. Do not overload your stove with soft and thin woods like pine or fir. They require more energy to burn and produce more smoke, which can cause chimney fires.

Use a bucket made of metal to scoop ashes from the stove, and wait for them to cool before handling them. Make sure you store or dispose of them properly - ashes can reignite in the presence of water and they are hazardous in landfills. Use them in your garden or at your home.

Properly storing, seasoning and burning your wood correctly will save you money on fuel and keep your stove functioning efficiently. It is also important to clean your chimney regularly to get rid of creosote and other particles as well as to avoid chimney fires and maintain safe operation.

Safety

It's hard to beat a warm fire on a cold winter night however, security precautions should be taken. When fires aren't properly built, burned or left unattended, dangerous fumes can escape into the home, and potentially dangerous creosote deposits can build up within the chimney. These deposits can block the flue and reduce the flow of air, making your furnace or wood stove to not work as efficiently.

Never burn treated or painted wood, household trash paper, rags, and other combustible materials in your wood-burning stove or fireplace. They emit noxious gasses and release toxic fumes like carbon monoxide. Also, do not use explosive liquids to ignite fires. Gasoline, lighter fluid, and kerosene may cause fires in chimneys, increase emissions, and produce toxic creosote.

Keep combustibles such as furniture, curtains and toys, in a safe distance from your fireplace or stove. Do not hang clothes near or on the fireplace that is burning wood. Children should be taught that the fireplace is very hot and shouldn't be touched.

Only use seasoned wood in your fireplace or stove. Seasoned wood is dried throughout the summer to reduce the moisture content. Wet woods produce more smoke and creosote, while seasoned logs burn more cleanly and more efficiently. Seasoned wood is darker, has cracks along the end grain, and sounds hollow when you tap it. Keep your wood outside wood burners, neatly stacked and with the top covered but permitting air circulation around them.

The appliances that are overloaded generate more smoke and less warmth. In addition, overloaded fires can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. If you own an older appliance that has a lining made of metal, you should inspect the liner frequently for signs of wear and tear that can cause an explosion in the chimney.

The EPA suggests reducing the amount of smoke in your home by using dry, well-seasoned, split and dry wood and constructing a hot fire with small wood burning stove pieces. Avoid using soft woods like pine. Pine is a good starter material for the fire, but it shouldn't be used for more than. These soft woods are brimming with sap and resin, which when burned, create an excessive amount of creosote in the chimney.

Maintenance

A warm fire in a wood burning fireplace is the perfect way to warm up during the cold nights of winter. It is crucial to maintain your fireplace in order to get the most out of it. Regular cleaning and inspections of your fireplace will help you avoid any issues. This maintenance prevents excessive creosote and keeps the chimney clear for maximum efficiency.

Creosote, a dark, crusty flammable material that forms in the flue when wood does not burn completely. If a large amount of creosote accumulates, it can cause chimney fires, which are the second hand wood burning stoves-leading cause of house fires in the United States. The failure of a fireplace to burn completely can be caused by a variety of factors including dampers that aren't properly closed, cracks in the chimney's liner as well as a lack of regular cleaning and ash removal.

Creosote can build up in large wood burning stove amounts when wood isn't properly treated. This is because nearly half the weight of a piece of wood is water. When the fire is burning the water boils and releases heat but it also consumes energy during the process. The water vapor that results is then condensed as creosote, or released into the air as part of the smoke.

Soot is a different harmful byproduct from burning wood burning stoves on sale. Soot, though less dense than creosote, is able to block airflow and stick to the walls. It also poses an hazard to fire because it is a natural igniter when exposed to combustible gases.

Remove the ashes from your fireplace and store them in an ash container made of metal. Keep it outside on an unflammable surface. The ashes can also be used as a source of nutrients for plants So don't forget to spread them around the lawn!

It is recommended that a Certified Regency Dealer inspect your chimney and fireplace on a regular basis. The technician will look for cracks, creosote levels, soot levels and a damper that is shut properly, and the condition of the catalyst. If you have a double-stage chimney that includes an air tube, it is recommended to have the catalyst removed and inspected visually for blockages. Consult your user's manual for directions on how to do this for your specific unit.