What You Need to Know About Outdoor Wood Burners
Outdoor wood burners can be an economical solution to heat homes and businesses. They also reduce dependence on fossil fuels that are non-renewable and help to create a more resilient energy strategy.
For efficient combustion for efficient burning, it is crucial to use well-seasoned wood. Wood that is not seasoned or green has higher moisture content and can create creosote that can reduce performance.
Efficient
Outdoor wood burners (OWBs) have been around for many years and are an extremely green and efficient way to heat your home. However, the standard design of OWBs, which encourages an unsteady, cooler fire, causes poor combustion and more smoke, creosote and particulates. These unburned fuels could lead to health problems as well as fire hazards, and can also harm the environment.
Furthermore the visible smoke puffs that OWBs generate can make neighbors complain. This could result in DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) taking enforcement action. This kind of problem can negatively impact the value of your property and could cause your OWB being closed.
Crown Royal Stoves offers a range of EPA Certified outdoor wood furnaces known as the Pristine Gasification Series that utilizes technology to increase the efficiency of combustion for a clean, smoke-free burn. This is achieved through a negative pressure air system which pulls in fresh, dry, heated, filtered air from the bottom and pushes it up the chimney faster than traditional outdoor wood boilers. This is achieved through a unique design that utilizes a multi-pass, water filled heat exchanger constructed from 409 Titanium Enhanced Stainless Steel.
If properly used, when used correctly, the Pristine Gasification Series OWB can achieve the highest efficiency of combustion, which is 99% to create a cleaner, smokeless fire that consumes less wood and produces less carbon dioxide than traditional OWBs. It is essential to burn dry, clean, and seasoned wood in order to enhance the performance of your OWB. Seasoning your wood for six months or more prior to burning is recommended. It will ensure a more efficient and more efficient burn.
You can increase the efficiency of your wood-burning stove by executing a weekly "dry burn". This method reduces creosote, increases boiler efficiency and extends the life of your boiler. Additionally, by adding a creosote-removing stick every when you load your stove, you will be able to drastically cut the amount of creosote that you use. This product is available from Wisconsin Wood Furnace.
Clean
A wood-burning stove can be extremely dirty due to burned soot particles. They are extremely difficult to remove, so if you see any areas of build up on the glass of your stove, clean them immediately. Any soot that is not eliminated will harden, making it even more difficult. Using the correct cleaners for the job is vital however, you must also ensure that you're not damaging the surface of the glass with anything that might scratch it. This could leave a weak spot that could break the glass when exposed to extreme temperatures.
Be sure to allow your wood burner to cool completely before cleaning it. Also, ensure that the area around it is covered with newspaper. This will prevent the ash from spreading and staining surfaces.
Based on the quality of the wood you use, it can take up to one year for your stove to become properly and seasoned. Seasoned wood will not only burn more efficiently, but will create less creosote. This is the kind of material that builds up on your chimney, reducing efficiency and posing a fire hazard. If you're using unseasoned wood or are just beginning a new fire in your outdoor wood burner the best thing you can do is to open the lower back door and scoop the ashes into a non-combustible container each week.
A sediment flush should be performed on your boiler every four years. This involves a simple five-second flush from the bottom drain valve on your boiler. This will remove any sediments that have accumulated in the system and keep your boiler working well.
After you've completed the sediment flush, it's time to clean the exterior of your outdoor wood burner. Before you begin, make sure to cover the area around the stove with newspaper. It is also beneficial to wear gloves and protective eyewear. You should also have a metal ash container as well as a scraping tool and shovel. You can make use of a cloth as a shield to shield the refractory from damage while you scrape away coal and ash deposits.
Easy to operate
Despite their popularity (they were among the 1990s' "it" trends, along with mullet haircuts) outdoor wood boilers, referred to as outdoor furnaces or outdoor wood hydronic heaters are still often misunderstood. They're not the same as the well-known EPA wood stoves, which are built to burn low temperatures continuously. They use an increased rate of combustion and generate more smoke. Some local governments restrict or prohibit their use.
OWBs are best suited to homes that have high levels of insulation. The smoldering, visible smoke is also a source of complaints from neighbors, and has led to many OWBs being shut-down or sued in the past. For OWBs dry wood with less moisture content is needed to perform effectively. Using green or unseasoned wood can reduce efficiency, cause creosote to build up and may reduce the lifespan of the burner. A moisture meter can help you determine the time it takes for wood to dry.
Dual-stage wood gasification (OWGB) boilers however they employ a three-step procedure that makes use of more energy contained in the wood. This means less smoke. These furnaces are more efficient than conventional OWBs, and can be used to fuel various fuels. Wood gasification boilers require dry and seasoned firewood. The majority of wood can be seasoned within one year. Oak and other hardy trees may take up to two years to mature. They are less water-based and have a larger mass. This allows them to hold heat for longer, thus increasing efficiency and reducing pollution. The EPA "Burn Wise' website and Cornell Cooperative Extension are great sources for homeowners to understand how to efficiently burn wood to reduce air pollution.
Low Maintenance
Modern outdoor wood stoves are designed to be environmentally friendly. In contrast to indoor wood burners which generate significant smoke, modern outdoor furnaces burn cleanly and without the release of excessive carbon monoxide or heat. They also require less wood to provide the same amount of heat as traditional stoves.
Outdoor wood burners require less maintenance and are more accepting of the moisture content of wood than wood burning stoves for indoor use. However outdoor wood burners should only be used with properly treated or "cured" wood. Certain kinds of wood can take up to a year. Make use of a moisture meter prior to loading to check the amount of water contained in your wood.
During operation, it is essential to periodically inspect the system for the build-up of creosote. Creosote is a byproduct of combustion that can build up in the flue and chimney if it is not cleaned regularly. contemporary wood burners Fireplaces & Stoves can be eliminated using the use of a special creosote remover that is poured into the fire. Regular cleaning of the flue and chimney will eliminate dangerous creosote and improve efficiency.
To attain 99% efficiency in combustion, Crown Royal Stoves designed a brand new air flow technique called Negative Pressure Gasification. This technology is employed in our EPA certified Pristine Series Outdoor Wood Furnaces to draw air upwards from the bottom and push all the gases through an sealed secondary combustion chamber, surrounded by water with easy-to-clean turbulators. The result is a smokeless and pollutant-free combustion.