Choosing a Modern Wood Burner
When choosing the right wood stove, be aware of factors such as the capacity of heating and size, combustion technology, aesthetics, maintenance and safety features. A well-selected and properly installed modern wood burner will suit your heating needs, enhance the ambience of your home, and be in line with your environmental values.
Look for features that will aid in maintaining your stove, and also keep the glass clear. Select a wood stove with a self-cleaning glass.
Cleaning and maintenance is easy
It is essential to select the right wood burner that provides easy maintenance and cleaning. It is recommended to look for stoves that have ash pans or trays, which make it easy to clean out the ash residue. In addition, you should look for stoves that have easy-access mechanisms to clean the flue and chimney. Some modern wood-burning stoves come with self-cleaning glass doors making them an ideal choice for those who want to reduce the amount of cleaning and maintenance required.
The frequency at which you need to clean your stove will depend on the fuel you're using and the quality with which it is burned. For instance when you use hardwood your stove will require more frequent cleaning as the tar that builds up on the glass needs more frequent removal than those who burn lighter coals. You can make use of a glass cleaning product to reduce the amount of tar that forms on your stove's window. However, be sure to read the instructions because too much cleaner could harm the glass.
Airwash systems are also found on modern multifuel and wooden stoves. They help to keep the glass windows clean. This system is a way of blowing air from above over the glass, which helps to keep it clean and also prevents tar buildup.
It is recommended to empty the ashpan when necessary. The ashpan should be cleaned every 4-6 week. Ask your installer or manufacturer if you're not sure how frequently to empty your ashpan.
Energy efficiency
Modern wood burners are more efficient than electric or gas fires. They convert 70% of the organic material burned directly into heat. This is an advantage for anyone who wishes to reduce their heating costs while remaining self-sufficient.
Stove manufacturers have listened to consumer demands with cutting-edge technology that dramatically reduces the emissions of particulate matter. A lot of new stoves for burning wood are certified to emit less than 2.0 grams of fine particulates when in full operation This is an amazing feat that was unimaginable just a few years ago.
Wood burning stoves can be a carbon neutral heating option when they are used with wood logs that are sourced responsibly. During their growth phase trees eliminate carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When they burn to heat, they release a similar amount of CO2 back into the atmosphere. This is a cycle that is better for the planet than fossil fuels such as gas, which produces 0.198kg of CO2 for every Kilowatt and electricity, which produces the cost of 0.517kg for every kilowatt.
A wood burning stove can also aid in reducing strain on the national grid at peak evening hours. The use of a wood stove together with a condensing boiler, pellet boiler or air-source heat pump provides the ideal mix for a green and affordable home heating system.
Durability
Wood burning stoves offer a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel heat. As long as the wood used is sourced in a responsible manner and is properly managed, it's carbon neutral. When trees are burned, they release carbon dioxide back into the air.
Modern wood stoves have been made to last for a long time. They're made from high-quality materials that resist warping or damage from excessive heat. They also have easy-to-clean combustion systems which aid in reducing the amount of smoke and soot generated by the stove. You can also choose wood burners that have an auto-ignition mechanism, which means you don't need to manually light the fire each time you use it.
Wood is cheaper than other types of heating on a bTU basis. It's also less volatile than fossil-fuels, so heating costs will remain constant year after year.
This Mendip model is the perfect option for those looking for a stove that offers the perfect blend of efficiency and durability, and also aesthetic appeal. The large-screen window gives you excellent flame views and there's plenty of space for logs beneath the firebox. It is also DEFRA approved, complies with Ecodesign Standards and has level 5 clearSkies qualifications.
The Holborn 7 by British manufacturer Esse is a great alternative for wood burning. The stove is multi-fuel and has an efficiency that is seasonal, which is 80 percent and is DEFRA approved. The large windows provide an excellent view of the fire and comes with an air-wash system to keep it clean. It is available in both traditional colours and contemporary versions. It also comes with an efficient catalytic combustor, and is suitable for use with briquettes, logs or coal.
Style
Modern wood burning stoves are available in a variety of styles that will suit any home. They can be designed to fit in any room style and are available in a wide variety of colors to match your interior design. A lot of them have decorative trims and details that increase their appeal. You can even choose one with an integrated log store, which will help keep your fireplace clean and tidy.
All modern log burners are built to an extremely high standard and have a good reputation for reliability. Modern technology for combustion allows them to efficiently burn wood, reducing emissions and making them a more environmentally friendly alternative than traditional open fires. Modern stoves are capable of reducing particulate matter (PM) and dioxins, by up to 50%.
The latest generation of wood burners use a secondary combustion process to ignite the creosote that is created by burning wood fuel. This can be done directly or by using catalyst converter. This can help clean your home's air. It is important to note that some stoves emit a small amount of PM from the chimney.
The Go Eco by Stovax, contemporary wood burner with high efficiency and low PM production, is a good example. This 5kW multifuel stove features a large porthole window that is kept clean with an airwashing system. It generates a substantial amount of heat for rooms with medium size. It is also DEFRA-approved and Ecodesign compliant. This makes it an excellent choice for those who wants to upgrade their current fireplace or to add an additional heating source.
Safety
A wood stove can be an excellent source of warmth however, it also releases harmful particles into the air. These are referred to as particulate matter, and they can have a negative impact on our health and increase the risk of developing respiratory illnesses. Thankfully, modern wood stoves are designed to minimize these emissions. Ecodesign stoves, for example are designed to comply with the strict European directives on particulate matter. They use a hotter fireplace to reignite combustion particles and reduce emissions. This means that they require fewer logs to produce the same amount of heat as other stoves.
The best way to reduce emissions is to use wood fuel that is certified by the Woodsure Ready to Burn scheme and only burn dry wood that has been seasoning for a minimum of two weeks. You should also avoid using unseasoned wood or briquettes for your stove, as they may cause large amounts of smoke and toxic gases.
To prevent a build-up of ash, it's essential to keep the flame burning at a low temperature until the ashes have cool. Other precautions include keeping the door closed when you're not working on the fire, not touching the flue pipe or stove unless it is completely cool, and always turning off the stove prior to leaving the house or going to sleep.
You should also check your stove with an engineer annually to ensure that it's operating properly. This will help to minimise particulate matter, organic gaseous compounds and carbon monoxide emissions. cast iron wood burning stove will ensure that the flue gas temperature is higher than 250 degrees Fahrenheit or at 121 degrees Celsius. This is vital to ensure the safety of a wooden stove.