Choosing best wood burning stove
When selecting the best wood stove, take into consideration factors like the capacity of heating and size combustion technology aesthetics, maintenance, and safety features. A modern wood stove that is installed correctly and selected will satisfy your heating requirements and increase the ambiance in your home. It will also be in line with your environmental standards.
Find features that allow you to maintain your stove and ensure that the glass is clean. For instance, you can choose a wood stove with an auto-cleaning glass.
Easy maintenance and cleaning
It is essential to select a wood burner that offers easy maintenance and cleaning. Find stoves with removable ash trays or pans which make it easier to clean the ash residue. You should also look for stoves that come with easy-access mechanisms to clean the chimney and flue. Many modern wood burning stoves are even equipped with glass doors that self-clean, making them a great option for those looking to reduce the amount of cleaning and maintenance required.
The amount of time it takes to clean your stove will depend on the fuel that you use and how it is burned. If you burn hardwoods, you will have to clean your stove more often as the tar on the glass needs to be removed more frequently than when burning softer coals. To reduce the amount of tar that accumulates on your stove's glass, you might want to try a glass cleaner. However, be sure to read the instructions carefully since too much cleaner may damage the glass.
Airwash systems are also present on many modern multifuel and wooden stoves. They assist in keeping the glass windows clean. This works by passing air over the glass from above, which helps prevent the build-up of the tar and helps to see the flames inside the stove.
To ensure that you are cleaning it regularly, you should check the ashpan each when you use your stove and empty it when necessary. You should aim to empty the ashpan at least every 4 to 6 weeks. Contact your installer or manufacturer if you're not sure how frequently to empty your ashpan.
Energy efficiency
Modern wood burners are more energy efficient than electric or gas fires. They convert 70% of the organic material that is burned directly into heat. This is a huge benefit for those who want to reduce their heating bills while also being more self-sufficient and embracing renewable energy sources.
The stove manufacturers have responded to consumer demand by developing advanced technology that reduces the emission of particulates significantly. Many of the new stoves that burn wood are certified to emit less than 2.0 grams of fine particulates when operating at full capacity, an amazing achievement that was unimaginable just a few years ago.
Wood burning stoves can be an alternative to heating that is carbon neutral when they are used with wood logs that are sourced responsibly. During their growth phase trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When they burn for heating they release the same amount of CO2 back into the air. This is a virtuous circle that is more sustainable for the environment than fossil fuels such as gas which create 0.198kg of carbon for every kilowatt of heat and electricity which produces a costly 0.517kg per kilowatt.
A wood-burning stove as a second source of heating will also help to reduce the strain on the grid during peak evening consumption times. The utilization of a wood burner together with a condensing or condensing boiler pellet boiler, or air-source heat pump provides the perfect combination for a green and affordable heating system for your home.
Durability
Wood burning stoves are a sustainable alternative to heating. So long as the wood used for heating is harvested responsibly and managed in a way that is carbon neutral. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and when they're burnt, the carbon is released back into the atmosphere, complete the cycle.
Modern wood stoves have been built to last for a long time. The materials are of high quality and resist warping and damage resulting from excessive heat. They come with easy-to-clean combustion systems that minimize the amount of smoke and soot generated by the stove. You can even opt for a wood burner with an auto-ignition mechanism which means that you don't need to manually light the fire each time you use it.
Wood is less expensive than other heating options on a basis of BTU. It is also less volatile than fossil-fuels, so heating costs will remain constant year after year.
If you're seeking a stove that offers the best combination of performance, durability and visual appeal look at this model from Mendip. The large-screen window gives an amazing view of the flames, and there's plenty of space below the firebox to store logs. It's also DEFRA approved, complies with Ecodesign Standards and has level 5 clearSkies certification.
The Holborn 7 by British manufacturer Esse offers another attractive option for wood burning. This slender multi-fuel stove is DEFRA-approved and has a good seasonal efficiency of 80%. Its generous window gives stunning fire visuals and comes with an air wash system to keep the glass clean. It is available in both traditional colours and contemporary ones. The model also has an efficient catalytic combustor, and is suitable for use with briquettes, logs or coal.
Style
Modern wood burners can be found in various styles that are suitable for any house. They can be designed to suit any type of space and are available in a wide variety of colors to match your interior design. A lot of them feature ornamental details and trims that add a touch of class. You can also pick 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 great reputation for reliability. Modern combustion technology allows them to burn wood efficiently while reducing emissions, making them a more sustainable alternative to traditional open-fires. Modern stoves are able to reduce particulate matter (PM) and dioxins, up to 50 percent.
The latest generation of wood burners utilize secondary combustion to burn the creosote which is produced when burning wooden fuel. This is done either directly or by passing the wood through a catalytic converter, which helps clean the air inside your home. However it is important to remember that certain brands of stoves still produce some PM emitted from the chimney.
The Go Eco by Stovax, contemporary wood burner with high efficiency and low PM production, is a good example. The stove is 5kW and has a large window for portholes which is maintained clean by an airwashing system. It generates a substantial amount of heat for medium-sized rooms. It is also DEFRA-approved and Ecodesign compatible. It is a great choice for anyone looking to upgrade their fireplace or add a second heating source.
Safety
A wood stove is an excellent source of heat, but it can also cause harmful particles to release into the air. These are known as particulate matter and can impact our health and increase the risk of respiratory illnesses. Thankfully modern wood stoves are engineered to reduce the emissions. Ecodesign stoves are designed to meet European guidelines regarding particulate matter. They utilize a more hot firebox to ignite the combustion particles and reduce emissions before they leave the chimney. They also use fewer logs in order to provide the same amount of heat as other stoves.
The most effective way to reduce emissions is to burn wood fuel that has been certified by the Woodsure Ready to Burn Scheme and only dry wood that has been seasoned for a minimum of two weeks. You should also be wary of using unseasoned wood and brquettes in your stove because they can cause high levels of fumes and toxic gases.
To avoid the build-up of ash, it is important to keep the fire burning at a low temperature until the ashes have removed. Other measures to ensure safety include closing the door when you are not tending to the flame, avoiding touching the flue pipe or stove until it is completely cool and always extinguishing a stove before leaving the home or going to sleep.
It's recommended to have your stove inspected by an engineer at minimum every year to ensure that it is working properly. This will help to minimise particulate matter organic gaseous compound and carbon monoxide emissions. This will ensure that the flue gas temperature is above 250 degrees Fahrenheit at 121 degrees Celsius. This is vital to ensure the safety of a stove made of wood.