What You Need to Know About Outdoor Wood Burners
Outdoor wood burning stoves are a cost-effective method of heating homes and businesses. They also reduce the dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels and help to create a more resilient energy strategy.
To ensure efficient burning, it is important to use wood that has been well-seasoned. Green or unseasoned wood has higher moisture content and can create creosote that can reduce performance.
Efficient
Outdoor wood burners (OWBs) have been around for years and offer a very green and efficient method of heating your home. However, the design of OWBs that encourages the slow and cooler burning which results in poor combustion and more smoke, creosote and particulates. These unburnt fuels can cause health issues and fire hazards, as well as affect the environment around them.
Additionally, the visible plume of smoke that OWBs emit can make neighbors angry and could lead to DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) enforcement actions. This kind of problem can negatively impact the value of your property, and may result in your OWB being closed down.
Crown Royal Stoves has a range of outdoor wood furnaces that are EPA Certified. The Pristine Gasification Series makes use of technology to maximize combustion efficiency and provide an unburned, clean and smoke-free. This is achieved by using the negative pressure air system that pulls fresh hot, dry and filtered air from the bottom of the boiler and pushes it out through the chimney at a much greater rate than traditional outdoor wood boilers. This is achieved through a unique design that utilizes a multi-pass, water filled heat exchanger made of 409 Titanium Enhanced Stainless Steel.
When properly utilized, the Pristine Series OWB has an efficiency of 99% for a cleaner and smoke-free fire. It consumes less wood and produces significantly less emissions than traditional OWBs. It is essential to burn dry, clean and seasoned wood in order to enhance the performance of your OWB. It is recommended to get your wood seasoned for a minimum of six months or one year before burning it. This will ensure an efficient and clean burn.
You can increase the efficiency of your wood-burning stove by executing a weekly "dry burn". This method eliminates creosote buildup, keeps your boiler efficient and extends its lifespan. Additionally, by adding a creosote-removing stick each time you fill your stove, you will be able to dramatically reduce the amount of creosote used. This product is available through Wisconsin Wood Furnace.
Clean
The soot particles that are left on the stove after burning wood may make a stove appear very dirty. These are very hard to remove so if you notice any spots of soot build-up on the glass of your stove, you must clean them immediately. In the event that the soot is not removed, it will get harder and become more difficult to get off. Using the right cleaners for the job is essential and you should also make sure you're not damaging the surface of the glass with anything that could scratch it. This could leave a weak spot that will shatter the glass when it's exposed to extreme temperatures.
Make sure you allow your wood burner to cool completely before cleaning it. Also, make sure that the surrounding area is covered with newspaper. This will stop any ash spillage that could stain and mark surfaces.
It can take up to one year for the seasoning of your stove to be complete, based on the quality of the wood you choose to use. Wood that is properly seasoned will not only burn better and last longer, but it will also produce less creosote. This is the kind of material that accumulates on your fireplace, reducing its efficiency and creating an opportunity for fire hazards. If you're using unseasoned wood or you're just starting a fire in your outdoor fireplace, it's recommended to open the lower backdoor, and scoop out ashes into a noncombustible container every week.
It is also recommended to perform a sediment flush on your boiler at least every four years. This is a simple five second flush from the drain valve on your boiler. This will remove any sediment that has built up in the system, and ensure that your boiler is operating well.
After you've completed the sediment flush, it's time to clean the exterior of your outdoor wood burner. Before you begin, it's crucial to cover the stove's perimeter with newspaper. It is also helpful to wear gloves and protective eyewear. You should also have a shovel, a metal container for ash, and scraping tools. You can make use of a cloth as shield to protect the refractory as you scrape away coal and ash deposits.
Easy to operate
Outdoor wood boilers (also called outdoor furnaces or outdoor wood hydronic heating systems, or outdoor wood heaters) are often misunderstood despite their acclaim. They were one of the "it" trends of the 1990s, along with hairstyles with mullets. Contrary to the EPA's popular wood stoves that are designed to burn at constant, low temperatures, these units use an increased fire rate and emit more smoke when they operate. Some local governments restrict or ban their use.
OWBs work best in homes with a high level of insulation. The smoldering, dense visible smoke is also a cause of complaint with neighbors, and has led to numerous OWBs being shut down or sued in the past. In order for OWBs to operate properly they must be used with dry wood that has low moisture content. Using green or unseasoned wood decreases efficiency, causes creosote accumulation and can shorten the life of the burner. A moisture meter will help you determine the time it takes for wood to dry.
Dual-stage wood gasification (OWGB) boilers, on the other hand, use a three-step process that makes use of more energy in the wood. This results in less smoke. These furnaces are more efficient than conventional OWBs and are suitable for many different fuels. Wood gasification boilers require dry, well-seasoned firewood. The majority of wood will season over the course of the course of a year. Oak and other tough trees may take up to two years to mature. Best wood burning stoves is due to less amount of water and a higher density. This allows them to hold heat for longer, thus increasing efficiency and decreasing pollution. The EPA "Burn Wise" website and Cornell Cooperative Extension are great resources for homeowners to learn how to efficiently burn wood to minimize air pollution.
Low Maintenance
Modern outdoor wood stoves are engineered to be eco-friendly. Modern outdoor wood furnaces do not generate excessive CO2 or heat. They also burn more efficiently than indoor wood stoves. They also require less wood to generate the same amount of heat as traditional stoves.
Outdoor wood burners also require significantly less maintenance than indoor wood burners, and are more tolerant in regards to the moisture content of the wood. However, outdoor wood burners can only be used with properly prepared or "cured" wood. Certain kinds of wood can last for up to a year. It is crucial to use a moisture meter to determine the amount of water of your wood prior to loading.
When the system is in operation, it is essential to periodically inspect the system for the build-up of creosote. Creosote is a byproduct from combustion and can build up in the flue and chimney in the event that it is not cleaned frequently. It can be removed using a creosote removal solution that is poured into the flame. Regularly cleaning the flue and chimney will remove dangerous creosote accumulations, and increase efficiency.
To get 99% efficiency from combustion, Crown Royal Stoves designed a new air flow technology called Negative Pressure Gasification. This technology is utilized in our EPA certified Pristine Series Outdoor Wood Furnaces to pull air up from the bottom and push all gases through an insulated secondary combustion chamber which is surrounded by water, with easy-to-clean Turbulators. The result is a smokeless & pollutant free burning.