Choosing a Modern Wood Burner
When choosing the right wood stove, take into consideration factors like size and capacity for heating, combustion technology aesthetics, maintenance and safety features. A well-selected and properly installed modern wood stove will meet your heating needs, enhance the ambiance of your home, and align with your environmental standards.
Look for features that allow you to maintain your stove and ensure that the glass is clean. Choose a stove made of wood that has a self-cleaning window.
Easy maintenance and cleaning
When selecting a wood burner, it's important to consider the ease of cleaning and maintenance that the stove provides. Look for stoves that have removable ash trays or pans that make it easier to clean ash residue. In addition, you should look for stoves with easy-access mechanisms for cleaning the flue as well as the chimney. Modern wood burning stoves even come with self-cleaning glass doors making them a perfect choice for those who want to reduce the amount of maintenance and cleaning that is required.
The frequency with which you should clean your stove will depend on the fuel you're using and how well it burns. For instance, if you burn hardwood, your stove will require frequent cleaning as the tar that builds up on the glass requires more frequent removal than when you use lighter coals. To reduce the amount of tar that forms on the glass of your stove you can try using a special glass cleaner, but make sure that you go through the instructions carefully, since too much cleaner may cause damage to the glass.
Many modern woodburning and multifuel stoves also come with an airwash system, which helps to keep the windows clean. The system works by blowing air from above over the glass, which helps to keep it clean and avoids tar buildup.
To ensure that you are cleaning it regularly you should be checking the ashpan every when you use your stove and empty it when necessary. It is recommended that you empty the ashpan at least each 4 to 6 weeks. Ask your installer or manufacturer if you're unsure how frequently to empty your ashpan.
Energy efficiency
In comparison to electric and gas-fired stoves the modern wood burning stoves are extremely energy efficient, converting 70% of the organic material directly into heat. This is a huge advantage for anyone looking to cut their heating expenses while being more self-sufficient and adopting renewable energy sources.
The stove manufacturers have responded to demands of the market by introducing advanced technology that reduces particulate emission drastically. The majority of modern log-burning fireplaces have been certified to emit less than 2.0 grams of fine particles in full operation. This is a remarkable accomplishment that was unimaginable just a few years ago.
In addition to this wood-burning stoves are carbon neutral forms of heating if you use responsibly harvested wood logs. In their growth phase, trees take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. When they burn to heat, they release a similar amount of CO2 back into the air. cast iron wood burning stove is a positive cycle that is better for the planet than fossil fuels such as gas, which produces 0.198kg of CO2 for each Kilowatt and electricity, which creates a costly amount of 0.517kg for every Kilowatt.
A wood burning stove could also aid in reducing strain on the national grid at peak evening hours. Combining a wood burning stove with a condensing or pellet boiler, or an air-source heatpump can offer an eco-friendly and cost-effective heating system for your home.
Durability
Wood burning stoves are a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel heat. Carbon neutrality is possible in the event that the wood is responsibly harvested and properly managed. The trees absorb carbon dioxide and when they're burned the carbon is released back into the air, complete the cycle.
Modern wood stoves are built to last. They're constructed of high-end materials that resist warping or damage caused by excessive heat. They also have easy-to-clean combustion mechanisms that help reduce the amount of soot and smoke generated by the stove. You can pick a wood stove that has an ignition system that is automatic so that you don't need to manually light it every time.
Unlike other forms of heat wood is comparatively inexpensive on a per-bTU basis. It is also less volatile than fossil-fuels, so heating costs will remain consistent year after year.
This Mendip model is the ideal choice if you want a stove with the highest level of efficiency and durability, as well as visual appeal. The widescreen window offers stunning views of the flame and plenty of space for logs to be placed below the firebox. It's also DEFRA-approved and has been tested to meet Ecodesign standards and has clearSkies level five qualifications.
The Holborn 7 by British manufacturer Esse provides a different attractive option for wood burning. This slim multi-fuel stove is approved by DEFRA and has a decent seasonal efficiency of 80%. Its large windows provide great fire visuals and it is equipped with an air wash system that keeps the glass clear. It is available in both traditional colours and contemporary versions. It also comes with a clever catalytic combustor and is suitable for use with briquettes, logs or coal.
Style
Modern wood burning stoves are available in different styles that are suitable for any home. They can be designed to fit in any style of room and come in a wide range of colours to match your interior design. Many have ornamental details and trims which add to their appeal. You can pick a stove with an integrated log storage, which will aid in keeping your fireplace neat and tidy.
Modern log burners are constructed to a high standard and have a good reputation for reliability. Modern technology for combustion allows them to burn wood efficiently, reducing emissions and making them a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional open fires. Modern stoves are capable of reducing particulate matter (PM) as well as dioxins, up to 50%.
The most modern generation of wood burners use secondary combustion to ignite the creosote that is created when burning wood fuel. This can be done directly or by the passage of wood through a catalyst converter. This helps to clean your home's air. It is important to remember that certain stoves emit a tiny amount PM from the chimney.
The Go Eco by Stovax is an example of a very efficient modern wood stove that produces very low PM. The stove is 5kW and has a large porthole window that is kept clean with an airwashing system. It can produce a decent amount of heat for rooms that are medium-sized. It is also DEFRA-approved and Ecodesign certified. It is a great option for anyone looking to improve their fireplace or to add a second heating source.
Safety
A wood stove is a great source of heat, however it can also cause harmful particles to release into the air. These are known as particulate matter, and they can impact our health and increase the risk of developing respiratory illnesses. Modern wood stoves are specially designed to reduce the amount of emissions. Ecodesign stoves, for example designed to meet strict European guidelines regarding particulate matter. They employ a larger firebox to ignite the combustion particles and reduce emissions before they escape the chimney. This means that they require less logs to generate the same amount of heat as other stoves.
The most efficient method to reduce emissions is to use wood fuel that has been inspected by the Woodsure Ready to Burn Scheme and only dry wood that has been seasoned for at least two weeks. Avoid using briquettes or wood that is not seasoned as they can cause excessive levels of toxic fumes and smoke.
It is also essential to keep a fire burning at a moderate level until the ashes have cool and then to remove ash from the stove to prevent the accumulation of. Other safety measures include closing the door when you are not tending to the fire, never touching a stove or flue pipe until it is completely cooled and always extinguishing a stove before leaving the home or going to sleep.
It's also a good idea to have your stove checked by an engineer at minimum every year to ensure it is operating correctly. This will help reduce particulate matter, organic gaseous compounds and carbon monoxide emissions. It will also ensure that the flue gas temperature remains above 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degC) which is essential to ensure the safety of wood stoves.