Efficient Wood Stove Designs

Wood stoves have gained in popularity considerably in the last few years as consumers scramble to reduce home heating costs, but in reality only an efficient wood stove is capable of meeting the financial expectations of most homeowners.

An individual desiring to install a wood stove faces a number of associated issues in order to ensure that it functions in a manner that is both safe and cost effective.

Vogelzang Wood Stove

The decision to obtain and operate a wood stove is much more complex than it would appear at first glance, but if the task is approached with proper planning and knowledge the pitfalls can be minimized if not avoided altogether.

The first step to install and maintain a wood stove is to gain a basic knowledge of the different types that are available for purchase. The most efficient commercially sold is usually one that is approved by the EPA after meeting the rigors of extensive government testing.

While there are many types that are not EPA approved, those that are approved have at the least been scrutinized closely for operational discrepancies.

By far the most efficient wood stove design feature that enables economical operation is the use of a catalytic combustor on the stove's interior chamber. One that utilizes a catalytic combustor component increases the heat output by burning wood much more slowly and completely, thereby lowering the amount of wood required for fuel.

This translates not only into monetary savings on the acquisition of wood, but is also environmentally advantageous in that a stove emits less toxins into the air. A catalytic combustor also improves the safe operation by reducing the amount of creosote that accumulates in stove pipes, decreasing the chances of house fires.

It is imperative to have a wood stove installed and maintained by a trained professional to elude mistakes in a number of important areas. One that is not properly installed may draw the ire of local municipal authorities for not being up to code, and homeowners insurance may not recognize a claim on an incident that is the result of improper installation and the use of inferior materials.

Professional installation improves performance while enhancing safe operation and compliance with local coding laws. Professional assistance is also necessary on an annual basis to make certain that an efficient wood stove receives routine maintenance procedures in a timely manner.

A qualified service contractor can inspect or replace gaskets, examine exhaust components and clean the catalytic combustor in a much more suitable manner than a homeowner is capable of completing.

Finally, one of the most easily overlooked aspects of operating an wood stove is to obtain and use only seasoned wood as a source of fuel. Hardwoods that have been seasoned at least two years have a limited amount of moisture and therefore burn more efficiently and create less creosote than soft or unseasoned wood.

While seasoned wood may be more costly to purchase, it contains a higher presence of usable BTU's per pound of wood and increases the heat output of any wood stove.

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