With an increase in the costs of other sources of fuel, the popularity of wood heaters has gained momentum. Wood fire is not just cheaper, it is also known to set a good mood in a house. There are however ways to raise the cost effectiveness of the performance of wood heaters, while cutting down on gas emissions by green house.
When shopping for a good wood heater, get one that is most convenient for the space it is needed to heat. In case you get a heater that is too large for the intended space, you will be forced to continue cutting back the flow of oxygen into the flame, leading to production of excess smoke. This leads to buildup of creosote in the flue which in turn leads to low heater performance. Thus, size of space available to place the device matters and should be the first factor to consider in order to maximize the performance of your wood heater.
If you are not sure of the heater to purchase, consider getting the fan powered convection heater of the convection heater. These heaters are made in such a way that there is a hollow space between their fireboxes and outer cases which are made of heat resistant glass, enamel or metal and tile. These are more effective and safer than radiant wood heaters which heat air through contact.
The other thing to consider is quality of wood to buy. The most efficient to buy is high quality hardwood because it burn longer compared to softwood varieties. Make sure that the wood is dry before using it. This is because dry wood burns better as it releases little or no smoke at all when it catches fire. You should therefore ensure that the wood is kept dry with air circulating freely through it.
When making a fire, begin with small kindling. This is easier to burn and produces little smoke. Then place smaller pieces of wood on your fire and increase their size slowly until the fire is able to sustain large logs. Make sure to stack the wood in such a way that there are spaces between pieces. In this way, oxygen is able to flow freely around the wood to fuel the fire. Once you build a fire like this, there will be a reduction in amount of smoke produced and greatly reduce formation of creosote. In turn, this will help to ensure that the heater functions optimally for long before the flue needs cleaning.
Make sure to leave the air vents completely open for about 30 minutes for free flow of oxygen. This helps to fuel your fire and reduce smoke. Once the fire is established, adjust the air vents to regulate the amount of heat generated. In case you are not sure whether your efforts are paying off, check if there is a lot of smoke coming out from the chimney. During the night, leave the air vents partially open to prevent the fire from smoldering and generating more smoke. Let oxygen flow inside the vents to keep the wood burning effectively. There are more things you can do to improve the performance of your heater and retain an optimal performance for a long time to come.
To increase the performance of your wood heater, you have to start by getting the right heater. You can use the web to check some of the best heaters available and in which shops. There are both outdoor and indoor heaters to choose from depending on your needs. Remember to use dry wood all the time to produce a smokeless fire.
