Choosing a Modern Wood Burner
When deciding on the right wood stove, take into consideration factors like heating capacity and size, combustion technology aesthetics, maintenance, and safety features. A properly selected and modern wood burner will suit your heating requirements, improve the ambience of your home, and also align with your environmental standards.
Find features that help you maintain your stove, and keep the glass crystal clear. For instance, choose the wood stove that has an auto-cleaning glass.
Easy maintenance and easy cleaning
When choosing a wood burner, it is important to consider the ease of maintenance and cleaning that the stove can provide. Look for stoves that have removable ash trays or pans that make it easier to clean ash residue. You should also search for stoves that have access mechanisms that make it easy to clean the flue and chimney. Some modern wood-burning stoves come with self-cleaning glass doors, making them an ideal choice for those who want to cut down on the amount of maintenance and cleaning required.
The frequency at which you should clean your stove will depend on the fuel you use and the quality with which it burns. If you use hardwoods, you will require cleaning your stove more often as the tar on the glass needs to be removed more frequently than if burning lighter coals. To reduce the amount of tar that forms on the glass of your stove, you might want to try a glass cleaner. However, make sure that you go through the instructions carefully, as too much cleaner could damage the glass.
Many modern multifuel and woodburning stoves also come with an airwash system, which helps to keep the windows clear. The system works by circulating air through the glass from above, which helps prevent the build-up of tar and allows to see the flames inside the stove.
The ashpan should be emptied whenever you need to. The ashpan should be cleaned every 4-6 weeks. If you're unsure what frequency to empty your ashpan ask your installer or the manufacturer.
Energy efficiency
Modern wood burners are more efficient than electric or gas fires. They convert 70% of the organic material burned directly into heat. This is an advantage for anyone who wants to cut down on heating costs while also being more self-sufficient.
Stove manufacturers have responded to consumer demand by introducing cutting-edge technology that drastically reduces particulate emissions. A majority of new fireplaces that burn wood are certified to emit less than 2.0 grams of fine particles when in full operation. This is an amazing accomplishment that would have been impossible just a few years back.
Wood burning stoves can be a carbon neutral heating option when used with wood logs that are sourced responsibly. During their growth phase trees take carbon dioxide out and when they are used to generate heat they release the same amount of CO2 into the atmosphere. This is a virtuous cycle that is more beneficial for the planet than fossil fuels like gas, which release 0.198kg of CO2 for every kilowatt and electricity, which produces the cost of 0.517kg for every kilowatt.
A wood burning stove can also help to reduce the strain on the national grid during the evening hours of peak demand. The utilization of a wood burner in conjunction with a condensing or condensing boiler pellet boiler, or air-source heat pumps is the ideal mix for a green and affordable heating system for your home.
Durability
Wood burning stoves offer an environmentally sustainable alternative to fossil fuel heat. Carbon neutrality is possible in the event that the wood is responsibly harvested and managed. When trees are burned, they release carbon dioxide back into the air.
Modern wood stoves have been built to last. They're constructed of high-end materials that are resistant to warping or damage from excessive heat. They have easy-to-clean burning systems that minimize the amount of soot and smoke generated by the stove. You can even choose a wood stove with an auto-ignition system that means you don't need to manually light the fire every time you use it.
Unlike other forms of heat, wood is relatively affordable on a per-bTU basis. It's also less volatile than fossil fuels, so heating costs will remain consistent year after year.
If you're looking for a stove which offers the best combination of performance, durability and aesthetic appeal, look no further than this model from Mendip. The widescreen windows allow for a great view of the flames and there is plenty of space below the firebox to store logs. It's also DEFRA-approved, meets Ecodesign standards and has level five clearSkies credentials.
The Holborn 7 from British manufacturer Esse is another impressive option for wood burning. This slender multi-fuel stove is DEFRA-approved and has a decent seasonal efficiency of 80 percent. The large window provides a stunning view of the fire and comes with an air-wash system that keeps it clean. It is available in both traditional colours and contemporary colours. The model features an innovative catalytic combustor that is used with coal, briquettes or logs.
Style
Modern wood burning stoves are available in different styles that are suitable for any home. They can be built in any style, and come in a variety of colours to complement the interior design of your home. Many also come with decorative trimmings and other details that increase their appeal. wood burning fires can also pick a stove that has an integrated log store which will help keep your fireplace neat and tidy.
Modern log burners are constructed to a high quality and have earned a reputable reputation for reliability. Modern technology for combustion allows them to burn wood efficiently and reduce emissions, making them an environmentally green alternative to traditional open fires. Modern stoves are able to reduce particulate matter (PM) as well as dioxins, by up to 50 percent.
The most recent generation of wood burners use a secondary combustion process to burn the creosote which is created when burning wood fuel. This can be done either directly or by passing the wood through a catalytic converter which helps to clean the atmosphere in your home. However, it is important to remember that some brands of stoves still produce some PM generated by the chimney.
The Go Eco by Stovax is an example of a very efficient modern wood stove that produces very little PM. This 5kW multi-fuel stove features an enormous porthole-like window that is kept clean by an airwash system and provides a decent heat output for medium-sized rooms. It is also DEFRA-approved and Ecodesign compatible. This means it is an excellent choice for those wanting to upgrade their existing fireplace or to add an additional heating source.
Safety
A wood stove is a great source of heat, but it also causes harmful particles to release into the air. These particles are called particulate matter, and they can have a negative effect on our health and increase the likelihood of respiratory illnesses. Fortunately, modern wood stoves are designed to reduce the emissions. Ecodesign stoves, for example are designed to comply with the strict European directives regarding particulate matter. They utilize a warmer fireplace to re-ignite combustion particles and reduce emissions. This means they need fewer logs to produce the same amount of heat as other stoves.
The best method to reduce these emissions is to use wood fuel certified by the Woodsure Ready to Burn scheme and only burn dry wood that has been seasoning for a minimum of two weeks. You should also avoid using unseasoned wood and briquettes for your stove, as they may create high levels of gas and smoke.
To avoid the build-up of ash, it's essential to keep the fire burning to a minimum until the ashes have been removed. Other measures to protect yourself include closing the door when you're not working on the flame, and never touching the stove or flue pipe unless it is completely cool and always turning off the stove prior to leaving the house or going to sleep.
It's also a good idea to have your stove checked by an engineer at least every year to ensure that it is working properly. This will help reduce the emissions of carbon monoxide, organic gaseous compounds and particulate matter. It will also ensure the flue gas temperature remains at or above 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degC), which is critical for the safe operation of a wood stove.