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Wood Stove
Wood
stoves provide necessary heat in the coldest months of winter and offer
as a heat source to allow cooking and water heating to go uninterrupted
during a power failure. Wood logs can be cut throughout the year and
stored for your convenience. Splitting firewood can be done on your own
time and, in a pinch, can be purchased from most local convenient
stores. Seasoned wood is best to burn in a wood stove as it will burn
cleanly and provide the most heat within the fire box, therefore
creating consistent and comfortable room temperature in your home. Wood
burning stoves are an ideal heat source for smaller homes and can be
added to any room as a supplement for a forced air furnace or other
central heating unit.
Wood stoves can be free standing or inserted into the wall to maximize
floor and room space. Free standing fireplaces are usually made from
cast iron, sheet metal, plate steel, or any combination of the three
which allows the heat to radiate outward in all directions. These types
of wood stoves are available in various sizes for different room sizes
and are designed to be ecstatically pleasing in even the most modern
homes. A free standing wood stove is usually mounted on a raised hearth
pad which is available in granite with wood trim with various stain
colours to match any decor. Hearth rugs are available in many fireproof
protective fabrics to prevent damaging the surrounding floor underneath
the free standing wood stove. The area of wall directly behind the wood
stove is called the fireback. This area provides an opportunity for
some wall design to finish off the heating space. Firebacks are
available in various materials that will reflect the heat and radiate
it back into the room instead of absorbing it. You will be able to find
a wide variety of designs and colours to enhance the room and create a
space that best suits your style.
Fireplace inserts fit flush into the
wall of your home or can protrude
slightly to provide more radiant heat out the sides of the firebox.
Insert wood stoves provide efficient heat particularly if you have
installed a blower. Many newer wood stove inserts are thermostatically
controlled so you can better regulate the room temperature. Wood stoves
that are inserted into the wall must be installed with proper chimney
ventilation( whereas gas stoves are available with propane or natural
gas for fuel and they do not need to be vented with a chimney). This
should be installed by a certified fireplace and chimney expert that
understands the current state or provincial laws in your area. Improper
installation can result in toxic gases like carbon monoxide, nitrogen
oxides, and organic gases entering the room creating unsafe air within
your home. Ventilation to and from the wood stove will also allow you
to maintain an even heat that will maximize the burning of the firewood
within the stove. Catalytic combustion wood stoves are the most
efficient wood burning stoves because they lower the temperature at
which the gases within the stove burn, therefore these gases can be
emitted without settling in the chimney and converting to creosote. If
creosote is left to build up within the chimney, not only can hazardous
emissions enter your home but the creosote that is plastered to the
inside of the chimney can ignite and be the cause of a house fire.
It is recommended that in any room that you have a fireplace or wood
stove that a fire extinguisher be placed near for quick use if
necessary. Smoke detectors should be placed on each floor of the home
and tested regularly to ensure your safety. Carbon monoxide detectors
and oxygen- depletion sensors are available to monitor the air within
your home and ensure that your family is safe.
There is a wide variety of other accessories that work well with both
freestanding and insert style wood stoves. The wood burning stoves
should be made safer with a spark guard or screen to prevent small
children and pets from burn accidents. These are available in a wide
variety of sizes and range in prices depending if you choose an
elaborate design or simple, functional screen with no frills. Glass
doors are now manufactured with an airflow system that helps prevent
soot and smoke from collecting on the glass. This self cleaning feature
allows you to enjoy the fire with little cleaning maintenance required.
Log carriers and firewood holders are suited to make the task of using
and maintaining a wood burning stove easier. The firewood carriers are
equipped with sturdy handles for durability while transporting the wood
logs from your outdoor wood shelter into your home and log holders are
usually best placed somewhere near the fire stove for easy access and
in-home storage. Of course, it is always fun to buy the special logs
that burn in an array of colours and act as fire starters
too. If you are using your wood stove for cooking and heating
water you may need to invest in a grate to place on top of the firebox
unit to prevent scratching and to provide a safe place to set a kettle
or pot.
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