Wood heat options
- Conventional
appliances produce low efficiency and high smoke emissions.
The category includes old cast iron parlour stoves, pot belly
stoves, cook stoves, ‘airtights’ more than 10 years old; wood
furnaces and outdoor boilers.
- Advanced
technology options include EPA certified stoves, fireplace inserts,
fireplaces, pellet stoves, and masonry heaters.
- Conventional
stoves emit 25 - 50 grams per hour of smoke and deliver 30 - 60%
efficiency
- Advanced
stoves emit 3 - 7 grams per hour of smoke and deliver 60 - 80%
efficiency
- Advanced
appliances are either catalytic or non-catalytic.
Performance is similar; the choice is mostly a matter of
preference.
- Advanced
appliances provide increased safety, are more convenient and fuel
efficient and better for the environment and occupant health
Planning an effective wood heat system
- Space
heaters are best located where you live because of increased comfort
and higher fuel efficiency.
- Locate the
space heater centrally if possible.
- Don't try to
heat from a basement with a wood stove; locate the stove where
people are present to monitor and adjust it, and enjoy its warmth.
- Get advice
from a WETT certified person on selection, location and heat
distribution options.
- All wood
burning systems must have proper clearances to combustible material.
Clearances can sometimes be reduced with shielding.
See the NRCan/CMHC Guide to Residential Wood Heating for an
introduction and WETT certified personnel for details.
Selecting and locating a chimney
- Locate the
chimney inside and run it straight up from the stove if possible.
- See the
NRCan/CMHC Guide to Residential Wood Heating for a description of
acceptable factory-built and masonry chimneys, correct sizing, etc.
- The less
visible smoke from the chimney, the better; operated correctly, a
wood heat system should produce no visible smoke.
- Burning with
little or no smoke reduces chimney maintenance and the risk of a
dangerous chimney fire.
- A properly
located and installed chimney is one of the most important factors
in reducing air pollution, both indoors and outdoors.
Firewood
- Good
firewood is essential for safe, clean, efficient wood heating.
- Freshly cut
wood is between 35 and 50% water by weight, much too wet to burn.
- To be ready
for burning in fall, the wood should be cut to length, split to the
right size and stacked in an open area in the spring.
- Although
very hard woods like maple and oak are often favoured, softer woods
like birch and poplar make good firewood if properly processed and
seasoned.
- The firewood
length and piece size should be matched to the appliance; a range of
sizes is best for convenient stoking and fire management.
Tips on burning wood without smoke
- Smoke is
unhealthy air pollution, hazardous creosote potential and wasted
energy.
- Smoke can be
reduced by half using good fuel and burn technique.
- Burn hot,
bright fires, never let the fire smoulder.
- Burn smaller
fires using smaller pieces of wood in mild weather.
- When wood
burns correctly:
- it should
be flaming until it is reduced to charcoal, and
- there
should be no visible smoke at chimney top.
Maintenance of wood burning systems
- Keep
appliance in good shape, including gaskets, glass, joints in cast
iron, etc. It will be
safer and work better if you do.
- Remove ashes
frequently and store them in a metal container outdoors.
- Have chimney
professionally serviced and inspected annually.
- Inspect the
chimney frequently for creosote build-up after a new system is
installed.
- Using a good
wood burning appliance, properly seasoned and sized fuel and
effective burn techniques reduce creosote, smoke, maintenance and
wear.
Permits and insurance issues
- Keep your
insurance company informed of changes to your woodburning system.
- Have the
system inspected by a WETT certified person.
- Check with
your municipality to see if a permit is needed.
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