Archive for the ‘ stoves ’ Category


Fire Safety and Wood-Burning Stoves

Written by mudika
February 21st, 2011

Retailers and manufacturers are reporting a huge increase in sales, the key drivers being the interest in environmentally friendly technology, the potential for saving money, particularly in light of ever increasing domestic fuel bills, and the fact that architects are building them into their plans as a secondary green heating source because planners favour this option. Correspondingly, estate agents report that wood-burning stoves are increasingly popular with home buyers, people just love them!

They are apparently the latest word in green heat…. but do people new to their use understand how to operate them safely?

Why have wood-burning stoves become so popular?

  • A wood-burner is much more energy efficient than an open fire. An open fire is about 20 / 25% efficient whereas a modern wood-burning stove is more than 80% efficient.
  • Some stoves allow you to cook whilst warming your home.
  • Wood is a carbon-neutral fuel. It does release carbon dioxide when burnt but the amount given off is the same as was stored by the growing tree. Most firewood in the UK is sustainably sourced, for every tree cut down another is planted, and the carbon released from the felled tree thus absorbed by another tree.
  • Cleanburn technology, which introduces pre-heated air into the smoke at the top of the firebox to combust the hydrocarbons in the smoke, has the dual benefit of producing less pollution and more efficiency.
  • A wood-burner is much cleaner than an open fire.
  • Many stoves are clean enough to be legally used in urban smoke-free zones, the particulate emissions are three to four times less than with an open fire.
  • They look great, from traditional to ultra modern designs.

Safety and wood smoke -what to look out for

Wood smoke contains pollutants, these can leak into the air of your home when you open the stove or if your wood stove leaks. Exposure to the pollutants in wood smoke can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea and dizziness. Wood smoke can also make asthma worse, and has been associated with an increase in respiratory problems.

If you smell smoke indoors, it means the wood stove or fireplace isn’t venting properly – it may be a block in the chimney or a faulty damper. These are fire hazards and could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

The main pollutants that cause health concerns are:

  • Particulate Matter: solid or liquid particles found in the air which can cause respiratory and heart problems.
  • Carbon Monoxide: a colourless, odourless gas – poisonous at high levels.
  • Volatile Organic Compounds: a wide range of compounds that usually have no color, taste or smell, some cause direct health effects.
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: have the potential to cause cancer.

How to reduce the risks

  • Burn only seasoned wood.
  • Use logs that are 4-6 inches in diameter. Because fires burn better with more surface area exposed to the flame.
  • Do not burn plastics, cardboard, glossy paper or polystyrene.
  • Never burn wood that has been taken from salt water, this produces carcinogenic toxins.
  • Do not burn treated or painted wood, chip board or plywood.
  • Store wood outside not inside, covered and off the ground.
  • Use a high-efficiency wood stove.
  • Have the stove professionally installed.
  • Have the stove inspected and cleaned every year.
  • Make sure the fire is getting enough air – install a chimney fan if nece

How to Safely Clean Stoves

Written by mudika
February 12th, 2011

Anyone that owns a stove knows that it must be cleaned, but how can you properly clean your stove? Using the right chemicals that are safe and designed for stove and oven usage are very important, but frequency and technique can also keep bad bacteria from growing on surfaces of your stove top.

Depending on the stove in your home, you will have to use a special technique. Glass top electric stoves are very particular and you cannot use just any chemical on them. They require a special cleaner so that the surface isn’t damaged. You also have to be wary of scratching the surface. If food is stuck on top you must either softly scrape away excess or use a razor blade to gently remove the food particles.

Gas models are even more difficult to clean than electric. You must avoid using highly flammable chemicals while cleaning these. If you do, you run the risk of it catching on fire -even if only a very small amount of chemical is left behind. That case, soap, water, or water and vinegar work well to kill bacteria with gentle scrubbing.

When it comes to cleaning an oven you have to use a very specific method. A special cleaner is required, and self cleaning ovens usually don’t get the job done. You have to be careful not to leave ANY chemicals on the surfaces inside as well. Self cleaning ovens use higher temperatures, so be prepared to do this when you can monitor the oven for a few hours while it does the job. Never leave the room when it is cleaning itself because a fire is possible. Knowing how to properly clean your cooking appliances can give it a longer life and keep you using a sanitary appliance for many years to come.

Pellet Stoves Are Stylish and Functional

Written by mudika
February 1st, 2011

If you want a good way to add warmth to your home a nice pellet stove is a good option.  These units not only produce functional heat but also stylish looks that add a warm, inviting look to your home. Additionally, pellet stoves utilize sustainable fuels like corn, wood pellets (compressed from sawdust) and cherry pits making them the green choice of environmentally conscious homeowners.  Here are four brand names you can use as a reference when shopping for this kind of heating option.

St. Croix – St. Croix manufactures efficient furnaces, multi-fuel units and pellet stove units.

Pellet models: Hastings, Afton Bay, Prescott EXL and EXP and York pellet inserts.  All these units have a heating capacity of up to 1800 square feet.  They also have options like pedestal or decorative accent legs and they have a nice selection in colors.

Harman Home Heating – Harman manufactures central heating units, fireplaces, inserts, stoves and outdoor units.

Pellet models:   Accentra, Advance, Harman XXV, P43, P61A, P68, PC 45 and the Pellet Pro 38 Plus.  The color options aren’t as vast as St. Croix but they do have decorative inlays and 24 Karat gold accents for some models.  Their pellet stoves have a heating capacity range from 1400 to 2200 square feet.

Quadra Fire – Quadra Fire manufactures inserts, fireplaces, stoves and outdoor options.

Pellet models:  Castile, MT Vernon AE, Santa Fe insert, Santa Fe stove. The heating capacity for these units ranges from 1500 to 3800 square feet. They offer three finish color options on the MT Vernon and Castile models but only one (black matte) for the others.

Breckwell  -  Breckwell manufactures pellet, multi-fuel, wood and gas stove units.

Pellet models:  Big E, Blazer, Cast, Maverick, Mojave, Solstice, Sonora, Tahoe.  Breckwell pellet stoves include heating capacities starting at 1500 square feet, pedestal, free standing or decorative legs, inserts, whisper quiet operation and 50 and more hours of heating time from one load of fuel.

There are many considerations when choosing a pellet burning stove.  This includes the space you have for installation, inserts for existing fireplaces, multi-fuel or pellets only units, venting options, finish and color (where this is an option) and decorative accents.

Why Buy Wood Burning Stoves?

Written by mudika
January 20th, 2011

Since Ralph Waldo Emerson first cottoned on to the concept in the 19th century, self reliance has been a big thing. Particularly now, nearly 200 years later, when reliance on others (in heating terms at least) means forking out ever huger sums of money for gas bills, electric bills: the kind of stuff everyone took for granted as little as two decades back. Buying wood burning stoves is an excellent way to rediscover a little bit of self reliance in the home – and put a whole lot of style back into it while one is about it. Welcome to the modern world of old fashioned heat and light.

A wood burning stove is an alternative both to an open fireplace (dangerous, smoky, prone to causing soot damage) and the use of central heating. Indeed, in a well enough planned home, a wood burner can even replace central heating altogether: depending, of course, on the size of the home and the location and quantity of flue pipes leading away from the stove. Wood burning stoves are extremely economical and highly environmentally friendly. When they’re lit, they make a beautiful addition to any room – a real centre piece, the flames glowing invitingly from behind a glass door – and, once the fire has died to embers, they put out enough heat to last for a whole night.

Choosing a wood burner for decorative purposes allows home owners to add a real dimension of comfort and cosiness to their living areas without jeopardising either the house itself or its occupants. Unlike an open fire – which, while beautiful, is certainly not the thing for a home with young children – wood burning stoves are completely enclosed. That means no inquiring hands playing, quite literally with fire – and that, in turn, means complete peace of mind for worried parents. Modern wood burners are enclosed in extremely heat resistant material, so the outer parts of them, while warm, will not burn.

They look fantastic – modern, with a hint of the classic Victorian living room about them – and they require very little in the way of maintenance. An open fire needs regular cleaning and general looking after in order to keep it going. Wood burners only need to be emptied and swept: because they don’t use coal, there’s no soot to worry about; and because they use modern flues, which are designed to get rid of smoke effectively and without fuss, they don’t require the attendance of a chimney sweep.

Heating bills tend to get somewhat stratospheric, when the British winter hits. Using wood burning stoves can cut a heating bill way below half. Rather than depending on overpriced energy companies to keep home and family warm when the nights draw in, a person who installs a wood burning stove can keep a close eye on the exact amount of fuel used: and wood is a lot cheaper, per hour of heat, than either electricity or gas. With such a stylish way to reclaim some self reliance from the heating companies, it’s a wonder we don’t all have them. Once the initial outlay has paid itself back (which, in terms of bills, it does rather quickly), one’s home is heated and lit in outstanding fashion for a fraction of the mass-produced price.

Wood Burning Stoves History and Utility

Written by mudika
January 10th, 2011

This article will cover the basics of installing a wood burning stove providing the pros and cons of owning one. Also known as wood burners, they are very similar to open fireplaces with the exception that they are fully enclosed.

Benjamin Franklin designed the Franklin Stove almost 250 years ago which is the prototype for today’s modern design.

The enclosure design of wood stoves is more efficient than open hearth fires and disperses smoke outside via a stovepipe. They are available in a wide array of basic design choices. One other type of wood burning unit is fireplaces insert which are also known as fireboxes or cassette fires.

This type of design encloses a fireplace behind a glass panel which improves cleanliness, efficiency and safety. Another type of wood burning stove is the traditional stand alone stove connected to a stove pipe venting to the outside. They are cheaper than basic versions and can be partially sealed. A wood pellet stove is state of the art for wood burning components. This type of stove uses manufactured pellets of uniform size which are made of compressed waste sawdust. Another alternative is using size graded wood chips.

Wood pellet stoves are fitted with automatic fuel feed hoppers connected to an electronic control system which makes them easy to clean.

You may wonder just how efficient wood stoves can be? Well, first they create the ambiance of traditional fireplaces and also efficiently heat any room. They can also double as boilers or kitchen ranges.
This type of heating unit can cover a range of heating requirements from cooking to providing hot water water. Some of the advantages over a conventional gas, electric or oil heaters are that wood stoves present a much more elegant look. In the end it comes down to budget.

It is much more economical in the long run to use a wood burning stove, not to mention the aesthetics. Also for those concerned with environmental issues can use recyclable bio-fuels such as carbon neutral woody biomass. They also comply with building regulations of modern legislation that governs carbon emissions.

Lastly, you have the added bonus of attracting grants and incentives by installing wood burning stoves. This not only covers domestic heating, but also save the homeowner money, is proven to be ecologically sound and fall under government support.

Are there any disadvantages you may wonder? A few may be the fact that your supply of fuel needs to be delivered versus using the flip of a switch. The entire system needs cleaning annually. Often due to the disadvantage of not living near a reliable source of wood or log pellets a consumer will may not lose some cost advantage due to paying for the transport of wood biofuel.

Pellet Stoves – Smart Options For Heating Your Home

Written by mudika
December 12th, 2010

Pellet stoves are an excellent alternative energy option for heating your home.

This type of stove works by burning wood pellets or other pellets made of renewable materials in order to produce a reliable and environmentally friendly heat source. Pellet stove inserts allow you to transform existing fireplaces into energy efficient pellet stoves. Even if you don´t have a traditional fireplace, these inserts can even be built into a wall.

Reliability

A wood pellet stove is a dependable heat source that essentially runs itself after installation.

Many stoves have sensors that turn the stove on and off to maintain a consistent temperature. Many pellet stoves ignite themselves automatically, and some come with an optional remote control. They will typically also have computerized sensor systems that monitor conditions within the stove and ensure safe functioning of your pellet stove.

Energy Efficiency

Wood pellet stoves are friendly to the environment and your wallet.

They are extremely energy efficient and consume pellets made of renewable materials. In addition to traditional wood pellets, pellet burning stoves can also be fueled with shelled corn, hulled wheat, and even paper trash. All of these materials may be formed into pellets and used in a pellet burning stove.

Some of the earliest pellet burning stoves came about as a response to the energy crisis in the 1970s, offering an economical and energy efficient alternative to oil burning heaters.

Inexpensive To Purchase, Install, And Maintain

Pellet stoves are inexpensive to install and run, saving you money every step of the way.

Most importantly, pellet stoves are low maintenance heating systems. Pellet burning stoves burn very clean thanks to their integrated ventilation systems. They produce minimal ash and do not produce dangerous creosote, the by-product of traditional wood burning fireplaces that is associated with chimney fires.

Pellet stoves which burn non-wood pellets are equipped with special stirring mechanisms that help break up any compacted ash and keep your stove running clean.

Efficient Heating

A pellet stove is an economical and environmentally friendly heating option that is both safe and aesthetically pleasing.

Pellet burning stoves come in a variety of styles from homey rustic designs to sleek modern options to suit your interior design preferences. Pellet stove inserts are a great way to transform any room with this unique heating source.

These stoves are both stylish and functional, improving the energy efficiency of your home while adding a tasteful decorative element that accents any decor.

Used Wood Stoves

Written by mudika
November 26th, 2010

Common though they might seem, many wooden stoves have a great history behind their creation and usage. Many antique pieces from the past are available for sale today in different antique shops and on the Internet. A wooden stove is made of metal or iron and is fuelled by either charcoal or wood.

The Europeans where the first to create a stove in the early 18th century. It was created to make cooking more convenient so that people did not have to bend over open fires. The wood stove did away with the dangers and inefficiencies of the open fire. Its main objective was enclosing the open fire so that it did not result in the wastage of energy and hence could provide more heating efficiency.

Today, the manufacture of classic wood stoves has almost become a thing of the past. Modern technology has made many new inventions for better heating and cooking such as microwave ovens and gas stoves. Besides, wood stoves also have other drawbacks such as emission of dangerous smoke that is generated with the burning of wood and could prove detrimental to the user’s health.

Used wood stoves are available in local antique markets, second-hand goods stores and on the Internet. Most of the used wood stoves are several decades old, when they were used extensively. Many of these were sidetracked with the advent of newer and more advanced technology. While some of these wood stoves actually have historical significance, others are just disposed by users who invested in newer options. Such stores can be bought at a bargain price, often costing just a few dollars. However, antique stoves maybe much more expensive due to their history and intricate designs.

It is always advisable to check a few stores to find the perfect used wood stove. It will also give an idea of the prevailing market prices so that an excess amount is not paid for the used product. The usability and authenticity of the wood stove must be checked before making the purchase.

There are many advantages and disadvantages of wood pellet stoves. If you are considering integrating this type of stove into your home, it is important that you carefully weigh the disadvantages and advantages to ensure that this purchase will be right for you. While these make great accessories for the home, and really add appeal to the room that they are placed on, they are not always the best choice. Here, you will be introduced to the advantages and disadvantages of wood pellet stoves.

This type of wood stove has been deemed as one of the easiest types of wood stoves on the market today when it comes to basic operation and functionality. All you have to do is purchase the wood pellets that go in them, load the stove up, and light it. This makes it much easier than other stoves that depend on wood. With those stoves, you have to either chop up the wood, or buy wood logs. This can be time consuming, expensive, and even messy. However, wood pellets are easy to work with and have no mess!

Traditional wood burning stoves put off a lot of heat. In many cases, this is a good thing – like, cold climates, for example – however, in many instances hot air generates on the external surface of the stove and it is not a beneficial thing. Stoves that burn wood pellets, though, do not put off a lot of heat on the external surface of the actual stove. The next distinct advantage to this type of stove is that it does not put off all that “smoke” that standard stoves put out. For individuals with allergies, asthma, the elderly, and even young children, this can be a huge advantage!

The main disadvantage to wood pellet stoves is that they operate on electricity and/or battery. This means that you may end up paying quite a bit for electricity usage every month, or you may end up spending quite a bit of money when it comes to purchasing new batteries.

The next disadvantage is that certain types of homes, like manufactured ones cannot have these types of stoves installed in them because of the risk that they carry to overpowering the electrical systems of those homes. The price associated with these stoves can be relatively steep as well. Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of wood pellet stoves, you can determine if these are a right match for you!

Installing a cheap wood burning stove, could be one of the best investments to be made. Many people agree, they are very environmentally friendly but it is their versatility to burn a variety of fuels, cleanly and efficiently which wins people over. When you consider the astronomical rise in gas and oil prices in recent years, you can easily see why they are becoming a cheap and popular alternative source of heating.

A strength of a cheap wood burning stove, is that it can be placed anywhere in your home, where proper outside ventilation can be made. Generally, these appliances are installed in places where most time is spent, the kitchen and living room for example. Other than warming their home many decide to use a wood burning stove to also heat the domestic water. Although some additional installation is required, it easy to also run a home central heating system too.

There are many styles and sizes of stoves to suit the home and budget. Another choice is the kind of fuel the stove burns. Multi-fuel ones use combustible material such as coal, sawdust compacted briquettes as well as natural logs. All these fuels are generally regularly available from local suppliers. For anyone choosing to burn their own felled logs the wood needs to be well seasoned. This means after felling a tree, new cut logs should be stored to dry for a couple of years before use. Scrap wood could be used but should be free from paint, nails, and any other impurities to prevent noxious fumes when burning.

Pellet stoves are somewhat different from multi-fuel stoves in that they are restricted to the one type of fuel. Pellets manufactured from sawdust are stored in a hopper attached to the stove. As the fuel is burned, electronic controls automatically feed more pellets when required. This form of fuel can work out cheaper, and be considered more ecologically friendly as it is made from recycled paper and wood. However, pellet stoves are more complex and will be more expensive initially.

Power outages are not all that common usually but perhaps may become so in the future. A straight multi-fuel stove can prove to be a huge advantage when they do occur. Being completely independent from power it is still possible to maintain heating and cooking facilities. Another point to consider is that despite many of us trying to be kind to the environment and recycle as much as possible, some flammable materials can’t be recycled but can be burned which is additional free fuel.

As wood burners are manufactured from cast iron, which obviously conducts heat they continue emitting warmth long after the fire has died down. To make the most of a stove’s heat during burning and after, many owners use stove fans to disperse the radiant heat around their home. These very clever little devices, take the warmth from the stove itself to create power which drives fan blades blowing heat around the room. As these fans require no power supply they cost nothing to run, and by simply placing one on top of a stove you can get more from the stove’s output and cut fuel usage.

What You Need to Know about Used Pellet Stoves

Written by mudika
September 18th, 2010

If you think about it, spending a ton of money on a new pellet stove for the privilege of burning cheaper fuel defeats the whole purpose. However, if you can buy a slightly used pellet stove for half price – or less, you’ve saved enough money to pay for a year’s worth of corn or wood pellet fuel.

Buying a used pellet stove for your home requires no more time or effort than buying a new one. In one respect it’s easier since you have fewer choices. But lack of choice doesn’t have to mean lack of quality. I’m sure the current owner of any stove you look at will tell you it was the best stove they could get at the time.

If your search for a pellet stove has just begun, new or used, the following buying guide will provide the information you need to make an informed decision.

Visit your local building department
Installing a wood or pellet stove usually requires a building permit. While you’re picking up your permit application, tell them the type of heating appliance you plan to install and ask what kind of additional documentation, if any, is required. This is especially important if you own a mobile or modular home.

When I talked to the City of Quincy building department, they said a product brochure with clearance and venting information would be helpful. You can get all this information by visiting the stove manufacture’s website, downloading the owner’s manual and printing it out.

Choose your fuel and stove size
If you live in the Corn Belt, the choice of fuel is obvious. If you live in the Northeast, the fuel of choice is wood pellets. Since fuel corn is “imported” to the Northeast, the price of wood pellets is competitive with corn. Wood pellet fuel is also becoming a common commodity in home improvement stores as more home owners in this region purchase wood pellet stoves.

You don’t need a big stove to save big. Most of the used corn and wood pellet stoves I’ve seen produce 35,000-45,000 btus – enough to heat a typical 1,200 square foot ranch or the main living areas of a two story home.

If you can get a good deal on a larger, 50-60,000 btu stove, one of these will work great too since these high output models come equipped with 5 heat settings ranging from a low of 8,000 btus for chilly days, to max power for the coldest weather.

Look for these features and extras:

Electronic Ignition
Just because you’re buying a used pellet stove doesn’t mean you should return to the dark ages of pellet stove heating with gel starters. Frankly, I wouldn’t buy a stove without electronic ignition.

Large Hopper Capacity
A standard size hopper holds 40 pounds of pellet fuel. This is enough fuel to heat your home for 20-30 hours. A larger capacity hopper, although not necessary, adds convenience by requiring less frequent fillings.

Heat Output Controls
During the months that transition in and out of the heating season, you won’t need the full heating capacity of your pellet stove. A heat output control will ensure maximum comfort from minimal fuel. Heat output controls can take the form of a thermostat, hi/lo blower or variable speed auger that controls the rate pellets are fed into the burn pot.

Air Washing System
Believe it or not, the #1 complaint people have with pellet stoves is dirty viewing glass. An air washing system, now standard on many new pellet stoves, removes the fly ash from the viewing window and eliminates frequent cleaning.

Extras
Many sellers of used pellet stoves include the venting pipe, hearth pad, log set, and any left over pellet fuel in the purchase price. These extras can add up to hundreds of dollars in additional savings.

Where to Look for a Used Pellet Stove
Start with craigslist. Since most used pellet stove sellers offer pick up only, craigslist enables you to refine your search by City or State. This is a big time saver. A recent check in the Boston area turned up 12 used stoves within a 50 mile radius of my home.

ebay has plenty of listings too, you just won’t find as many local sellers as you will on craigslist. When I narrowed my ebay results to a 50 mile radius of my zip code using the Search Option function, it returned only 1 seller.

However, ebay will conveniently notify you by email whenever a new listing pops up. Another option is to delay payment for 3 months by using the ebay credit card.

Here’s a search tip: A search on either craigslist or ebay will turn up MORE used pellet stoves if you use the term “pellet stove” rather than the narrower “used pellet stove.” Also try “pellet”, “wood pellet”, or a brand name, such as “Englander”.

How Much Can I Expect to Save?
Generally speaking, the higher the original retail price, the more you will save percentage wise. Stoves that sold for $3,000 new can often be purchased used at savings of 50-70%. Stoves priced new under $2,000 seem to depreciate less.

Delivery
If you choose to pay for delivery, call someone like Yellow Truck or a courier service to make arrangements. If you buy from an ebay seller willing to ship the stove, a freight shipping calculator is provided on the sales page.

No matter who ships your stove, make the sure the truck they send has a lift gate so you can get your 300 pound stove off the truck.

Installation
Most cities and towns require a licensed pro to complete the installation. If you’re an experienced home owner, finding one shouldn’t be a problem. If you’re new to home ownership, I recommend a service like Need Contractor for a list of pre-screened contractors is your area.

Contact the Seller
Don’t hesitate to contact the seller with any questions you might have. He or she
can be especially helpful in determining whether the used pellet stove for sale is still