3 Easy Steps to Max Efficiency Wood Stoves
You’ve done some research. Maybe you’re already a stove owner. So you’ve heard that today’s wood stoves are well-designed, radiant heating machines. Now you’re wondering, “How can I make sure my stove is one of those peak performers? How can I get a full return?” Good question. First, be sure to look at Wood Stoves & Wood Burning Efficiency. Choosing the right fuel makes a world of difference.
Beyond that, here are some tips to stoke your stove to its limits:
1. Check your wood stove’s temperature. Some stoves have preinstalled thermometers. If not, it’s fairly easy to install a stack thermometer on the stove flue-your stove’s exhaust pipe. Doing so will let you “take the temperature” of gases as they leave the stove. For most wood burning stoves, the optimum range is between 300 and 400 F. Stoves in that heat range are the most efficient and the least polluting.
2. Service your stove. This one is simple, but easy to forget: Clean out excess ash. When ashes start building up, it’s time to give your wood stove the equivalent of a good lube job. You get the point: Piled up ashes clog up your wood stove’s air vents and deprive the fire of oxygen. Burning all that wood to heat your home is hard work-so making your stove short of breath is the last thing you want to do.
3. Spy on your wood stove. In the friendly, “just checking up on you” sense, of course. When wood stoves are burning at peak efficiency, they make virtually no smoke. So vary the amount of oxygen and wood you give your stove, then sneak outside and take a peek at your smoke stack or chimney. No smoke? That means your wood stove is burning clean, green and hot.
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Tagged With Environment, fuel efficiency, wood, wood burning stoves, Wood Stoves
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