Wood-burning stove
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Woodburning stoves are becoming more and more popular throught the UK, with soaring gas and oil prices many people are turning to wood as there source of heating.
What is a Woodburning stove? A woodburning stove is an appliance that can burn wood and can be used as a room heater and in many cases can also heat domestic hot water and radiators.
Efficiency
Many of the high end stoves are extremely controllable and can in many cases can be up to about 80% efficient. Compared to the old original open fireplace that was around 20% efficient this is a great improvement.
Many of the higher end stoves can be closed down at night and left to smoulder and with the use of secondry burn they can be brought back to life in the morning with great ease.
Woodburning Stove controls
There are two types of controls as standard on a Woodburning stove:
Airwash
Airwash is a system designed to ensure that the glass is kept clean.
The airwash is achieved by air being drawn into the top of the stove and heated in the central air chamber before being directed down behind the glass door creating a screen between the fire and the glass.
Smoke or combustion particles do not come into contact with the glass, leaving it clean to see through.
Secondary Burn Technology
Secondary burn technology is often referred as "Cleanburn or Cleanheat stoves
Cleanburn is a system by which warm air is introduced just above the normal height of the fire. The effect is to allow the combustion of unburned hydrocarbons in the smoke stream. This, in turn, provides not only a `cleaner burn' (i.e. less soot particles going up the chimney/flue and into the atmosphere) but also generates up to twice the heat output from the same amount of fuel. Furthermore, you will enjoy the sight of even more flames.
Cleanburn Technology allows the air to run over the top of the flames burning the excess wood gas giving you a far more effcient stove and better heat output from the same amount of fuel. Because the air has come from the back of the stove, by the time it has reached the front of the stove the air has heated up and will provide you with cleaner glass than a stove that just has Airwash Technology.
Wood burning stoves which have Cleanburn Technology burn far more efficiently than stoves which have Airwash.
Source:-Woodburner Warehouse- Cleanburn explained
Woodburning Stove Construction
Cast Iron Vs Steel Construction
For years a debate has gone on about whether to buy a Woodburning Stove made of Cast Iron or Steel. Many say that cast is better because it is stronger and that Steel can bend and warp.
It has gone on for years and guess what no one has come up with a solid answer as to what is better- cast iron or Steel!
Cast Iron: Cast Iron has been used for centuries in woodburning stoves. It is well know for its strong and long life. Find out how cast is made
Is Cast iron better than Steel?
Cast Iron Advantages:
- Its Strong
- It holds heat extremely well and gives off heat for hours after the fire has gone out.
Cast Iron Disadvantages:
- It has a rougher finish
- Can be brittle if too thin
- It is extremely heavy to maneuver
- While being strong if over fired it can crack if under too much pressure
- Takes a while to heat up
Steel: Steel is now a widely used material and has become a very popular material not only in the stove world but for most things you see today!
Steel Advantages:
- Its strong if thick enough
- Can be fairly light
- Can be molded to almost any design
- Very smooth feel
- Very Fast To heat up
Steel Disadvantages:
- Can warp if under too much stress
- loses its heat very quickly, dos not hold heat
Although Cast Iron seems to have more disadvantages than the Steel I would not say that any one is better than the other.
Some cast today can be very well made and are getting better all the time. You generally get more for your money with the Steel stoves but I wouldn't say one was better than the other.
If you want something that will give you instant heat and its not your only source of heating then Steel may be your best best.
If you want something that will give off heat after the flames are out and its your main source of heat then Cast iron stoves are the way to go.
Best Wood Types
Best Wood Types to Burn
Ash, Hazel, Oak and Hawthorn are good woods with high Heat-to-weight ratio.
UK smoke Control Areas - Clean Air Acts 1956 and 1968
Legislative background- The Clean Air Acts of 1956 & 1968
The Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968 were introduced to deal with the smogs of the 1950s and 1960s which were caused by the widespread burning of coal for domestic heating and by industry.
These smogs were blamed for the premature deaths of hundreds of people in the UK. The Acts gave local authorities powers to control emissions of dark smoke, grit, dust and fumes from industrial premises and furnaces and to declare “smoke control areas” in which emissions of smoke from domestic properties are banned.
Since then, smoke control areas have been introduced in many of our large towns and cities in the UK.
Smoke control areas
Under the Clean Air Act local authorities can declare the whole or part a district to be a smoke control area. It is an offence to emit smoke from a chimney of a building, from a furnace or from any fixed boiler if located in a designated smoke control area. It is also an offence to acquire an “unauthorised fuel” for use within a smoke control area unless it is used in an “exempt” appliance (“exempted” from the controls which generally apply in the smoke control area). The current maximum level of fine is £1,000 for each offence.
Your local authority is responsible for enforcing the legislation in smoke control areas and you can contact them for details of any smoke control areas in their area. They should also have details of the fuels and appliances which may be used.
To find out if you are in a smoke Control Area simply visit the UK Smoke Control Area Website