Sep
8
Filed Under wood stoves | Comments Off
Ariel Vanderhorst asked:
Newer doesn’t automatically mean better, but when it comes to the tested technology of advanced wood stoves, the benefits are hard to argue with. Current wood stove models–anything made after the early 1990s and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency–are at least a third more economical than the traditional pot belly stove. That means 33 percent less cash spent on seasoned wood (or 33 percent less elbow grease if you harvest your own fuel). In addition, today’s wood burning stoves are nearly smokeless, keeping polluting fumes to a minimum. Let’s break down the benefits in a little more detail.
First, Efficient Technology
At the moment you sign the check or swipe your credit card, the economical technology of a contemporary stove will cost you about $200 dollars. However, as heating savings begin to accumulate, that investment will quickly pay dividends. After just a couple seasons of use, you can expect your stove to have paid for itself–and thereafter you’re moving further and further into the black with every fire you build. It’s not hard to see why many homeowners find this kind of math attractive.
Second, Green Safety
Modern stoves give off 90 percent fewer fumes than the traditional models, which amounts to fires that are virtually smokeless. Practically, this means no dark, heavy smoke, no stifling, harmful emissions, no bad odor. This kind of efficiency makes stoves an environmentally friendly alternative. On top of this, 90 percent less smoke means 90 percent less creosote–a flammable waste substance that accumulates in stove flues. That means you won’t need to hire a chimney sweep to service your stove, and it reduces the risk of stovepipe fires to almost nil.
Third, Maximum Wood Economy
This may sound slightly redundant, but let me point it out anyway. Contemporary stoves produce very little smoke, as we saw above–but this is a result of their fuel efficiency. They burn hotter with less wood, and they burn wood completely, leaving very little ash. This results in a smaller environmental footprint, as less wood is consumed. Do you see a theme emerging? More heat, less expenditure. In addition, today’s stoves are easy to operate, so you’ll spend a minimum of time getting your fires lit. No tinkering with a quirky machine to get the air flow right and the fire started.
Fourth, Wood Stove Style
This may be the last thing you think about, but it needs to be said: Today’s stoves are much better looking than their predecessors. Advanced modern designs give us a pay-off in aesthetic terms as well. Stoves you’ll look at now showcase graceful lines, custom colors, and stone and enamel materials in addition to classic cast iron and welded steel models. Contemporary stoves feature self-cleaning glass windows, which allow you to keep an eye on fires and make adjustments if necessary. But probably better than that, it allows you to curl up and watch the flames dance.
Convinced yet? By going with a new stove, you’ll gain a radiant heating source that pads your bank account while adding to the beauty of your home.
Used Vending Machines
Newer doesn’t automatically mean better, but when it comes to the tested technology of advanced wood stoves, the benefits are hard to argue with. Current wood stove models–anything made after the early 1990s and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency–are at least a third more economical than the traditional pot belly stove. That means 33 percent less cash spent on seasoned wood (or 33 percent less elbow grease if you harvest your own fuel). In addition, today’s wood burning stoves are nearly smokeless, keeping polluting fumes to a minimum. Let’s break down the benefits in a little more detail.
First, Efficient Technology
At the moment you sign the check or swipe your credit card, the economical technology of a contemporary stove will cost you about $200 dollars. However, as heating savings begin to accumulate, that investment will quickly pay dividends. After just a couple seasons of use, you can expect your stove to have paid for itself–and thereafter you’re moving further and further into the black with every fire you build. It’s not hard to see why many homeowners find this kind of math attractive.
Second, Green Safety
Modern stoves give off 90 percent fewer fumes than the traditional models, which amounts to fires that are virtually smokeless. Practically, this means no dark, heavy smoke, no stifling, harmful emissions, no bad odor. This kind of efficiency makes stoves an environmentally friendly alternative. On top of this, 90 percent less smoke means 90 percent less creosote–a flammable waste substance that accumulates in stove flues. That means you won’t need to hire a chimney sweep to service your stove, and it reduces the risk of stovepipe fires to almost nil.
Third, Maximum Wood Economy
This may sound slightly redundant, but let me point it out anyway. Contemporary stoves produce very little smoke, as we saw above–but this is a result of their fuel efficiency. They burn hotter with less wood, and they burn wood completely, leaving very little ash. This results in a smaller environmental footprint, as less wood is consumed. Do you see a theme emerging? More heat, less expenditure. In addition, today’s stoves are easy to operate, so you’ll spend a minimum of time getting your fires lit. No tinkering with a quirky machine to get the air flow right and the fire started.
Fourth, Wood Stove Style
This may be the last thing you think about, but it needs to be said: Today’s stoves are much better looking than their predecessors. Advanced modern designs give us a pay-off in aesthetic terms as well. Stoves you’ll look at now showcase graceful lines, custom colors, and stone and enamel materials in addition to classic cast iron and welded steel models. Contemporary stoves feature self-cleaning glass windows, which allow you to keep an eye on fires and make adjustments if necessary. But probably better than that, it allows you to curl up and watch the flames dance.
Convinced yet? By going with a new stove, you’ll gain a radiant heating source that pads your bank account while adding to the beauty of your home.
Used Vending Machines
Sep
4
Filed Under wood stoves | Comments Off
Ariel Vanderhorst asked:
If you’re interested in owning a wood stove, you probably done some research. Maybe you’ve heard the buzz about the efficiency of modern stoves and their small environmental footprint. Or you may already be a stove owner, in which case you’ve started basking in that radiant heat. Either way, you’re wondering how to ensure that your stove turns out to be one of those peak performers–and a smart investment to boot. If so, you’re asking the right questions, because today’s stoves a designed to pay great dividends. Capitalizing on your stove’s potential begins with choosing the right type of fuel. But beyond that, here are three steps to help stoke your stove to its full heating potential.
First, take the temperature of your wood burning stove.
A lot of today’s stoves come with thermometers preinstalled, which makes this step easy. If this isn’t the case, it’s not difficult to attach a stack thermometer to your stove’s flue–that pipe that carries the exhaust outside. Once you have a thermometer in place, you’ll be able to check the temperature of gases as they exit the stove. For the average wood stove, the ideal temperature range falls between 300 and 400 F. If the stove is burning within this range, it is producing heat efficiently while causing the least pollution possible. You can target this optimum spectrum by adjusting the stove’s burn rate or changing the quantity of fuel.
Second, do stove maintenance. This a simple step, but easy to overlook.
Modern stoves don’t create a lot of waste, but from time to time you’ll want to clean out wood ash. When excess ashes start to build up, it’s time to service your stove with the equivalent to a quick oil change–only it’s much, much easier! Collected ash can obstruct the air vents of your stove, depriving the fire of oxygen. This makes it hard to control the burn rate of your fire, and compromises efficiency. Heating your home is hard work, so the last thing you want to do is making your stove short of breath.
Third, take an outsider’s perspective on your wood stove.
By “outsider” I mean outside your house. When a wood stove is burning with maximum efficiency, it creates almost no visible smoke. So when you have a good blaze going, walk outside and inspect your stove flue or chimney. If you see dark fumes, you should vary the stove’s oxygen flow and wood supply, then check again. A well-tended fire with good fuel will eliminate that smokiness. When there’s no smoke, and just a shimmer in the air, you’ll know your stove is reaching its potential: burning clean and hot.
Feel like you’re getting the idea? Modern stoves are designed to take most of the guesswork out of all this. Feeding your stove the right woods and following the “common sense” tips above will turn your stove into a radiant heating machine.
Pine Scented Candles
If you’re interested in owning a wood stove, you probably done some research. Maybe you’ve heard the buzz about the efficiency of modern stoves and their small environmental footprint. Or you may already be a stove owner, in which case you’ve started basking in that radiant heat. Either way, you’re wondering how to ensure that your stove turns out to be one of those peak performers–and a smart investment to boot. If so, you’re asking the right questions, because today’s stoves a designed to pay great dividends. Capitalizing on your stove’s potential begins with choosing the right type of fuel. But beyond that, here are three steps to help stoke your stove to its full heating potential.
First, take the temperature of your wood burning stove.
A lot of today’s stoves come with thermometers preinstalled, which makes this step easy. If this isn’t the case, it’s not difficult to attach a stack thermometer to your stove’s flue–that pipe that carries the exhaust outside. Once you have a thermometer in place, you’ll be able to check the temperature of gases as they exit the stove. For the average wood stove, the ideal temperature range falls between 300 and 400 F. If the stove is burning within this range, it is producing heat efficiently while causing the least pollution possible. You can target this optimum spectrum by adjusting the stove’s burn rate or changing the quantity of fuel.
Second, do stove maintenance. This a simple step, but easy to overlook.
Modern stoves don’t create a lot of waste, but from time to time you’ll want to clean out wood ash. When excess ashes start to build up, it’s time to service your stove with the equivalent to a quick oil change–only it’s much, much easier! Collected ash can obstruct the air vents of your stove, depriving the fire of oxygen. This makes it hard to control the burn rate of your fire, and compromises efficiency. Heating your home is hard work, so the last thing you want to do is making your stove short of breath.
Third, take an outsider’s perspective on your wood stove.
By “outsider” I mean outside your house. When a wood stove is burning with maximum efficiency, it creates almost no visible smoke. So when you have a good blaze going, walk outside and inspect your stove flue or chimney. If you see dark fumes, you should vary the stove’s oxygen flow and wood supply, then check again. A well-tended fire with good fuel will eliminate that smokiness. When there’s no smoke, and just a shimmer in the air, you’ll know your stove is reaching its potential: burning clean and hot.
Feel like you’re getting the idea? Modern stoves are designed to take most of the guesswork out of all this. Feeding your stove the right woods and following the “common sense” tips above will turn your stove into a radiant heating machine.
Pine Scented Candles