But wood will only shrink and swell below its fiber saturation point, which is around 28% moisture content (MC). Conventional wisdom tells us when wood absorbs water it swells and when wood dries it shrinks. Peeling paint, rot, warp, cracks and general shrinkage are all related to water in wood. Virtually all problems with wood-based building materials are moisture problems. 1) Kiln dry (KD) and S-DRY lumber means dry lumber. In the following article, we’ll consider some common notions about wood, and see how they compare with the cold, hard facts. But even experts can be mistaken, and you may be surprised to learn that some of what you know about wood is wrong. #LAST WOOD WONT LOAD FULL#As builders, we spend much of our time cutting wood, carrying it around or pounding it full of nails. If you say something loud enough and often enough, somehow it becomes true. Setting the record straight on common misbeliefs about the material we use everyday. Some information contained in it may be outdated. If you run the stove on a hot day then the air inlets may shut down, which is not good for the chimney.Please note: This older article by our former faculty member remains available on our site for archival purposes. You can’t control the weather, but a wood burning stove works better when there’s a larger temperature difference between the outside and inside as the draft is an essential part of the operation. Make sure it’s cold outside, or warmer inside Regulate the air control once the new logs have caught fire to ensure the cleanest possible burn.ħ. Use just as much wood as you need, when you need it, for the most efficient fire. Keep the air control fully open at this point, and leave the door slightly ajar, then light the paper or lighters from the top and let the flame descend down and catch the kindling.Īfter 45 minutes to an hour, when you’re left with glowing embers, that’s the time to add more wood, after raking the embers to the front. This allows the heat to escape and creates a draft in the chimney that will help feed the fire. Take several logs, kindling and create a layered cage around screwed-up newspaper or firelighters. If it smokes for more than 20 minutes then there is likely a problem with the fuel or elsewhere in the system. Expect one split log to last an hour, as a rough approximation.Ĭheck your chimney if everything is working well you should not see smoke. Aim for wood with a 15-20% moisture content and you’ll use less and get a better burn that keeps you warmer, faster, for longer. A stove works best in an open-plan house, too, and though it might be a step too far to remove interior walls to make the most of your heating system, it might be worth bearing in mind if you’re moving.Ĭheap wood may seem like a bargain, but it can be completely the opposite if it has a high moisture content that causes a lot of smoke and not enough fire. If you want to heat the whole house and your water supply then ensure that your stove is close to the centre of the house for the most efficient heating. Chimneys are designed for smooth airflow and a heavy layer of deposits on the inside wall will simply disrupt the air and ensure that your stove isn’t as efficient as it could be. If it’s longer or more convoluted than that then the smoke can cool too much before it gets to the chimney, which will affect the pressure it can produce.Ī blocked or simply coked up chimney is one of the major reasons why a stove doesn’t work at its absolute best. So make sure it is high enough, at least two feet taller than the roof, but keep the stove pipe to less than seven feet with no more than two elbows. The chimney is a vital part of the overall wood burning stove. Here are our top tips to improve the efficiency of your wood stove: If you have a wood burning cooker, pellet stoves or wood burning boiler stoves, then you can ensure it runs smooth and clean with a few simple steps. A wood stove can be a perfect centrepiece for your home and it’s a great, energy-efficient way to heat your home and water.
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