Heat with wood safely and efficient OPERATING a wood-fired stove or furnace safely and efficiently may require changing the way you use it. Unlike other space-heating systems, most wood-fired appliances are not automatic. The fire must be stoked by hand and the combustion rate set manually by adjust- able air intake controls. Because of this, both the safety and efficiency of a wood-fired heating system depend on proper operation by the owner. Safety and efficiency are linked closely. The way in which wood is loaded into the heating system and burned is important to both. Imcom- plete combustion resulting from an inadequate ais supp- , produces unburned gases ’ accumulate as creosote “the chimney. Creosote is ughly flammable and creates ge risk of chimney fires, which can damage the chimney structure and cause dangerous overheating of ad- jacent wood in the walls and roof. The creosote problem is_ primanty caused by over- loading wood-fired ap- pliances or operating them on a low-combustion air setting, or both, to get a long, slow firing. Modern airtight wood stoves can contribute to this problem if improperly used. Heating with wood ts safer and more efficient when the fuel is bummed completely. Creosote deposited by a smouldenng fire can be dangerous. A hot fire con- verts creosote to heat. Complete combustion ts aided by a number of factors. Dry. well seasoned firewood 1s important. Wet fuel wastes much of the heat potential. Wood seasoned under cover for 6 to 12 months has less than half the moisutre con- tent of newly cut fuel. it as amportant to let a fire burn hotly for up to 30 minutes after fresh fuel has been added. A hot fire burns completely, produces less smoke and therefore less creosote. Generally, aim con trols on a wood fired apph ance should be fully open up taal the fresh fucl is well char red A stack thermometect on the stovepipe between the ap phance and chimncy will heip keep track of how the fire ts burning A temperature of between 200° and 400°C in the stack indicates that COompustion a Correa If the fire must be allowed to smoulder to reduce the amount of heat produced, chances are it has been over- loaded. Smaller fuel loads make efficient combustion easier. This is especially important during warmer weather when heating re- quirements are low. A small, efficiently burning fire pro- duces as much heat as a larger fire with an inadequate air supply. When fuel is add- ed, remaining coals should be raked forward so that they are placed between the air in- Bll - Sanday, October 7, 1984 - North Shore News HOME ENERGY MANAGEMENT lets and the fresh wood. This allows quick ignition of the fresh load with a mimimum of smoke. If you are considering buy- ing a wood fired stove or fur- nace for the first time or replacing an existing one, choosing the proper $size makes safe and efficient operation easier. An ap phiance that ts too large 1s dif- ficult to operate without ex- cessive smoke and creosote. A smaller apphance, used properly, ts the best way to get the benefits of wood heat. —) | The Canadian movement for pessonai fitness. Fireside Heatin e 39” Glass Viewing ° Ash tray Cleanout ° 24 sq. ft Heat Transfer area e 2 Blowers (Thermostatically controlled) Variable Speed No creosote Problems * Easy to Install e 12 years on the market and 12,000 sotd in 6 © Its Air Tight Running Mates Pacific Energy Super 43 and 27 - Clearances 2” rear combustibles © inside or Outside at: - Pedestal base FIREPLACE HEAT EXTRACTOR 2%" comer trom Now more than ever, people are finding real savings by tuming down the thermostat and finng up a wood stove. We've got a large selection of the best on the market. Vermont Castings®: the Defianr® the Vigilanr® the Resolute® the Intrepid® and our classically beautiful FirePlace™ Insert. Come im and see them today. THE FREPLACES By VERMONT CASTINGS Woodburn Stoves & Fuel Ltd. Home of Vermont Castings & The Etmira Ovai 1589 Garden Avenue 15420 Fraser Highway North Vancouver, B.C. V7P 3A5 Surrey, B.C. V3R 3P6 (604) 987-081 1/681-6743 (604) 585-8313 g would like fo ly ¢- Brass door with full viow of no - 265 CFM blower with variable spo... - Ash Drawer clean out * Individual primary and secondary alr curse - tt Temp Glass. Standard F eature FIRESIDE HEATING SYSTEMS LTD. 4296 KINGSWAY, BURNABY 438-0550 PVa cate write dee taal AAW) Okak Sotreat Vari cnrver bb ¢ Vel ‘V4 aide, SN -_ bo