Wood Fired Equipment

Wood fired equipment is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, heating technologies known to man.  However, it is still very useful and very efficient even in today's high-tech world.  There are now new technologies to make these systems even more energy friendly.

Wood Fired Equipment

Wood fired equipment is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, heating technology known to man.  However, it is still very useful and very efficient, made possible by new technologies.

Quick Links:
What are my options?
Energy-Saving Tips

What are my options?

EPA certified wood stoves

• Catalytic
• Lower VOC (volatile organic compounds) and particulate emissions
• High efficiency
• High maintenance
• Damage-prone
• Manual ash removal
• Manual stoking
• Non-catalytic, multi-combustion chamber
• Greater tolerance to temperature range

Pellet stove

• Cleanest form of wood combustion
• Direct-vent exhaust (no traditional chimney required)
• Good efficiency
• Automated stoking
• Optional self-cleaning
• Electricity required for operation
• Must buy manufactured pellet fuel

Conventional wood stoves & Fireplace inserts

• Lower efficiency
• Harmful levels of VOCs and particulates
• Manual ash removal
• Manual stoking

Fireplace

• Very low efficiency
• Chimney draft may draw heated air out of the house
• Harmful VOC and particulate emissions
• Manual ash removal
• Manual stoking
• Consumes fuel very quickly

Outdoor wood boiler

• High setup costs (including underground piping)
• Medium efficiency
• Harmful VOC and particulate emissions
• Manual ash removal – at a distance from house
• Manual stoking – at a distance from house
• Large quantities of fuel required

Back to top

Energy-Saving Tips

A word about emissions. Due to the increased interest in wood combustion, research is being conducted on the emissions characteristics and varied environmental impacts of wood as fuel. Among the various consumer options for wood-fired space heating equipment, pellet stoves are the cleanest and most environmentally friendly, based on stack emissions.

Since extremely high levels of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and particulates are often emitted from outdoor wood boilers, researchers in the energy sciences plan to examine methods of lowering the emissions and raising the efficiency of existing boilers.  Future tests will also be conducted on other wood burning technologies such as wood gasification.

How to increase wood burning efficiency and decrease emissions:

• Upgrade to an EPA-certified wood stove or other clean burning technology.
• Burn only dry, seasoned hardwoods.  Do not burn bark or soft woods which will increase VOCs and particulates and cause quicker formation of creosote on the chimney liner.
• Never burn trash or treated wood.
• Optimize fire to eliminate smoldering or the overheating of catalysts.
• Choose the right size stove for the job.
• Clean out ashes regularly to avoid blocking air intake vents.
• Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the chimney at least once per year.

Wood Safety

• Have wood burning equipment professionally installed.
• Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the chimney at least once per year.
• Check gaskets and door seals.
• Check for proper damper operation.
• Wear gloves when loading wood or removing ash.
• Open the loading door slowly.
• Check for proper spacing from all combustibles.
• Install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the area.
• Keep children away from hot surfaces.
• Wear appropriate clothing when handling or cutting wood.
• Do not breathe wood smoke.

Back to top