Firewood and efficient burning
Some folks are obsessive about the choice of firewood. First chore is finding it, then cutting, splitting and stacking are all part of the fun. Doing all the aforementioned properly will result in a clean burning, safe system that will be very efficient,
In Norway, firewood is a national obsession. In fact, one of the most popular TV shows, “National Firewood Night,” was a 12-hour program about firewood. No joke, 12 hours. It’s not hard to understand when you consider that 1.2 million Norwegian homes have fireplaces, wood stoves or both. The TV show was based upon Mytting’s best-selling book.
Diet and fitness books may be among the top-selling books in North America. In Norway, the subject of firewood may usurp it. Mytting’s book was a runaway success, spending more than a year on Norway’s best-seller list. Sales have surpassed 150,000 copies.
Norwegians hold strong opinions about firewood. Mytting told a reporter that, “You can tell a lot about a person from his firewood stack.” And no aspect of the subject is considered trivial. The 12-hour TV program generated debate about stacking, and 50 per cent of the viewers were upset because the bark was facing up, while the rest balked because it was facing down.
When it comes to the subject of firewood, Mytting is considered the last word, and the ideal source to pass on tips for achieving perfect burning. Here are five tips from Mytting:
Air control
To get maximum heat, it’s best to keep the flu control wide open so the wood burns hot and the flames are intense. This will also reduce pollution, because gas particles are combusted and produce heat instead. Once your home is warm, control the temperature by the amount of wood used, not by regulating the flu control.
Minimal amount of smoke from chimney
Contrary to popular belief, smoke is not exhaust, but high energy gases that weren't’t burned. Check the smoke coming out of the chimney. Dense black smoke means that combustion isn't’t ideal because the fire isn't’t hot enough. If wood burns optimally, only odor-free smoke is released from the chimney.
Keep wood stove clean
Clean your stove and flue pipe once a year. It’s also important to clean your stove often if you accumulate a lot of soot.
Different types of wood yield different heat levels
Hardwood provides more heat than softwoods. Softwoods are ideal for starting a fire, and provide a cleaner burn. But once the fire is started, add hardwood to intensify heat, and provide continuous burning. The amount of wood needed is contingent upon the size of the stove’s firebox and the length and breadth of the wood you’re burning.
Healthy overnight heating
Most wood stoves burn two to three hours on one wood load. At night, it’s common practice to close the air supply so that coals smolder and provide continuous heat. But slow smoldering coals are a source of pollution. And over several hours, the heat diminishes.
A more efficient and healthier burning method is to load the wood stove with large logs before you go to bed, but keep the flu wide open. When the fire dies out, sufficient heat will be generated, and the insulation in your home will keep the heat in. In the morning, the stove will still be warm, and easily started.