How to start a fire in the Fireplace or Wood Burning Stove (Wood Stove Accessories)

Wood Stove Accessories

By: Anthony Delgado

Having a fire in a fireplace can be a beautiful addition to your home, but it is functional as well if properly prepared. Follow these steps to ensure a simple and safe fire in your home.

Things You'll Need:
- Wood
- Kindling
- Fire starters or newspaper
- Lighter or Matches
- Fireplace tools

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1
Accessories: If you are using a fireplace, be sure to have a screen to reduce the risk of sparks escaping the fireplace. Whether you have a wood burning stove or a fireplace, it's important to have a set of fireplace tools and, if you want, a set of bellows can be helpful.

Step 2
Fuel: The fuel for the fire is two parts. You have to have wood, but you also must have oxygen. In order to ensure good oxygen circulation, use a fireplace grate or andirons and make sure it is cleaned out underneath. The grate or andirons will allow the ash to fall down and the oxygen to rise up into the wood.

Step 3
Kindling: Kindling are small sticks or shards of wood that will light easily. It's best to use these on the bottom as large logs will have trouble lighting without them. Even if you are using fire starters, it is best to use kindling. The fire starters often will not get the whole log lit evenly, which will affect the compression within the stove or fireplace and may, consequently, not generate as much heat.

Step 4
Fire: You can use crumpled paper under the grate to start the fire, however the inks and oils can cause damage to the hearth over time. It's best to use wax based fire starters that will completely burn up and cause very little ash. Start the fire centrally beneath the kindling to ensure that the fire will spread evenly to the log.

Step 5
Compression: If your stove or fire place has an adjustment on the air intake, use it. Once the fire is completely lit, lower the air intake. This will cause compression within it, which will cause more heat to be exhausted into your home and will allow the wood to burn for a longer period of time. A good solid piece of oak can burn all night if set up properly.

Article Source: eHow.com
Wood Stove Accessories

How to Buy a Wood Stove (Wood Stove Accessories)

Wood Stove Accessories

By: eHow Contributing Writer

Beyond their romantic glow and homey crackle, modern wood stoves produce low-cost heat, and burn cleanly and efficiently, producing minimal ash and smoke. You pick the technology and choose the ideal-size stove to match your heating needs. Buy the most efficient stove you can afford. It'll pay for itself in the long run.

Step 1
Evaluate your home's floor plan to determine where you should install a wood stove. Some stoves can heat an entire house; others work best as zone heaters for the most-used areas. A stove placed in one room will heat adjacent rooms if there's good airflow at the ceiling and floor.

Step 2
Show a dealer a sketch of your home, the area that needs heat, and a description of the insulation surrounding that area. The dealer will help you calculate the proper stove size, expressed in British thermal units (Btus). You'll waste money if you buy too big a stove, and it will either create a smoky fire or use more fuel than necessary.

Step 3
Talk to one or more professional chimney sweeps (csia.org) about the brands you're interested in, and get their recommendations.

Step 4
Understand the technology in catalytic stoves ($1,000 to $2,000). A catalytic combustor cuts normal burn temperatures in half for a slow, controlled fire with the fewest emissions. Look for a castiron or plate-steel stove body 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick and a tightclosing bypass plate 5/16 inch (8 mm) thick. Also look for a design that protects the combustor from direct flame.

Step 5
Consider noncatalytic (recirculating) stoves ($500 to $2,200) for their two-chamber combustion, which injects jets of preheated air into the fire to boost heat and reduce emissions. Look for a cast-iron or plate-steel body 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick. To resist warping, the fire chamber's baffle should be 5/16-inch (8 mm) plate steel with V-shaped supports. These models have no combustor to maintain, but their smaller fireboxes mean you'll have to use shorter logs and load them more frequently.

Step 6
Buy a super-efficient pellet stoves ($1,700 to $3,000) for the cleanest-burning option. They burn easy-to-handle pellets formed from wood waste. A thermostat-controlled auger delivers fuel from a hopper to the firebox. Fans pull air in and exhaust gases out through a house-warming heat exchanger. Pellet stoves need battery backup during power outages.

Step 7
Get toasty warm beside stylish stoves in steel or soapstone. Design options to consider include legs or a pedestal base, colorful porcelain finishes and tile accents. Check out well-known brands such as Vermont Castings (vermontcastings.com) and Hearthstone (hearthstonestoves.com).

Tips & Warning:
- Look for two labels. One certifies that the stove meets Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards; the other lists efficiency range and heat output in Btus.
- Look for standard features including self-cleaning glass, hidden hinges and reversible flues, as well as optional accessories such as fans, gold-plated accents and heat shields for walls.
- Your home's air will become very dry when heated with a wood stove. Combat this with a humidifier or by placing a kettle of water on the stove.
- Ordinances regulating wood stove use vary by city and sometimes within cities. Check the back of the stove for the EPA certification label to see if you comply with local ordinances.
- Dirty chimneys can cause catastrophic chimney fires. Hire a chimney sweep for regular cleanings.

Article Source: eHow.com

Wood Stove Accessories

How to Clean a Wood Stove (Wood Stove Accessories)

Wood Stove Accessories

By Mary S. Yamin-Garone

Wood stoves are becoming more popular with homeowners as an economical alternative to the more conventional means of heating. A wood stove also adds aesthetic value to a home. Today's wood stoves are safer and more energy efficient than the old pot-bellied models of the past. They are nearly smokeless, produce small amounts of ash and use less firewood. Cleaning your wood stove regularly keeps it operating safely and effectively. Learn how to clean your wood stove.

Things You'll Need:

- Fireplace shovel
- Wire brush
- Metal container or bucket with lid
- Ladder
- Dust mask
- Gloves
- Flashlight

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1
Find your wood stove's catalytic combustor located between the fire and stovepipes. Look for any ash that may have amassed there from the burning wood.

Step 2
Use a small wire brush to remove the ash. This should be done every 2 months. Remove the combustor, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Step 3
Remove ashes from the stove with a small fireplace shovel. Put them into a metal container or bucket with a tight-fitting cover. Leave the container outdoors or on a non-combustible surface overnight or until the ashes have cooled before disposing. Cooled ashes can be used on flowerbeds, gardens and compost piles.

Step 4
Inspect the outside of the stovepipe and remove any surrounding debris. Scrape the sides of it with a proper fitting wire brush. Place the brush inside the pipe and move it in an up-and-down motion to get rid of any creosote that may have accumulated. Creosote is the yellow, rancid-smelling, oily matter produced when the gases emitted from the burning wood cool to less than 250 degrees F and turn to liquid.

Step 5
Shine a flashlight into the pipe to be sure all the creosote has been removed. If left inside the stovepipe, creosote can catch fire. Use a fireplace shovel to get rid of any soot or creosote that may have fallen into the stove.

Step 6
Clean the inside of the wood stove's window with fine steel wool once the glass is cool to the touch. If using chemical cleaners, check that the glass is dry before burning again so smoke or dirt is not ensnared in the dampness on the glass.

Step 7
If you've done all this and you still don't feel like it's clean enough, call a chimney sweep.

Tips & Warnings:

- A more thorough cleaning is performed at the end of the wood-burning season. Stovepipes should be cleaned any time there is at least 1/4 inch of creosote buildup.
- Never clean a wood stove while it is hot. Wear a dust mask and gloves when cleaning a wood stove. Burning seasoned or dry wood at a high temperature eliminates excessive creosote buildup. Keep a fire extinguisher close at hand.

Article Source: eHow.com
Wood Stove Accessories

How to Use A Wood Stove Safely (Wood Stove Accessories)

Wood Stove Accessories

By: delorean88

If you are heating with wood this winter, you'll need to take steps to make your wood stove as safe as you possibly can. Wood stove safety is very important in order to protect your family from Carbon Monoxide poisoning, burns, and fire.

Instructions:

1. Clean the chimney once a season - You'll need to clean the chimney every fall before you start burning wood. Use a chimney brush or hire a professional to remove the built up creosote on the inner chimney walls.

2. Empty the ashes - Clean out the ash tray and ashes in the wood box whenever they are full. You can dump these in your compost pile or garden.

3. Buy fire extinguishers and chimney fire extinguisher sticks - Fire extinguishers are your first line of defense against a home fire. Use chimney fire extinguisher sticks if you have a fire in your stove-pipe. Store both of these items in close range (but not too close) to the wood stove.

4. Buy a carbon monoxide detector and test it once a week - You need to have at least one working Co2 detector in a home with a wood stove. You should buy two or more, and place them in your bedrooms and the room with the stove. Change the batteries at least every six months, even if they have plugs because the batteries operate the detectors in power outages.

5. Don't overheat the stove - Get a special magnetic stovepipe thermometer and attach it to the stovepipe. Don't let the heat in the box go over the safety line. A lot of stove and chimney fires are caused by overheating wood stoves. Don't overfill the wood box. Don't burn anything other than firewood. Plastic, paper bags, clothing, and other flammable materials burn too quickly and overheat the stove, damaging it, causing chimney fires, and possibly burning your house down.

6. Keep kids safe - Give a long lecture about the dangers of wood stoves every year. You children should be able to repeat the dangers of wood stoves to any other children or guests that come into your home. Tell your children never to open the stove box, and never to play with fire. Tell them to never try to start the stove on their own, or attempt to burn anything in the stove. Tell children to never remove anything from the stove, whether it appears to be lit or unlit. If they see a fire, or notice or smell something unusual about the stove, they should tell and adult right away. Tell children to never touch a stove, and warn them about the possibility of getting seriously burned, even when they think the stove isn't hot.

7. Avoid burns for adults, children, and pets - The surfaces of wood stoves can get very hot. So, hot, in fact, that even touching the surface can cause a third degree burn instantly. You should never touch a wood stove or crowd close to it in order to warm up. Keep your distance at all times. Most people don't realize how dangerous the surface of a wood stove is, and how serious falling on a stove can be.Keep a safety line around the stove, and don't let children or pets cross the line. Warn adults about the dangers of touching the stove for any reason.

Article Source: eHow.com

Wood Stove Accessories

Wood Stoves Are A Great Secondary Heat Source (Wood Stove Accessories)

Wood Stove Accessories

By: David Fishman

Checking the authenticity and usability of the wood stoves needs to be checked before making any purchase. Wood stoves were used in ancient America for many household and general purposes. A wood stove is a device, which is normally used in the kitchens for the heating of food, keeping it warm and making it palatable. A wood stove is often used for heating rooms or cooking food. Purchasing a free standing wood stove is a great way for anyone who doesn't want the hassle of building in the stove, this makes it easier if you decide to remove. A pellet-stove is very efficient because the pellets that are used are made from scraps of wood and compressed together.

Many wood stove that insert into the fireplace have fans that can blow the warm air and not the smoke into the rooms, this is a great way of getting more heat into the house. The primary reason for installing a wood stove insert rather than a stand alone stove is to utilize an existing fireplace, however there are additional benefits. A stove insert which is installed into an existing brick or stone fireplace will certainly be more efficient than a stand alone unit located within the room. Using glass doors that covers the front of a fireplace is a great way of stopping the heat from escaping, this reduces the heat from escaping but does not stop it completely.

An outdoor wood burning furnace is most well known for its ability to heat on a low budget. This low-cost heating is often most beneficial to homeowners. Wood heat is a comfortable way of heating your home but it does take some safety knowledge and precautions to do so safely. Heat is something that every home needs; unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to afford.

Buying a certified stove completely reduces the chances of your chimney catching fire. Try to keep the chimney clean, over the years the chimney will accumulate creosote and this can cause a fire if not cleaned frequently. The chimney must be checked for an excess of soot deposited on its inside. The most convenient and preferable location for the installation of the chimney is the center of the house. Every pot belly stove has a chimney that is attached to let the smoke out.

The cost of heating with wood is relatively inexpensive. Many wood stoves come with a lot of accessories but you will need to purchase them because they are not given in the package when the stove is purchased. This adds a personal touch to the customers' wood stove as they can use the leg piece of their choice. Wood stoves come with a nice feature that catches the ashes it is called the ash drawer. Check the manufacturers warranty on all stoves and make sure this is sufficient for your use, many manufactures have a limited warranty period. With its fine design and elegance, a contemporary wood stove is sure to add style and class to any room. Wood stoves were used in ancient America for many household and general purposes.

* George Water and David Marc Fishman are the owners of Priceriot. Priceriot is a new auction where prices drop as people shop for jewelry.

Ask an expert [http://www.tipsquad.com] on how to do things at tipsquad.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Wood Stove Accessories

Tips on choosing the right wood burning stove for your home (Wood Stove Accessories)

Wood Stove Accessories

By: Daryl Plaza

Are you trying to decide how you can go about choosing the right wood burning stove? If so, you have come to the right place! Choosing a stove that burns wood for the home requires some careful consideration. There are many different types and models available in today's stove market, and the choice can be really difficult.

However, if you know what you need to consider right from the start, choosing the right wood burning stove for your home can be an easy task. Here, you will learn how!

The first thing that you should consider is why you are shopping for the stove that burns wood for your home. Do you want a unit that focuses on heating? Do you want to use the stove to cook with? Do you simply want a decorative piece for your home? You should consider these things so that you know what level of functionality that you are looking for.

A stove that is being purchased just to enhance the appearance of a home does not need to have the same level of functionality as the stove that is required for cooking or heating.

The second thing that you will need to consider is the amount of heat that should be able to come from the unit. Once you consider this, you should consider the overall size of the room or the home that will need to be heated. If you are not purchasing the stove to provide a source of heat, you will not need to worry about this consideration.

However, if you are, the next thing that you should consider is the method in which the heat will get from the stove to other locations in and around the home.

The third thing that needs to be considered when you purchase a wood burning stove is how often that the unit will be used. If it will be used frequently, you may consider a larger, high quality unit that aims to display the quality that is needed for long term use. If you just want a unit that will add a little décor to the home, and enhance the overall appearance of the home, you will more than likely not require a stove that costs a lot of money.

If you are in the process of choosing the right wood burning stove, you can follow the considerations mentioned here in order to make a decision that will work for you and your needs.

Article Source: GoArticles.com

Wood Stove Accessories

Wood Stoves Gain Popularity (Wood Stove Accessories)

Wood Stove Accessories

As energy costs have risen, an increasing number of consumers in the United States have turned to supplementary heating products to save on fuel bills in the cold weather. Even as crude oil and gasoline prices have slipped in recent months, VOA's June Soh reports wood burning stoves keep gaining popularity as an alternative heat source in the U.S. household. Melinda Smith narrates.

Source: YouTube.com (Credit to: VOAvideo)
Wood Stove Accessories

5 Essential Wood Burning Stove Accessories

By: Jonathon Mendleheisen

You have made the decision to go with a wood stove this winter. Now its time to find some accessories that will make using your wood stove easier and more fun. There are a myriad of accessory choices, but here are a few of the most essential ones.

Log Carriers and Baskets

If you are using a traditional wood log burning stove, you will need a method for retrieving and storing those logs from the woodpile to the inside of your home. A log basket or carrier is a handy tool that makes it much easier to transport a number of logs at one time. They come in various sizes, shapes and materials. Our favorite is the wicker basket style that transports and stores at the same time. It is particularly stylish if your home or cottage is decorated in a country style. For a more sturdy and modern look, there are metal carriers that will do the job. Always consider your home decor when shopping for a log basket/carrier.

Stove Gloves

Fitting logs inside your wood burning stoves can be tricky. Purchasing a good set of stove gloves is essential to ensure that your hands are arms are kept safe from the fire and heat. Although you can use any types of gloves for this purpose, ones that are specifically made for the job are recommended. Good stove gloves are extra long to cover and protect the arms. Because they are specially treated with material that withstands high temperatures, they are much safer than a typical glove used during winter months.

Blowers and Heat Reclaimers

Efficiency is the name of the game for wood burning stoves. Blowers (fans) and heat reclaimers are accessories that will help make your wood stove as efficient as possible. Keep in mind that any hot air that is not circulated into a room is lost to the outside. An efficient blower will help circulate the heat throughout a room or house.

Heat reclaimers are designed to capture heat that would normally go straight up the chimney and circulate that air back into the room. A highly efficient wood burning stove will have both a blower and heat reclaimer working properly.

Thermometer

A thermometer will not only help you monitor the efficiency of your wood stove, but it will also alert you to any issues involved with overheating. The thermometer attaches either to the stovepipe or directly onto the stovetop.

Kettles and Steamers

You will want to get the most out of your woodburning stove, so having a few cooking accessories on hand is fun and functional at the same time. Wood stove kettles can be used for making old fashioned popcorn. Fill a kettle with water to help humidify a room. You can even add a touch of potpourri to the water to give the room a special scent too.

Kettles come in a wide variety of styles, but porcelain covered ones may be the best choice since they resist rust. If you use your stove for cooking often, consider purchasing a trivet. Wood stove trivets will help protect the top of your stove from rust spots that could result from the use of a kettle or steamer. They are made of cast iron and are very durable.

Wood stoves can be a smart decision from both an asthetic and economical viewpoint. Wood stove accessories will help your stove be more efficient, fun and safe - all at the same time.

Jonathan Mendleheisen is a free lance writer who writes on a variety of indoor and outdoor topics. For more information on everything to do with wood stoves, visit the site that is solely dedicated to it - http://www.4woodstoves.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Wood Stove Accessories For Your Home

By: Tom K. Kelly

Wood stoves are not just an appliance; they are also a way to add beauty and charm to a home, along with the savings in fuel costs. And with the appropriate accessories you can get a lot more out of your wood stove than you probably thought you could. Here is a short review of a few of the most popular wood stove accessories and how they can be used to make your wood stove an even more valuable addition to your home.

Wood Stove Accessories

Fans can be an attractive and practical accessory for a wood stove. Circulating fans help transfer the warm air from the stove throughout the room. There are also doorway fans that move the heat into other rooms and fans that are built to fit into existing ducts to spread the heat all throughout the home.

Modern homes are more air-tight than ever, which can cause problems with a wood stove's drafting. This keeps it from drawing sufficient air from the home to burn efficiently and can also create excessive smoking. Air supply ventilators resolve this problem and can be installed through an outside wall. Because they take advantage of the negative air pressure inside today's tight homes there is no power source required. The improved draft means more efficient burning.

There are also electrically operated Draft Inducers which are helpful in increasing the air flow up a chimney. This increases the negative pressure (draft) in the stove and prevents smoke from leaking.

Heat from a wood stove can cause the air in your home to dry out. Wood stove kettles are a simple way to humidify a room and as an added bonus, they can be used as a decorative element. All you have to do is fill them with water and place them on the wood stove. I suggest the porcelain coated kettles that won't rust on the inside

Wood stove steamers can also be used to humidify the air and by adding potpourri to the water you can fill your home with the necessary humidity and a nice fragrance.

Trivets are durable cast iron hot plates. They are very decorative and can be used to protect the top of your stove from getting rust spots from a kettle or steamer. They also keep kettles or cooking pots from getting too hot.

A wood stove thermometer will help you make sure your fireplace is burning at highest efficiency. This saves on the cost of wood, reduces maintenance and improves safety. Wood stove thermometers usually attach to the stovepipe magnetically or by drilling a small hole in the stove pipe.

If your wood stove is not sitting on a fire proof floor, you can use a hearth pad to provide the necessary fire proof protection between a wood stove and the flooring.

Stove pipe shams can turn your plain stove pipe into a wonderful accent piece. Stove pipe shams are designed to dress up your plain old black stove pipe and add a touch of color. Shams are easy to install and there is no need to disconnect or remove the pipe.

Many high temperature paints are available for touching up, renewing, and protecting the finish on steel or cast-iron wood stoves. These paints resist peeling and blistering when subjected to high temperatures. There are also high temperature polishes available to make your wood stove black and shiny.

Properly installed gaskets greatly improve the efficiency of a wood stove and help keep stove glass cleaner. These usually last a long time, but if your stoves gaskets have worn out there are kits available to replace old gaskets and return your stove to peak efficiency.

The wood stove accessories blog has additional information that will help you figure out the best way to get the most out of your wood burning or pellet stove. Find more valuable information at http://www.woodstoveaccessoriesblog.com/

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Wood Stove Accessories

By: Peter Emerson

Wood stoves are specially designed stoves that use wood as the source of fuel for combustion and heating. Many varieties of wood stoves are available in the market, which differ in their mode of operation, type of fuel used, brand, the heating capacity, and the type of materials used in their manufacture.

A standard wood stove can have a lot of accessories that can be purchased separately and are normally not supplied by the manufacturer with the product. The most common accessory available is the kettle, which is used for making tea and coffee or heating water on the wood stove. These kettles are available in many different types and materials. The next type of accessory is the stove door that can be fitted as per the need and preference of the user. Generally, glass panels are used for front doors.

The freestanding wood stoves can be fitted with legs of different shapes, sizes and material. This adds a personal touch to the customers' wood stove as they can use the leg piece of their choice. Another important accessory of a wood stove is the ash drawer, which collects the ash produced by the burning wood. It is advisable to select an ash drawer that is sufficiently large so that it does not need frequent cleaning.

Other important accessory used with wood stoves is the soapstone steamer. This is a high-density soapstone that limits the transfer of heat from the stove. It is kept on top of the stove and humidifies the place where the stove is operating because stoves have a tendency to absorb all the moisture in the room. Some customers use a self-powered stove fan, especially in winter, to evenly distribute warm air in the house. Customers can also use their wood stove as a heating device for the entire house with the help of this stove fan.

These wood stove accessories beautifully compliment any kind of wood stove. They are available in local hardware stores or on online shopping sites.

Wood Stoves provides detailed information on Wood Stoves, Wood Pellet Stoves, Outdoor Wood Stoves, Antique Wood Stoves and more. Wood Stoves is affiliated with Kitchen Pot Racks.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com