![]() The species are sold all have high BTU content. Most purveyors are selling only hardwood. Here in the Delaware valley we have very simple choices. That resin is another combustible material and burns the same as the wood does. The idea that softwood have resin in them and therefor makes more creosote is a myth. If one is practicing good burning habits, ie only using moderate amounts of wood and refueling as need, then creosote production is minimized and heat yield is maximized. That excess heat ignites the creosote and then we are calling the fire company and leaving the house. The stove or fireplace then gets over fired producing a wild amount of heat. Then we get tempted to put in a large charge of wood so we have a little time away from the stove. After a while we have to attend to the children or sit down to dinner. Softwood burns quickly with a short charcoal stage. ![]() Hardwood has a prolonged charcoal stage from which we get a lot of radiant energy. There are basically two divisions hardwood and softwood. Remembering that most of our heating appliances are able to deliver more heat than we realistically need, species may not make a huge difference. Now we can be more concerned with species. Interestingly, wood that is too dry will also have poor combustion. Excessive moisture causes poor combustion. ![]() The ways that moisture content is determined in the lab can also be done at home, but a meter makes the process very simple. It is worthwhile to obtain a moisture meter. If your firewood is properly seasoned it should have a moisture content of 15% to 20%. The driving attribute is moisture content. This makes choosing the right firewood is fairly simple. Learning to build a good fire, adjusting how much wood you are burning at one time, and how seasoned the wood is are the factors that influence how much creosote is produced. Pound for pound all species of wood produce about the same amount of creosote. What influences the formation of creosote is how the wood is being burned. During treatment the risk of chimney fire continues to be present, albeit steadily reducing. Chemical treatments take time and require continued use of the system since they are heat activated. Severe mechanical methods run a risk of damaging the flue. It can be removed in only two ways severe mechanical, or chemically. Third stage, however, is not easily swept. Both first and second stage creosote is easily swept and removed from the system. This glaze is called third stage creosote. The crystals of creosote melt and form a glaze. This is called second stage creosote.Īlong comes a time when the system gets quite hot, perhaps after many hours of burning like Super Bowl Sunday. Over time and through many cycles of heating, cooling and drying, the creosote will become granular, quite like salt crystal. In the hearth industry we call this first stage creosote. The creosote dries and becomes the powder we all know as soot. Just like water droplet form on the surface of an icy glass of tea, the unburnt gasses form droplets on the sides of the flue. The unburnt gasses rise into the chimney where they cool and condense. The problem is that not all of those gasses are consumed during primary combustion. In fact, the flames we see are nothing more than those gasses in a superheated state. During this process some of the wood is being converted to gasses. When burning wood it is undergoing a chemical reaction called pyrolysis. When selecting firewood most folks are concerned with two things, how much heat they will get and how much creosote will result from burning that wood. Burning your appliance correctly is the first line of defense against chimney fire and the best way to enjoy the ambiance and heat from it. Hardwood is preferable, but softwood is OK to burn also. The species makes a difference, but it is not as important as properly seasoned wood. ![]() Choosing the Right Firewood The Simple AnswerĪlways burn well seasoned wood.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |