There are three main reasons why your wood-burning stove may emit smoke in your home: either it is not hot enough, or it is not sufficiently ventilated, or it is time to clean it. To avoid being caught out, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the wood used as fuel, but also to ensure that your wood stove is well maintained.
Where does the smoke come from?
Smoke appears when combustion is incomplete. Its cloud is composed of solid particles loaded with toxic elements that are harmful to health. Common causes of incomplete combustion are
- Lack of oxygen Oxygen: The wood stove needs oxygen to burn properly. If the air in the room is confined, there will not be enough oxygen to allow complete combustion.
- Lack of ventilation In most cases, this is because the stove is not drawn properly, which means that there is not enough air to burn the fuel completely. This can be due to poor installation, ill-fitting doors or windows, or a blocked flue pipe.
- Wet wood Wet wood: You may be using wet wood or poor quality logs. Wet wood does not burn well and produces a lot of smoke, while poor quality wood can be difficult to light and keep burning. Using a moisture meterIf you are using a wood burner, make sure you use good quality, dry wood to avoid this problem.
- Incorrect stove setting can also lead to incomplete combustion.
Sometimes the problem is more serious and may be due to structural defects in the stove, such as cracks in the wall or loose joints. If you suspect a problem of this kind, it is important to have it checked by a professional before using it again.
Why should dry wood be used?
There are several reasons why a wood stove may smoke, but the main reason is the quality of the wood. If the wood is too wet, combustion will be incomplete, resulting in a lot of smoke. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to provide dry wood. You can do this by :
- place it in the sun or in the open air for several weeks;
- dry it for a few hours at low temperature in the oven;
- buy it already dry from a specialist dealer.
Once the wood has dried, it is important to cut it into small pieces so that it burns more easily, but also to store it in a dry, ventilated place to keep it dry.
Finally, before using it, check that the wood stove is clean and that there is no soot residue that could clog the stove and cause smoke. If you follow these tips, you won't have to worry about smoke coming out of your wood stove!
How to maintain your wood stove?
The wood-burning stove is a popular heating appliance because of its user-friendliness and pleasant warmth. However, it is necessary to maintain it properly to ensure that it functions optimally and does not rust. Here are some tips for maintaining your wood stove.
First of all, it is important to clean your wood-burning stove regularly, especially the flue. If the flue is clogged, it is possible that the smoke cannot escape properly and that your stove will start to smoke inside the house. To avoid this problem, you should clean the flue pipe at least once a year with a special product designed for this purpose. It is also important to cleaning the inside of the wood stoveremoving all debris and soot.
It is also important to choose the fuel you use in your stove carefully. Some fuels can be more difficult to burn and can therefore clog the stove and the flue pipe more easily. It is therefore recommended that you use well-dried wood, preferably hardwood, such as oak or beech. In addition, the wood should be cut into small pieces so that it burns more easily.
Finally, it is important to regulate the stove's draught, i.e. to adjust the opening of the stove doors to regulate primary/secondary airflow. The draught must therefore be adjusted according to the type of fuel you are using and the amount of smoke you wish to discharge.