On the humorous side

What Happens When Wood Burns? Article 3 of 3

This is the third of three articles posted on the above subject.
1. Evaporation of water. Posted 4/22/08
2. The emission of smoke. Posted 4/24/08

3. The charcoal phase.


The charcoal phase:

As the fire progresses and most of the gases and tars have vaporized out of the wood, charcoal remains. Charcoal is almost 100% carbon and burns with a red glow and very little flame or smoke. Charcoal is a good fuel that burns easily and cleanly when enough oxygen is present.

What Happens When Wood Burns? Article 1 of 3

This is the first of three articles that I will be posting on the above subject.



1. Evaporation of water

2. The emission of smoke To be posted 4/24/08

3. The charcoal phase To be posted 4/29/08


Evaporation of water:
Up to half the weight of a freshly cut log is water. After proper seasoning the water content is reduced to about 20 percent. As the wood is heated in the firebox, this water boils off, consuming heat energy in the process. The wetter the wood, the more heat energy is consumed.

That is why wet firewood hisses and sizzles and is hard to burn, while properly seasoned woo innites and burns easily.

Re-fueling with wet or unseasoned wood in a catalytic stove will send moist smoke to the catalytic combustor and cause the combustor to stop working. It will cause the stove to struggle and not operate properly. In addition re-fueling with wet or unseasoned wood and operating the stove with the by-pass closed, can cause damage to the catalytic combustor.

How can I tell if a woodstove is EPA-certified?

All certified woodstoves offered for sale will have a permanent and a temporary label indicating that the stoves are EPA-certified. The temporary label will also contain information that you will find useful when shopping for a new stove.

The label will tell you generally how clean and how efficient each woodstove is. However, because regulations require all new stoves to burn much cleaner and more efficiently than unregulated woodstoves, there should not be significant differences in efficiency and emissions performance among the certified catalytic models. This holds true for the non-catalytic models as well.

The label will also indicate which stoves are equipped with catalytic combustors.

Perhaps the most important information on the label you will need when selecting a stove is the heat output range. Use this information to help select the right size stove for the space you will be heating.

Sample temporary labels:

Wood Burning and Global Warming

The news is full of reports about the need to reduce the production of the so-called greenhouse gases.

When their atmospheric concentration increases, these gases, mainly carbon dioxide, cause the average global temperature to rise with potentially disastrous results.

Fuel burning is the main cause of the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Wood, however, differs from the fossil fuels such as oil and gas because it is a renewable fuel.

As a tree grows, it absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and stores it in the wood as carbon. This carbon makes up about half of the weight of wood.

When wood is burned, carbon dioxide is released again to the atmosphere. The same amount of carbon dioxide would be released if the tree died and were left to rot on the forest floor. Our forests can be a perpetual source of fuel, provided they are cared for and managed properly.

Why does the U.S. EPA regulate woodstoves?

Residential woodstoves are one of the nation's largest sources of particulate matter (smoke). Woodsmoke also contains significant amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and many other organic compounds. These pollutants are known to cause respiratory and cardiovascular illness and contribute to atmospheric visibility problems and property damage. The EPA regulations require woodstove manufacturers produce stoves that emit less pollution. As consumers replace their older woodstoves with cleaner, more efficient, new stoves, the quality of the air will improve. Particularly in residential neighborhoods where wood burning stoves are popular.




Be sure and ask your local stove dealer about the high efficient, clean burning catalytic stoves and watch for my future articles on "Buying an EPA-Certified Woodstove"

Installation of a new EPA-certified Catalytic Stove

Improper installation of your woodstove can result in a house fire or cause greater pollution.
If a stove isn't installed properly, it can also affect the draft of the stove. Proper draft is very important in reducing pollution and maintaining high efficiency. Before having your stove installed, be sure to check with local authorities regarding building codes and permits, and notify your fire insurance company.

Below are a few tips that address the importance of proper installation:

1. By using a certified installer, they can determine the proper draft of your stove, make sure all the seals are tight, and ensure that your stove is installed with all safety measures necessary.

2. They will be able to make sure proper flue size and installation is being used.

3. They will make sure that the draft system seals are as tight as possible to prevent smoke from leaking into your house and to contribute to good draft.

Contact your local certified wood stove installer for complete details.

Again, this is very important for your safety and comfort.

On the humorous side

Trouble Shooting Guide

A look at some combustor conditions

These conditions are primarily related to such factors as draft, aging or failure of the stove's components, aging or fatigue of the combustor, flue installation, using the wrong fuels or to the improper operation of the appliance.
Following the stove's operating manual will prevent these conditions.