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CE 57 Efficient, Convenient Heating

fåíêçÇìÅíáçå To work properly, a chimney must More than one million Canadian be installed up through the warm families heat their homes at least space of a house, rather than partly with wood. For these through a wall and up the outside. households wood is an important The venting system—the flue pipe energy source, one that involves and chimney—should be as straight their active participation. Having as possible. The best performing control over the supply offers system has the flue pipe running security from electrical power straight up from the flue collar of interruptions and shelter from rising the wood-burning appliance to the conventional energy costs. base of a chimney that runs straight Considering the many advantages up through the roof (see Figure 1). Figure 1 This chimney and flue for those who live at the urban “Advanced-technology wood- pipe arrangement gives fringe and beyond, wood heating is burning appliances,” which have the best performance worth doing right. “Done right” been available since 1990, are about means making sure the wood one-third more efficient than older Your best resource for reliable wood- heating system is installed exactly to conventional units, such as 1970s heating information and service is a safety codes, preparing good quality and 80s “airtight” stoves. They are WETT-certified retailer, installer or and operating the system identified by their Environmental chimney sweep. WETT stands for using techniques that will produce Protection Agency (EPA) the Wood Energy Technology the best efficiency and effectiveness. certification or compliance with Transfer program, ’s national póëíÉã=ÇÉëáÖå=~åÇ CSA standard B415 of the training system for wood-heating ë~ÑÉíó Canadian Standards Association professionals. You can find the (CSA) for low emissions. WETT-certified professionals near The chimney is a critical If you are planning a new wood- you by visiting www.wettinc.ca component of a wood-heating heating system or thinking of or by calling WETT at system. It is much more than a replacing your older stove, take 1-888-358-9388. In Quebec, visit simple exhaust pipe. It is the engine advantage of the new technologies l’Association des professionnels that drives the system by producing and save yourself time, money and du chauffage (APC) at the pressure difference, or draft, that work. www.poelesfoyers.ca or call draws in air and expels (514) 270-4944. exhaust outdoors. About Your House Efficient, Convenient Wood Heating

_ìóáåÖ=~åÇ As much as half the weight of freshly éêÉé~êáåÖ=ÑáêÉïççÇ cut logs can be water. This water content must be reduced to 15 to 20 Good quality firewood is essential per cent before the wood can burn for efficient and convenient wood efficiently. How you process and heating. Good firewood is the right store the wood is critical to achieving size for the appliance firebox and is this moisture reduction goal. properly seasoned. Cut the logs into pieces that are at While hardwoods like oak and least 7.5 cm (3 in.) shorter than the maple are fine for very cold winter firebox. For convenient handling weather, softer like birch and Figure 3 In general, firewood and management in most wood- poplar make better fuel for milder should be cut 40 cm burning appliances, firewood pieces spring and fall weather. (16 in.) or less for should not exceed 40 cm (16 in.) convenient stoking in length. Piece lengths as short as 30 cm (12 in.) can be better for Commercial firewood is generally small heaters. Just because your not split small enough. For most stove’s firebox can handle 50 cm appliances, split the wood in a range (20 in.) logs does not mean that of 8 to 15 cm (3 to 6 in.) measured logs that long are needed or even at the largest cross-sectional desirable. dimension. Although this means more splitting and more pieces to Split the wood into a variety of sizes handle, each piece is easier to for convenient fire building and lift and more importantly, fire maintenance. Large pieces are fine management will be much more for large in cold weather but convenient all winter long. smaller pieces are needed in mild Figure 2 Wood before weather and for fast ignition of new seasoning (left) and fires or fires rekindled from . after seasoning (right)

2 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation About Your House Efficient, Convenient Wood Heating

Storing wood a woodshed because it will not dry Different wood-burning In the early spring, wood should be properly in time for the heating season. appliance designs mean that no cut to the right length, split to a single set of procedures will variety of sizes and stacked off the In the fall, ideally after a few sunny work perfectly in all appliance ground on rails in an open area days, move the wood to its winter types. The suggestions made in exposed to sun and wind (see storage location. Winter storage this About Your House come from Figure 4). Prepared this way, the should be close to, but not inside, many years of experience and firewood will be ready for burning the house and fully sheltered from information from scientists, that fall. The tops of the stacks rain and snow so the wood stays dry. research studies, stove should be covered to prevent rain manufacturers, retailers, chimney from soaking down through them. eçï=íç=ëí~êí=~=ÑáêÉ sweeps and people who rely on Prime time for firewood seasoning is ïáíÜ=äáííäÉ=çê=åç wood to heat their homes. ëãçâÉ the very hot days in July and August The procedures discussed in this when the sun beats down, warming A kindling fire that collapses into a fact sheet are suitable for most each piece of wood while gentle mess is frustrating and current and older models where summer breezes rinse away the also embarrassing if someone is the fire is built on a solid hearth moisture driven out of the wood. If watching. By following the (not a grate); the combustion air possible, don’t pile wood in a shady suggestions offered in this About reaches the fire at the front, area and never stack green wood in Your House, you can avoid future nearest the loading door; and, frustration by building kindling fires there are no catalysts. that ignite quickly and burn reliably. However, householders can adapt most of these suggestions The kindling fire should quickly to other designs, including heat up the chimney to create catalytic stoves. strong draft and heat the brick and You may not be able to use all of the firebox to create a good of the tips that follow exactly environment for stable combustion. as presented, but you can The type and form of kindling adapt most of them to your materials affect the behaviour of the circumstances. The result will be fire. The edges of split firewood heat more consistent, efficient fires up and ignite first, so the more that produce the heating results Figure 4 Stack wood on rails edges there are close together in the you want. in an open area kindling fire, the faster it will ignite.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation 3 About Your House Efficient, Convenient Wood Heating

Kindling pieces need to be finely Top-down fire west stoves is to cut some of your split to produce many edges where First, place two or three standard- firewood in half, especially logs the fire will first catch. The lower sized pieces of wood in the firebox. intended for kindling, so that each density and usually higher oil Then add a few pieces of heavy piece is only about 20 cm (8 in.) content of softwoods like cedar, kindling. Finally, add some fine long. A kindling fire of small, pine and spruce make them better kindling. Rollup single sheets of criss-crossed pieces should light for kindling because they ignite newspaper, tie a knot in each and easily if the wood is dry enough. more readily than hardwoods. place four or five on top of, or in Leave the combustion air inlet open The drier and more finely split front of, the kindling (see Figure 5). at least until the firebox is full of the kindling, the faster and more Light the . , the surface of the wood is reliably will the fire ignite and burn. This type of kindling fire can charred black and the edges of the In preparing to build a wood fire, provide two or more hours of pieces are glowing red. remove excess ash from the firebox. effective heating without having léÉê~íáåÖ=~=ïççÇ Ash should never be allowed to to open the door to add wood or ÜÉ~íÉê=ÉÑÑÉÅíáîÉäó build up to more than 5 cm (2 in.) adjust the fire. in thickness. Next, locate where the The key to maintaining efficient main supply of combustion air wood fires is to prevent the wood enters the firebox—that’s where you from smouldering because any want the fire to first ignite. Open smoke that passes out of the firebox the air control fully. will condense as creosote in the chimney or be emitted outdoors as There are two popular strategies for . Smoke is not a normal, building kindling fires that don’t unavoidable by-product but is waste collapse and smother themselves: resulting from poor combustion. the two parallel logs technique and There will be no visible smoke from the top-down fire technique. your chimney if the wood burns with Two parallel logs Figure 5 A top-down fire bright, active flames. Place two split logs parallel to each After an overnight fire, you will other in the firebox with a space Owners of small stoves oriented find some coals at the back of between. Fill the space with east-west (see Figure 8 on page 6) the firebox, furthest from the crumpled newspaper and fine may have some trouble using either combustion air inlet, and some kindling and place several larger of these methods. One way to make residual ash at the front of the pieces of kindling crosswise on top. lighting fires easier in small, east- firebox near the door. This is the Light the paper.

4 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation About Your House Efficient, Convenient Wood Heating

a) b) c)

Figure 6 (a) coals at back, and ash at front; (b) removing ash; and (c) raking coals best time to remove a small amount heating fire should not need poking. wood is placed on and behind a of this ash. How you handle the A rake is the best stoking tool bed and ends when that wood is remaining can have a big for heating fireplaces, stoves and reduced to a similar-sized coal bed. effect on how much creosote and air furnaces. A simple rake can be made The type of fire you build should pollution your fire makes. Don’t by welding a steel rod of suitable depend on how much heat you spread the charcoal out evenly and length to the centre of a steel need to produce and how long it place a new load of wood on top. rectangle about the size of a business will be until the next loading. For This can lead to extended card. smouldering before the wood Place the wood on and behind the ignites. coals (see Figure 7). Always place Find where the combustion air the smallest, driest piece of firewood enters the firebox. For most stoves, directly on the raked coal bed to act fireplaces and furnaces this is at the as the igniter. Your igniter should front at the loading door. Rake the begin flaming almost immediately, coals toward the air inlet. To rake and as it burns it will ignite the the coals properly, you’ll need the larger pieces. right tool (see Figure 6). Avoid adding a log each hour in an While many stove and fireplace tool attempt to produce a steady heat Figure 7 A small, criss-crossed sets include a poker, these are for output. Wood burns best in cycles. load for mild weather decorative fireplaces. A properly built A cycle begins when a new load of

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation 5 About Your House Efficient, Convenient Wood Heating

example, to produce a low-heat effectiveness. In fact burn cycles of output fire during relatively mild eight hours or less usually achieve weather, use small loads of softwood peak efficiency and effectiveness. in a criss-cross formation. The Because it takes a lot of work to softwood will burn quickly and will gather firewood, cut it, split it and not leave a large coal bed that can store it, most people who heat with overheat the house. When logs are wood try to conserve fuel. The most arranged loosely criss-crossed in the obvious efficiency loss is the heat left firebox, even a small load ignites in the exhaust as it enters the quickly and burns reliably. chimney. It is tempting, therefore, to To produce high heat output in cold Figure 9 A north-south fire view this heat as waste and to operate weather, use larger loads of harder the heater so that the flue gas wood placed compactly in the overnight fires in spring and fall temperature is kept low. This can be firebox. If your firebox floor is when heat demand is low. A north- counterproductive, because heat roughly square, you can load south load can be larger, but breaks released to the chimney is not waste the wood east to west so the down more quickly, so it is good for but is the fuel the chimney needs to combustion air reaches the side of high output, long-lasting fires in cold produce draft and stay clean. Also, the logs, or north-south so the air weather. Most small wood stoves are burning low to reduce heat loss to the approaches the ends of the logs. oriented either east-west or north- chimney can lead to smouldering, An east-west load breaks down more south and the other dimension is too smoky fires, which are extremely slowly, so is a good orientation for small for practical loading. Only users inefficient and sometimes dangerous. of larger wood stoves have the option About 1/5th of the heat from the of load orientation to manage heat burning wood should be given to the output. chimney to produce a strong, stable Leave the air control fully open until draft—the pressure difference that the firebox is full of flames, the new drives the system. So, give your wood is charred black and the edges chimney the heat it needs to stay are glowing red. Turn down the air healthy. In mild weather, it is usually control in two or three stages to more efficient to burn a series of avoid shocking the fire into a short, hot fires throughout the day smoulder. Long burn times are than to try to burn one load of wood Figure 8 An east-west load not an indication of efficiency or slowly.

6 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation About Your House Efficient, Convenient Wood Heating pìãã~êó

I You cannot burn efficiently in an I Wood burns most efficiently in 3. Firewood loosely criss-crossed in unsafe wood-burning system. cycles, not by adding one log at a the firebox burns well in small, Have your system inspected and time to produce steady output. hot fires in mild weather. Wood upgraded if necessary before stacked compactly in the firebox I When rekindling from hot coals, using these techniques. is better for longer fires in cold rake the charcoal towards the air weather. I The biggest single efficiency inlet and place the new load of boost you can achieve is by wood on and behind the coals. 4. East-west loads break down more upgrading to an EPA/CSA slowly, so they are good for long, Here are five ways to control heat B415-certified, low-emission, low-output fires in mild weather. output: high-efficiency appliance. North-south placement permits 1. Use softwood, like poplar and larger loads that break down I The length and piece size of your spruce, for low heat in mild a little faster, making this firewood should the size weather. Use hardwoods, like arrangement better for long fires of your appliance firebox. For maple and oak, in colder in cold weather. efficient and convenient weather. operation, firewood should be 5. Turn down the air control to cut shorter and split smaller than 2. Build smaller fires for low output reduce the firing rate. Turn it has been customary. in mild weather and larger fires down in two or three stages to in cold weather. prevent shocking the fire into a I Build kindling fires that do not smoulder. Never turn it down so collapse as they burn. Use finely much that the flames go out. split, dry softwood as kindling.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation 7 About Your House Efficient, Convenient Wood Heating

A Guide to Residential Wood Heating This Guide for homeowners looks at how to heat your home safely and in an environmentally friendly way. Topics include advanced wood heating technologies, chimneys, accessories and installation. You'll learn how to prevent smoke, smell and cold hearths and how to properly maintain your wood heating system. Also included is a guide to calculating your heating costs, to help you choose between alternatives. 62310

To find more About Your House fact sheets plus a wide variety of information products, visit our website at www.cmhc.ca.You can also reach us by telephone at 1-800-668-2642 or by fax at 1-800-245-9274.

Priced Publications Home Care: A Guide to Repair and Maintenance Order No. 61019

Free Publications Moisture and Air: Householder’s Guide—Problems and Remedies Order No. 61033 About Your House fact sheets Home Maintenance Schedule Order No. 63218 Backup Power for Your House Order No. 60417 Combustion Gases in Your Home—Things You Should Know About Combustion Spillage Order No. 62028 Wood Heat Safety in an Emergency Order No. 60339

©2004, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Printed in Canada Produced by CMHC 04-02-09 Revised 2005, 2008, 2009

Although this information product reflects housing experts’ current knowledge, it is provided for general information purposes only. Any reliance or action taken based on the information, materials and techniques described are the responsibility of the user. Readers are advised to consult appropriate professional resources to determine what is safe and suitable in their particular case. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation assumes no responsibility for any consequence arising from use of the information, materials and techniques described. 63730