by Kerri Liesel on March 10, 2010
Did you know that you can save a fortune in energy costs with a wood burning stove and that research shows that it is considerably less harmful to the environment than conventional oil or gas heating? In addition, gas and oil are not renewable sources, whereas more trees are being planted all the time to replace those felled. So how do you install one of these in your house or apartment?
First understand that installing a wood burner is akin to putting in an above ground furnace, so always check with your insurance company before you commence anything. Most of insurers will require the burner to be professionally installed since there is a certain amount of precision required and a single mistake can easily cause a fire to break out in your house or apartment.
The next step is to calculate the size of wood burner you should install. This is part science and part experience and you would be best advised to speak to a professional. Ask them to pay you a visit so they can see what your requirements are and what the situation is so they can help you choose the right burner.
At this point it is worth pointing out that the flue is as important to the installation as the burner itself. You cannot use any old flue with a wood burning stove; it has to incorporate material specifically for wood burning exhausts. An approach many adopt is to fit a flue liner inside an existing chimney, but if you don’t have a suitable chimney then you will need to factor in fitting a standalone flue.
After your wood burner has been professionally installed, your next step is to clear any and all combustible materials away from the vicinity of the stove. The owner’s manual will specify the recommended clearance for keeping flammable materials from the stove. If you have children, make sure they understand that what is being installed is potentially very dangerous and not a toy.
Once in use, proper maintenance and regular cleaning will be required for your new wood burner. This is carried out in a similar way to cleaning a chimney. You need to clean out creosote deposits from your wood burning stove for two main reasons. Firstly, allowing creosote to accumulate will corrode the flue pipe. Secondly, it will smell during the summer months, which is hardly pleasant.
To ensure long and trouble free use of you wood burner you should arrange a full sweep and clean at the least every year. By all means also make use of proprietary cleaning products called chimney cleaning logs that don’t do everything the makers claim for them but which can help control deposits to some extent.
To conclude, your best course of action when installing a wood burner is to get professional help on board from the outset. A professionally installed wood stove is both environmentally friendly and a big money saver too.
Check out these additional articles to find out much more about fitting a wood burning stove and wood burner regulations.
by Zach Angelo on March 9, 2010
Green DIY energy is natural, non-polluting and renewable. It is gaining in consumer popularity. The most commonly used green energy comes from solar or wind-powered. Both of these save the average homeowner a lot of money, and also help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Real savings are generated by using this type of natural energy. Monthly energy bills are dramatically reduced. State and federal government provide rebates and tax incentives as well. Consumers can avoid costly professional installation fees by using one of the many DIY kits in the marketplace.
DIY kits help homeowners avoid having to pay professional contractors to install solar panels or wind turbines. If done by a professional, this can be very costly and greatly reduce energy cost savings. The type of kit should be carefully chosen. Instructions can be confusing for individuals who do not have much experience with home do it yourself jobs.
The easiest kits to use are those that are dedicated to a specific use, like heating a backyard pool. A kit is also most useful if it is modular, which means that another kit can be easily added on to increase energy capacity as needed. A solar kit should be able to operate on its own, and not need to be connected to the home’s existing electrical system or plumbing. Kits should have easy instructions, clear diagrams, and come with all needed parts. It should provide an alternative plan when there is minimal or no energy available. In other words, it should be able to change the household’s energy consumption to conventional electricity when its own green energy source is not available.
Solar energy is the most popular source of green power. They can be described as large panels with smaller plates that collect sunlight, converting it to energy. Solar panels do not operate on heat, but Solar panels are the most popular source of green power. They can be described as large panels with smaller plates that collect sunlight, converting it to energy. Solar panels do not operate on heat, but the amount of light received. Therefore during winter days, which are frequently overcast and are shorter, solar panels do not generate as much energy. In contrast, during summer months, extra solar power runs the electrical meter backward, generating even more homeowner savings.
Wind power is becoming more prevalent. DIY kits also exist for this type of renewable energy. Similar to solar power, excess wind power can be sold back to the electrical utility, generating additional homeowner savings. Wind power is converted by a wind turbine, which is connected to a tall tower. It collects kinetic wind energy, changing it into power that can be used by a home’s electrical system.
Green DIY energy is rapidly becoming more popular. A huge amount of resources exists, in the form of general information to DIY kits. Homeowners should carefully select the right DIY kit for them, however most are relatively simple. Not only does this green energy help to combat global warming by helping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, consumers can experience substantial savings off their energy bills.
Yes, you can easily build your own solar panels! Get the full video tutorials through the Green DIY Energy Review. Stop paying for your energy Green DIY Energy guide.
