- Yes: if you close the air vents and the wood-burning stove’s door, it will be fully airtight
- Just make sure that the door gasket is in good condition and there aren’t any other cracks or leaks within the body of the stove.
- These stoves require controlled airflow to produce heat efficiently
- If your stove isn’t air-tight, the fire would get too much oxygen, would burn too hot and would consume the wood too fast and inefficiently (read more about seasoned firewood– which is what you should be using)
- So, generally, wood-burning stoves are generally airtight and you can use the controllable air vents to adjust the amount of air getting to the fire
I love sitting by the wood burning stove in the winter.
It’s a great source of heat for my house. I used to have an electric fireplace, but I found that it didn’t provide enough heat for me. That was when I switched to a wood burning stove and haven’t been disappointed since then.
Wood burning stoves help you keep warm during those cold days, not only do they keep those chilly nights away but they are a great way to save money on your bills from heating the house.
They offer a simple and quick way to warm a room even without a fireplace, one can be strategically placed anywhere throughout the home as they don’t require the construction of a chimney. A simple vent leading outside is enough.
One gets to save on the cost of constructing a chimney, the stove uses wood as a source of fuel helping to reduce the damage to the environment as wood is renewable. Unlike using coal or gas which has a bigger footprint on the environment.
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Wood Stoves & Air Flow
Are wood burning stoves airtight? The simple answer is yes they are. When a stove is said to be airtight it means that the movement of air is controlled in and out of the stove by having an airtight seal on the door.
Air is introduced into the stove through the air vents, and in case the door and vents are closed the stove will be completely air tight and the fire will go out.
By being airtight the stove is efficient at keeping fumes away from the insides of the home and thus safety is also assured as the build-up of harmful toxins is prevented.
One avoids breathing complications, triggered allergies and even people with asthma who are highly sensitive to changes in the air can comfortably use this type of stove.
To get the best out of a stove one should strive to have it installed by a professional. A wood burning stove is a pretty simple device therefore one can get it in place easily, however having a specialist come over and fix it for you is the best way to go.
A trained professional will be conversant with all the requirements to ensure that the stove is completely airtight, that the requirements in regards to installation are up to par, that the vents are properly secured and fixed in place.
A qualified installer will also help you pick the best wood burning stove that is right for you.
The expert will also inspect the stove to ensure that it is airtight all through, this will consist of checking the stove for cracks, the door gasket for worn seal, the exhaust vent and air vents to make sure they all function as expected.
When an airtight wood stove is closed the wood is starved of air and eventually goes out.
Apart from safety issues with concerns to fires, a wood burning stove needs to be airtight because it is more efficient in providing heating if the airflow into the stove is effectively restricted.
Benefits of An Airtight Stove
They are more efficient at burning wood to produce more heat for your home, this translates to savings on your heating bill and cost of the wood that acts as the fuel.
Since they are airtight, wood burning stoves are able to prevent waste gases from escaping. These are gases that are produced while burning the wood. This in turn produces more heat from the secondary burn.
With the firebox being sealed, the wood burns slowly and this increases the efficiency of the fire. The secondary burn adds more heat into the home as it helps convert most of the energy produced into heat.
By being airtight the firebox is closed, which effectively reduces the chances of accidentally setting fire to the house, that may be more likely with an open fire pit, chimney fires are also eliminated as the stove has a better seal from top to bottom.
They are more environmentally friendly, this is due to the fact that the fuel used is carbon neutral. The use of wood does not increase the level of carbon dioxide in the environment.
Another advantage is that one can acquire the wood from waste timber, off cuts from workshops and wastes from timber yards- make sure you understand wood stove over firing and how to prevent it.
In terms of functionality, these stoves are highly reliable. They function without gas or electricity, in case of any power outages one can still use the stove and thus ensure that your home is warm and cozy- just make sure you understand what to put behind a wood burning stove.
What to Look For
When deciding on a stove one needs to choose where it will be best positioned, a freestanding one that can be set up anywhere in a room or a fireplace positioned one that will be located in an insert built like a fireplace. Learn more about how a wood stove compares with a fireplace, if you’re deciding between the two.
Choosing the right size is key, this will depend on your heating requirements and the size of your home. A small room will require less heating that a large cabin.
The next step is getting a qualified firm to do the installation. That will ensure that the stove is placed at the right location and that it will function efficiently throughout. One also benefits from regular maintenance visits that ensure it is still functioning as required.
How to Use the Airtight Stove Better
Since the main source of heat is burning wood, one has to ensure that the wood is dry enough to burn effectively, an airtight stove provides air from the top. Wood burns more efficiently when it gets air from the top
An airtight wood stove is the best type since it is designed to provide air to the fire from the top, controlling the amount of air will mean you use the air vents efficiently. Opening the air vents will allow more air into the firebox thus the fire will burn faster.
Closing the air vents starves the fire of oxygen, this causes the wood to burn more slowly. When one shuts the air vents completely the fire will fizzle out.
This means that one will adjust the vents according to the desired results, by controlling the air supply one will be able to increase or reduce the heat produced.
To get the right balance between having a large fire burning and more heat or a steady fire for a longer time.
This will depend on ones needs at that moment in time, but a fire that is slower and efficient is better because it gives you the most in terms of heat produced for longer.
Hi, my name’s Eugene Duke and I love sitting by my fireplace reading a book and sipping on an adult beverage. Do you have a fireplace in your house? I’ll help you figure out the best type and style of fireplace for your home.
