Many people think of wood stoves as solely for residential use, but commercial wood stoves are growing in popularity as a cost-effective form of heating as well. In fact, outdoor furnaces are a cost-effective source of heating energy. Owners who cut their own wood, or can obtain free wood as fuel, can entirely eliminate their heating bills. Over a 10-year period, a homeowner or business may save $10,000 to $50,000 or more on heating costs. But before you invest in a commercial wood burning stove for your business, it’s important to keep safety in mind during each and every use. Here are just a few essential safety tips for commercial wood burning stoves.
Clean Your Commercial Stove Regularly
First and foremost, it’s essential to keep your commercial wood burning stove clean to prevent the risk of a fire getting out of control. There are a number of tools that can make the cleaning process easy and very straightforward — and a few that can make it more difficult and should be avoided.
“Use a wire brush to clean your stovepipe and chimney at least once a year. Also, occasionally use controlled, high-temperature fires in the stove or furnace. Don’t bother with the salt-based chemical cleaners. And never use heavy items such as chains, bricks or a brush on the end of a rope, because they could seriously damage the interior chimney lining,” writes Nationwide.
Use the Correct Fuel
Current owners of outdoor furnaces report that they are using up to 25% to 70% less wood compared to traditional wood furnaces and of course have far more efficient heating compared to using other heating sources or fuel sources. Still, many commercial wood burning stoves use different types of fuel, and experts say there are several that make the best and safest sources. Typically, hardwoods, e.g., maple, hickory, ash, oak, and beech, are ideal for commercial wood burning stoves. Just make sure the wood is split and air dried for a full year before being used as fuel.
Ensure Proper Ventilation
Finally, many fires are caused from improper ventilation. For this reason, it’s always ideal to check your stove’s ventilation frequently and ensure that there are no blockages that could cause excessive buildup and contribute to the start of a fire.
Commercial wood burning stoves are certainly useful, but using them safely is essential to making the most of their benefits.