When purchasing a wood stove, it is important that you choose the appropriate size stove for your home. Most Wood Stoves will have a BTU rating which is the factor you will use to determine the proper size for your wood stove. The formula presented here is only a guideline as, unlike gas appliances that have a controlled Btu input, wood stoves are controlled by the user and the amount of fuel supplied to the stove or fireplace by the user.

BTU: Heat output is calculated in Btu's = British Thermal Unit. This is a measure of how much heat the stove or fireplace is capable of generating.

The size of the stove is dependent on the size of the area to be heated. To determine the space to be heated, multiply the width by length by height resulting in the cubic feet of area to be heated. If you are heating several rooms, then add them all together.

Next, take the lowest temperature you are likely to reach in a given winter. Then subtract that number from your target temperature. Let's say you expect 10 Deg/F to be the lowest outside temperature and you would like the room to be 70. That means on the most extreme days, you need a temperature rise of 60 Deg/F.

Next determine the cubic feet of the area you wish to heat. Take the length x width x height to determine cubic feet. Example: 10 x 20 room with 9 ft ceilings = 1800 cubic ft.

It takes 1 BTU to heat 55 cubic feet of air 1 degree under normal conditions. So in our example, we have 1800 cubic feet and want to raise the temperature 60 Deg. so the formula is 1800 c/ft div by 55 c/ft = 269 x 60 (temp rise) = 16140 Btu to heat the area.

That being said, there are other factors that have to be considered. First, is the area to be heated well constructed and insulated? If not, then add 10% (or more) to the total BTU required. If the area is extremely well constructed and insulated, deduct 10% (or more) from the total required.

The second issue in our example is we are heating the area based on the lowest temperatures of the season. However, with wood stoves and fireplaces, we are usually supplementing another heating system which can add heat power when needed in extreme weather conditions. Therefore, it is much better to use an average outside temperature factor - so we can de-rate our findings by 30%. In our example that would equate to 16140 less 30% = 11,298 Btu required to heat the room most of the winter days.

Purchasing the wood stove or fireplace for the area to be heated now becomes much easier given that you know the heat output you need. Some or most of your decision may rest on the appearance of the product so that it fits the décor you are dealing with. The important issue here is that if you do purchase a wood heating product with much more power than you need, you will have to compromise by not operating the stove or fireplace in the very mild weather. You must be able to operate your wood burning product at or near maximum temperatures to achieve maximum efficiency. Failure to do so on a regular basis will result in clogged chimneys and extreme build up of creosote in the stove or fireplace.

The staff at Copperfield Chimney Supply is very knowledgeable in all aspects of wood heating. We are always happy to provide whatever assistance you may need in determining the best wood burning product for your application.

Barbecues have long had a reputation of being the most informal, low-maintenance and least expensive methods of entertaining. Just toss some burgers and wieners on the grill, set up a few picnic tables and you're ready to go. Well, that might work for family cookouts, but a true barbecue is not a casual, slapdash affair. It's every bit as detailed and time-consuming as a formal evening, though it's far from stuffy and is always centered around something coming off the grill. More

When you have a wood burning fireplace or stove in your home, it is a good idea to inspect the chimney pipe on a normal basis. You will want to have the chimney cleaned at least once a year before you start using the unit in the fall. Throughout the cold winter months, you will want to watch the amount of ash and building on the pipe and clean it again if necessary. At the end of your normal burning period, you can choose to clean the chimney now, leaving your fireplace ready for next fall.

Replace Worn, Cracked Chimneys with New Stainless Steel Chimney Pipe

When you notice cracks forming within you chimney or in the clay liners, you will want to replace these with stainless steel liners and new chimney pipe, which is available here on our website, at Copperfield Chimney Supply. Using smooth finished pipe helps prevent buildup of the by-products of wood burning fires and increases the amount of time between cleanings during the course of the year.

Lighting a fireplace, wood stove, campfire or bonfire can be a daunting task. Take all the work out of this process with our Burner Fire Starters. Burner Fire Starters come conveniently packaged and easy to store barrels. Each barrel contains 100 packs, enough to easily start 100 fires. When they burn, the Fire Starters are complete odorless and have a long lasting flame. Packets have a large surface area which prevents them from being smothered with ashes. Packets will light even if they have been exposed to humidity or water.

Burner Fire Starters are safe and easy to use. They will not self ignite.

After three woodstove collections, the Allegheny County Health Department is offering county residents a chance to dispose of old wood stoves and outdoor wood-fired boilers that do not meet current national emission standards in return for cash incentives.

“The Health Department’s ‘bounty’ program has been extremely successful in terms of helping residents switch to better performing equipment, but also benefiting our air quality as well,” said Health Department Director Dr. Karen Hacker. “I’m proud that we are able to offer these opportunities to our residents and that these collections allow us to continue moving towards the goal of reducing or eliminating fine particulate pollution.”

The Health Department is offering a $500 cash incentive for non-Phase II outdoor wood-fired boilers and a $200 gift card for uncertified wood stoves. Uncertified wood stoves do not have a permanent EPA placard on the side or back and were made prior to new manufacturing standards set by EPA in 1988.

Registrants can choose a gift card for either Home Depot, Kmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, GetGo or Giant Eagle. The program is for Allegheny County residents, and participants must register in advance at http://www.achd.net/air/bounty/, or by calling 412-578-8106.

Registration is required in advance, but wood stoves and boilers must be turned in at a collection event to be held on Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Skating Rink Parking Lot in South Park, at the intersection of One Hundred Acre Drive and Corrigan Drive. No stoves or boilers will be accepted the day of the event from anyone who has not registered.

Stoves and boilers will be processed by Tube City IMS at its Recycling and Processing Facility in West Mifflin.

The bounty program was established to help reduce fine particulate pollution from wood smoke within Allegheny County. In addition to fine particulate pollution, wood smoke contains numerous air toxics and can exacerbate existing respiratory conditions. It is supported by a $75,000 grant from the Allegheny County Clean Air Fund.

For more information or to register, call 412-578-8106 or visit www.achd.net/air/bounty/. Registrations will be accepted until Wednesday, June 3.

Since 2013, the Health Department has collected 150 devices manufactured before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set emission standards for such equipment. All of the devices were recycled by Tube City, IMS, helping to reduce wood-burning emissions in Allegheny County.

For over 50 years, Security Chimneys International has been an innovator in the venting field and a market leader. Instrumental in the company's growth has been an ongoing focus on product improvement and the introduction of new, innovative products. This drive for excellence has given rise to the Secure Temp ASHT+, Stainless Steel Class A Chimney, one of the most popular lines of venting products in North America. This high-quality product ensures that end-users benefit from maximum safety and proven corrosion protection.

The arrival of controlled-combustion stoves led to the development of Security's Secure Temp™ asht+ high-temperature chimney. The asht+ was the first Stainless steel clas A chimney listed to standards established for temperatures of 2100°F when used with this type of appliance. Creosote buildup in a chimney can cause fires capable of reaching temperatures of up to 2100°F. The asht+, with its double-wall all-stainless steel chimney and exclusive Secure Plus insulation, minimizes heat loss through the chimney walls, and can withstand that intense heat. The free-floating inner lining is attached only to the male coupler at the top, expanding and contracting freely with temperature fluctuations. The external casing of the Secure Temp ASHT+ carries the structural load.

The use of stainless steel, selected for its resistance to high temperatures and corrosion, lends outstanding durability to the Secure Temp™ asht+ high temperature chimney. It is also available with an aluminum-zinc coated steel casing in 6-, 7-, and 8-inch inner diameters (I.D.). Chimneys in diameters of 5 to 10 inches feature 1 inch of superior-quality, high-density Secure Plus insulation. This exclusive insulation keeps the temperature of the outer casing relatively low, keeping safety features as simple as possible.

All Secure Temp asht+ high-temperature stainless steel chimneys, regardless of diameter, can be installed as close as 2 inches from combustible materials. The ASHT+ (5- to 10-inch diameters) also features fast and easy Twist-Lock assembly. Lengths and universal fittings fit together and lock into place by twisting one-eighth of a turn. No other part is needed to ensure the chimney's structural stability, keeping installation time to a minimum.

Security Chimneys International Ltd.™ warrants the factory-built Secure Temp asht+ stainless steel chimney for an unlimited time from the date of purchase. This warranty is limited to the replacement of chimney components provided they have been properly installed and used as intended.

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