Wood Burning Stove Accessories
Use the Ecofan and Logmaker to Make the Most of Your Log Burner
Oct 16, 2008
As wood burning stoves become ever more popular, fuel wood prices are set to rise. Enjoy your log burner for less with these practical accessories.
The Ecofan: Distribute a Wood Burner’s Heat Without Electricity
The ecofan is an innovative fan to put on a wood burner to distribute heat around both the room and, if doors are left open, the rest of your home. While the effects are not spectacular, they certainly are noticeable, significantly raising the temperature in neighboring rooms, and reducing the phenomenon of a very hot zone around your wood burner while the rest of your home shivers!
The ecofan is powered solely by the heat of the log burner itself thanks to a semiconductor device which generates the electricity that powers the fan from heat gradients. No wiring or switches complicate the use of the ecofan; simply place it on your stove (following the manufacturer’s guidelines) and enjoy your wood burner’s heat throughout your home.
Fuel for Free: Burnable Logs from Waste
There are two types of logmaker that transform waste paper into free fuel logs that you can burn in your wood burning stove. These logs will not last as long or burn as hot as well seasoned wood; however, they do provide a useful additional source of fuel for your stove that is totally free:
- The Logmaker transforms waste paper, card and other burnable waste, including twigs from your garden, into neat logs, wrapped in newspaper. It is quick and easy to make logs with the logmaker, and there is no need to wet paper or tear it into small pieces.
- A Briquette Maker transforms newspaper and other thin waste paper into compact solid fuel logs that usually burn for a longer than those made with the Logmaker. However there is quite a bit more work in making logs with a briquette maker. The waste paper needs to be torn into pieces, soaked for a couple of days, drained and then compressed into briquettes in the briquette maker. These wet briquettes must then be dried for days, or in some conditions weeks, in a well ventilated place before use.
Cooking and Heating Water on your Log Burner
Many wood burning stoves may be used to boil a cast iron kettle, or even for simmering a casserole, saving you money on cooking fuel. Use only cast iron cookware, check that it is suitable for use on a wood burning stove, and take great care to use only when your log burner is at a moderate to low temperature. To find out whether your log burner may be used for cooking, speak to your supplier. Some stoves have a cooler top chamber or a sloped hood, which makes them unsuitable for cooking or heating a kettle.
Be sure that your wood is correctly prepared and seasoned, as this has a very big effect on the energy generated by your logs. As well as using the ecofan and other accessories, try out these general tips on how to reduce your energy bills.
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