Air Purifier

[Protagoras]

Instead of trying to clean the air, burn low smoke fuel?

I think wood briquettes/heat logs are the cleanest with <10% moisture content.

That's a good idea - I'll try some. Thanks.

[woody1]

Instead of trying to clean the air, burn low smoke fuel?

I think wood briquettes/heat logs are the cleanest with <10% moisture content.

[Protagoras]

I have the Dyson air purifier and at my old,old house it did help a fair bit. Since the move the sensor seems to be broken so it's acting purely as an expensive fan, well it's still working i just can't see how well.

My one is a couple of years old, the new ones are very expensive.

PS at my old,old house with the incredibly expensive log fire which was tulip, opening the window helped but also opening the fire door for about 15 mins made a difference. At my old house it just worked, 200 year old farmhouse (they knew something then).

Dyson products tend to be more expensive than I generally wish to pay.

I think that airflow into the room may be an issue. The house possibly isn't leaky enough to provide sufficient combustion air flow.

In any case, when it was installed a mate who has one - and is also very health conscious - advised opening a window when running it to encourage draft up the flue rather than into the room. He also suggested the use of a particulate meter (the Ikea one is excellent value and Matter compliant) and the use of an air purifier.

[WooHooNomad]

I have the Dyson air purifier and at my old,old house it did help a fair bit. Since the move the sensor seems to be broken so it's acting purely as an expensive fan, well it's still working i just can't see how well.

My one is a couple of years old, the new ones are very expensive.

PS at my old,old house with the incredibly expensive log fire which was tulip, opening the window helped but also opening the fire door for about 15 mins made a difference. At my old house it just worked, 200 year old farmhouse (they knew something then).

[Protagoras]

If you’re not burning it regularly it might be more difficult to get a draw going, but once the chimney is warmed up it should go well. The above vent is great as it helps to keep the glass clean.
I’d probably start with it fully open then close it down slightly as it gets going.
If I left our Firebelly double sided one fully open, it would burn through the wood in minutes.

One thing that helps the draw is that locally it is generally windy. That definitely helps the draw.
The wind doesn't help when clearing out the ash!

[WTFH]

If you’re not burning it regularly it might be more difficult to get a draw going, but once the chimney is warmed up it should go well. The above vent is great as it helps to keep the glass clean.
I’d probably start with it fully open then close it down slightly as it gets going.
If I left our Firebelly double sided one fully open, it would burn through the wood in minutes.

[Protagoras]

What brand of stove do you have, and what vents do you have open once it is running?
Does your glass get sooty when you’re burning, or does it stay clean?

(Tip: don’t use chemicals to clean the glass, just a damp cloth and some of the well-burned ash from the fire, it will do a far better job)

It's a Portway Arundel Wood Burning Stove, so only a small stove for winter evenings. It's wood only.

It only has one vent, above the door and I have that fully open when running. Closing it hugely reduces the burn.
As demonstrated by the installer, starting it up is with the door slightly ajar to allow more air to get in.

I'd it on last night for about 5 hours and the glass is suity in the middle. It generally gets a bit suity but is easy to clean with a damp cloth and ash.

[WTFH]

What brand of stove do you have, and what vents do you have open once it is running?
Does your glass get sooty when you’re burning, or does it stay clean?

(Tip: don’t use chemicals to clean the glass, just a damp cloth and some of the well-burned ash from the fire, it will do a far better job)

[sadkingbilly]

It's cold up north!

yeh, i know, especially on the coast.

[Protagoras]

gas fired central heating?

Yes, have that. Installed last year with new radiators and pipes. The house was re-insulated extensively too. Despite that, gas consumption in October can be 50kWh/day and that's without it being toasty! It's cold up north!

The wood-burner just makes the snug feel cosy - I'm not trying to heat the house with it.

When did you last have the chimney swept?
What wood are you burning? How long has it been seasoned?

The fire was installed new last year and has been used fewer than 20 times, so I'm assuming no problem with the flue which extends well beyond the roof line.

I light the fire with small offcuts of softwood and hardwood left over from DiY jobs.

After that I use various wood ...

• kiln-dried softwood
• wood from a tree I chopped down last year which was stored in the greenhouse and burns nicely - this is my preferred burn, until it runs out
• softwood from a local supplier that's been in the garage for over a year, but just stored in the bag, and not really aired. This doesn't burn at all well unless it's been in the house for a while.

I was brought up with a coal fire, and admit that I've not really mastered the art of the wood-burning stove.
Key to getting it going seems to be lots of kindling to get it hot and then get the kiln-dried wood to catch.

[WTFH]

When did you last have the chimney swept?
What wood are you burning? How long has it been seasoned?

[sadkingbilly]

gas fired central heating?

[Protagoras]

I sometimes see pm2.5 reach 100 when lighting the wood burning stove. Opening the door to top up has pm2.5 over 20.

I always run the stove with the window in the room open, and with the stove running, the level is under 10.

Anyone recommend an air purifier to keep the pm2.5 level down? It's a smallish room under 20m².