Zone Heating; Emissions And Efficiency - Osburn INSPIRE 2000-I OB02045 Installation And Operation Manual

2.5

Zone Heating

This insert is a space heater, which means it is intended to heat the area it is installed in, as well
as spaces that connect to that area, although to a lower temperature. This is called zone heating
and it is an increasingly popular way to heat homes or spaces within homes.
Zone heating can be used to supplement another heating system by heating a particular space
within a home, such as a basement, a family room or an addition that lacks another heat source.
Houses of moderate size and relatively new construction can be heated with a properly sized
and located wood insert. Whole house zone heating works best when the insert is in the part of
the house where the family spends most of its time. This is normally the main living area where
the kitchen, dining and living rooms are located.
Locating the insert in this area will give the maximum benefit of the heat it produces and will
achieve the highest possible heating efficiency and comfort. The space where the most time is
spent will be warmest, while bedrooms and basement (if there is one) will stay cooler. In this
way, less wood is burned than with other forms of heating.
Although the insert may be able to heat the main living areas of the house to an adequate
temperature, it is strongly recommended to also have a conventional oil, gas or electric heating
system to provide backup heating.
The success of zone heating will depend on several factors, including the correct sizing and
location of the insert, the size, layout and age of the home and the climate zone. Three-season
vacation homes can usually be heated with smaller inserts than houses that are heated all winter.
2.6

Emissions and Efficiency

The low smoke emissions produced by the special features inside this insert firebox means
that the household will release up to 90% less smoke into the outside environment than if an
older conventional insert was used. But there is more to the emission control technologies than
protecting the environment.
The smoke released from wood when it is heated contains about half of the energy content of
the fuel. By burning the wood completely, this insert releases all the heat energy from the wood
instead of wasting it as smoke up the chimney. Also, the features inside the firebox allow control
of the air supply meaning controlling the heat output, while maintaining clean and efficient
flaming combustion, which boosts the efficient delivery of heat to the home.
The emission control and advanced combustion features of this insert can only work properly if
the fuel used is in the correct moisture content range of 15% to 20%. See section
this manual for suggestions on preparing fuelwood and judging its moisture.
Page 12 Installation and Operation Manual - Inspire 2000 Insert
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