How to properly heat with solid fuels to save money and the environment? Master ten of the right stove

“Approximately 15% of Czech households burn solid fuels, roughly a third gas, roughly a third are connected to CZT and 10% to electricity,” enumerates the author of the ten, Jiří Horák from Ostrava’s CEET Energy Research Center. Biomass in the form of wood or pellets currently leads the way among solid fuels, only slightly fewer Czech households still use coal for heating.

Their inefficient combustion can have a direct effect on local air quality and, on a global scale, on the state of the climate. Besides, it also burdens our wallet. That is why Jiří Horák promotes the so-called SMOKEMAN’s ten rules of the right stove, which should be followed by everyone who wants to save their pocket and the environment.

Dry, clean and apply wisely

In general, a sufficient amount of air should reach the fuel, otherwise it will not burn well. Regular servicing of the equipment and its cleaning is also important. “Then it is important, for example with old devices, to add less and more often. And I am also able to influence the efficiency with which I operate the equipment by the temperature of the flue gas,” advises Jiří Horák.

“There are many points, but if I simplify it, four parameters will affect what comes out of our chimney and how much we get warm,” summarizes Jiří Horák.

“And that’s what I’m putting it in—a type of device. The kettle subsidy helps with this, as the new devices are better than the old ones. Then what I put there – the quality of the fuel. For example, with wood, it is dominant that I dry it. Then, how I take care of the equipment and who puts it there – the quality of service.”

Don’t underestimate preparation

Wood intended for heating should be properly dried. Jiří Horák therefore advises preparing it two years in advance:

“I’m preparing my wood right now, but I won’t be burning it until two years from now. So today I have wood in the basement that I made in 2021. In the other half of the woodshed I have wood that I made in 2022. And what I will do this year, I will burn in two years.”

The Czech Television recently translated the ten correct stoves into illustrative videos, which you can find on its website CT Edu.