Dry Warm Air

[Little D.]

What do insert owners do to compensate for the warm dry air that is produced by burning wood? I am aware of pots of water being left on top of free standing stoves, but what about inserts; particularly the Englander 13NC?

 

[LLigetfa]

Contrary to popular belief, stoves do not dry the air. What dries air is the cold outdoors. If the air inside is allowed to escape and be replaced with outdoor air, that is the "drying" effect you see/feel.

Most people use humidifiers to combat dry Winter air.

 

[begreen]

The relative humidity level is determined by the difference between the dew point and the interior temperature. When it's 40% humidity and 15F outside, it's going to be 5% humidity inside at 70°F, or Sahara Desert conditions. Take it up to 80°F and it's sucking moisture out of your body like it was a sponge. This is why I can't stand a house at 80°F in the winter.
http://www.wico.net/~tslaughter/equip/humidity.html

 

[LLigetfa]

So, as you point out, it's just relative. The stove doesn't actually dry the air but rather, just the opposite. When the 80° air is returned to 70°, it will actually have more moisture than it did before it was warmed to 80°.

Controlling air loss by plugging leaks in the building envelope and using outside air for combustion help retain some of the humidity. Using an ERV instead of a HRV helps. A humidifier can put way more moisture into the air than a kettle on a wood stove. Many wood stoves can't even bring the water up to a boil.

 

[Renovation]

Controlling air loss by plugging leaks in the building envelope and using outside air for combustion help retain some of the humidity.

+1 This is an advantage of OAKs that may be overlooked.

 

[48rob]

Be Green,

Thanks for the link, that Web site is the most informative I've ever seen!

Rob

 

[Little D.]

Stay tuned for more newbie questions.

You folks are the best,

Little D.

 

[Renovation]

The stove doesn't actually dry the air but rather, just the opposite. When the 80° air is returned to 70°, it will actually have more moisture than it did before it was warmed to 80°.

As you say, heating does not dry the air, and the hotter the air, the greater it's capacity for absorbing and holding moisture. It's worth noting that this fact also means cold outside air is dryer. A stove sends large volumes of air up the chimney and out of the house. So if the stove does not have an OAK, the cold outside air that finds its ways in through whatever route is available will lower humidity in the house.