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Wood Stove SteamersWood stove steamers are a fireplace accessory that many people consider a vital addition to their wood stove. They increase humidity in the room which can improve the common winter complaints of chapped lips, dry skin and sore throats. How do wood stove steamers work?Very simply, stove top steamers are pots filled with water which sit directly on top of your wood stove. The heat from your wood burning stove evaporates the water as steam which increases the humidity of the air in your room. They need refilling occassionally and come in a wide variety of styles, colours and designs.
Why are wood stoves blamed for low humidity?In the winter months outside air temperature is very low and cold air simply cannot carry as much water as warm air. Wood fires draw air from outside the building as they burn and send flue gases up the chimney. As this external air enters the building it warms up and can carry more water than before - this makes it feel drier than it did before. As a result people suffer from chapped lips and other winter maladies.While people blame wood stoves and fires in particular ANY boiler or furnace which uses air from within your building will contribute to reduced humidity, including your central heating and hot water boiler. While we can't do much about those causes we can use a stove top steamer to increase the humidity around our wood fire.
Wood stove steamer designs
Stove top steamers come in a wierd and wonderful array of designs - from simple yet classic pots, to stylised dragons, sleeping cats or ornamental kettles. What every suits your taste there is likely to be a stove top steamer to match. Literally thousands of types are available if you take the time to search for them.
Getting the most from a stove top steamersWood stove steamers really shine when you start using them to add some fragrance to your room. You could try adding orange peel and cloves directly to the water in your steamer, or experiment with some scented potpourri or essential oils. (A word of warning about essential oils - you should ALWAYS dilute them in water in your steamer, never use them 'neat'. Oils are very flammable and in large amounts pose a significant fire risk. Just a few drops in your steamer should be sufficient0If you do try adding scents try to remember not to let your stove top steamer run completely out of water. You risk burning the potpourri which at best would smell unpleasant and at worst may be a fire hazard. Depending on the water quality in your area it may also be a good idea to use filtered water to prevent limescale gumming it up completely. If you need to remove limescale from inside the steamer then Coca-Cola is suprisingly effective.
Do I need a trivet?A trivet is simply a spacer that lifts your steamer off the direct surface of your wood stove. They prolong the life of the steamer and reduce the chance of rust spots forming on top of the stove. Most trivets are simple cast iron and look elegant in themselves.Return to Wood Stove Wizard Homepage from Wood Stove Steamers
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