Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves can help you reduce your energy bills. They also support active woodland management, which benefits wildlife.

If they aren't properly installed and maintained they may release carbon monoxide, which can pose health risks for the entire family. To avoid this, pick a wood stove that's EPA certified and uses the latest technology to ensure safe operation.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic stove comes with an encapsulated catalyst that converts the smoke of wood into carbon dioxide and water. This is a fantastic option for those looking to reduce indoor air pollution and save money. They use less fuel, burn more hot, and produce less creosote. They can be more costly to operate than non catalytic models and require regular maintenance on the combustion chamber.

EPA-Certified Wood Stoves

The EPA requires that wood stoves be constructed according to certain guidelines that reduce their emissions. These guidelines state that the catalytic stove must be tested at a level that is not more than 7.5 grams of smoke per hour. This is in comparison to 4.1 g/hr of smoke for a non catalytic stove. It is important to note that lower emissions ratings do not translate into more heating efficiency.

Sizing and Selection

It is crucial to ensure that your wood stove is designed for the space in which it is installed. A stove that isn't properly sized will not perform as intended and could even overheat. Proper stove size increases the amount of heat produced and lowers emissions. The brochure: Buying a EPA-Certified wood stove (PDF 530K) is a great method to determine the size and type of the right wood stove.

Non-Catalytical and Catalytic stoves

The first wood stove that was made was an uncatalytic stove. They are also referred to as traditional cheap wood burning stoves burning stoves or open-fire stoves. The primary benefit of a non-catalytic stove is that it doesn't need an additional combustion in order to reduce emissions. Smoke is a major source of wasted energy. The smoke from non-catalytic stoves has a poisonous substance called creosote. The introduction of the catalytic wood stove reduced these issues. The catalytic wood stove uses a catalyst to burn the gases in the smoke and eliminates toxic creosote.

Although the catalytic wood stove was developed to reduce toxic emissions however, it isn't as efficient as the secondary burn system used in the non-catalytic stove. The catalyst can produce unhealthy fumes because it doesn't completely burn the byproducts of burning wood. Additionally the honeycomb structure the catalyst may break down over time. This could result in a decrease in performance and the need for replacement.

Keeping the Combustion Chamber Clean

A properly functioning catalytic combustor will have a light gray powdery appearance. It should be free of ash, soot, or tatty materials that could clog the cells and decrease the catalytic surface. The combustor should not be exposed to flame impingement. This can be caused by a strong, fast draft pulling flames directly into the catalytic converter. This can also happen in the event that you leave the firebox or ash pan doors open.

It is important to inspect the catalytic combustor to determine whether it has physical damage and the need for replacement. If it is damaged or in need of replacement, it must be replaced as quickly as possible to ensure the stove's best performance.