Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves are a non-carbon renewable heat source that can save money on energy bills. They also aid in active woodland management, which is beneficial to wildlife.

If they are not installed and maintained correctly, they can produce carbon monoxide that poses health hazards to the family. To avoid this, pick a wood stove that is EPA certified and has modern technology for safe operation.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic fireplace is outfitted with a special catalyst, which resembles honeycomb. It converts wood smoke into carbon dioxide. It is a great option for anyone who wants to cut down on indoor air pollution and save money by burning less wood. They consume less fuel, burn hotter and produce less creosote. They are more expensive to operate than non catalytic models and require regular maintenance of the combustion chamber.

Wood Stoves Certified by the EPA

The EPA requires small wood stove stoves to be designed under certain guidelines that reduce their emissions. According to these guidelines catalytic stoves should not emit more than 7.5 grams per hour. This compares with 4.1 g/hr of smoke for a non catalytic stove. But, it's important to note that lower emissions ratings don't translate into better heating efficiency.

Sizing and Selection

It is very important to make sure your wood stove is designed for the space where it will be installed. A stove that is not properly sized will not perform as intended and may even overheat. Proper stove size increases the amount of heat produced and lowers emissions. The brochure purchasing an EPA-certified wood Stove (PDF 530K) offers a straightforward method of sizing and selecting a new wood stove.

Non-Catalytic and Catalytic stoves

The first wood stove produced was a non-catalytic stove. These stoves are also called traditional wood-burning stoves, or open fire stoves. The main benefit of a non-catalytic stove is that it doesn't need an additional combustion in order to reduce emissions. However, a significant amount of energy that is wasted is lost as smoke. The smoke from non-catalytic stoves is contaminated with a toxic substance known as creosote. The catalytic wood heater has reduced the risks. The catalytic stove uses catalysts that burn gases in the smoke to eliminate toxic creosote.

While the catalytic wood burning stove for sale stove was created as a means to reduce toxic emissions however, it isn't as efficient as the secondary burn system used in the non-catalytic stove. The catalyst does not completely burn the byproducts of burning wood, and consequently produces harmful emissions. The honeycomb structure may be damaged over time. This can lead to a decline in performance and the need for replacement.

Keep the Combustion Chamber Clean

A functioning catalytic combustor will have a light gray powdery appearance. It should be free of soot, ash or other materials that would plug up the cells and decrease catalytic surface area. The combustor must not be exposed to flame impingement. This can result from an extremely fast, strong draft that is pulling flames directly into the catalytic converter. This can also happen if you open the firebox or the ash pan doors open.

It is essential to check the catalytic combustor to determine whether it has physical damage and the need for replacement. If the catalytic combustor is damaged or needs to be replaced, it should be done as quickly as is feasible to ensure maximum performance.