Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves can help you reduce your energy bills. They also support active woodland management that helps wildlife.

If they are not properly installed and maintained they may release carbon monoxide which poses health risks to the family. To avoid this, pick a wood stove that's EPA certified and features the latest technology for safe operation.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic stove is outfitted with a specific honeycomb-like catalyst that converts the smoke of wood into carbon dioxide and water. This is a great choice for those who want to cut down on indoor air pollution and save money. They use less fuel, burn faster, and produce less creosote. However, they can be more expensive to operate than non-catalytic models. They also require regular maintenance of the combustion chamber.

small wood stove Stoves that are EPA-Certified

The EPA requires wood stoves to be constructed according to certain guidelines that limit their emissions. According to these guidelines catalytic stoves must not emit more than 7.5 grams per hour. This is compared to 4.1 grams/hour for a non-catalytic stove. But, it's important to remember that lower emissions ratings don't mean more efficient heating.

Sizing and Selection

It is vital to make sure your wood stove is properly designed for the space in which it is installed. A stove that is not properly sized will not function as intended and may even overheat. The correct stove size will increase the heat output while decreasing emissions. The brochure purchasing an EPA-certified wood Stove (PDF 530K) offers a straightforward method of sizing and choosing the right wood stove.

Non-Catalytic and Catalytic stoves

The first type of wood stove that was manufactured was the non-catalytic stove. They are also referred to as traditional wood-burning stoves, or open Fire Stove stoves. The primary advantage of the non-catalytic stove is that it doesn't need an additional combustion in order to reduce emissions. However, a significant amount of wasted energy is lost as smoke. The smoke produced by non-catalytic stoves has a poisonous substance known as creosote. The catalytic wood heater has reduced these problems. The catalytic fire stove is a catalyst that burns the gases in the smoke to eliminate toxic creosote.

The catalytic wood burning device was created to reduce toxic emissions. However, it is less effective than the secondary combustion system used in the non-catalytic model. The catalyst doesn't completely burn the byproducts from burning wood, which is why it emits harmful fumes. The honeycomb structure can also be damaged over time. This can result in decreased performance and the need for replacement.

Maintaining the Combustion Chamber Clean

A properly functioning catalytic combustor will have an appearance of light gray powdery. It should be free of soot, ash, or tatty materials which could block the cells and decrease the catalytic surface. The combustor should also not be exposed to impingement of flames. This can occur when a strong, rapid draft forces flames into a catalytic convertor. This can also happen in the event that you leave the firebox or the ash pan doors open.

It is essential to inspect the catalytic combustor to determine whether it has physical damage and a need to be replaced. If the catalytic combustor has become damaged or needs to be replaced, it must happen as soon as possible to ensure maximum performance.