Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves are a non-carbon renewable source of heat that can help you save money on your energy bills. They also help with active woodland management that benefits wildlife.

If they are not maintained and installed correctly, they can produce carbon monoxide, which poses health risks to the family. To avoid this, look for an EPA-certified wood stove with modern technology to ensure safe operation.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic stove comes with a special honeycomb-like catalyst that converts the smoke from wood into carbon dioxide and water. It is a good choice for anyone looking to reduce indoor pollution and save money by burning less wood. They consume less fuel, burn hotter, and produce less creosote. However, they are more expensive to operate than non-catalytic models, and require regular maintenance of the combustion chamber.

wood burning stove near me Stoves Certified by the EPA

The EPA requires that wood stoves be constructed according to certain guidelines which restrict 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. It is important to note that lower emissions ratings do not translate into better heating efficiency.

Sizing and Selection

It is crucial that your wood stove is sized appropriately for the space in which it will be installed. A stove that isn't properly sized will not function as it was intended and could even overheat. Proper stove size increases the heat output and reduces emissions. The brochure buying an EPA-certified Wood Stove (PDF 530K) offers a straightforward method of sizing and choosing the right wood stove.

Non-Catalytical and Catalytical stoves

The first type of wood stove that was produced was the non-catalytic stove. These stoves are also called traditional wood-burning stoves or open fire stoves. The primary benefit of a non-catalytic stove is that it doesn't need a secondary combustion to reduce emissions. Smoke is the primary source of energy waste. The smoke produced by wood stoves that are not catalytic contain a heavy residue called creosote which is a highly toxic substance. The introduction of the catalytic wood stove reduced the risk of these issues. The catalytic wood stove utilizes a catalyst to burn the smoke containing gases and eliminates the toxic creosote.

Although the catalytic wood stove was designed to help reduce the emission of toxic gases, it is not as efficient as the secondary burn system that is found in the non-catalytic stove. The catalyst does not completely burn the byproducts produced by burning wood and therefore still produces harmful emissions. The honeycomb structure could degrade 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 a grayish-white appearance. It must be free of ash, soot or other tatty substances that would plug up the cells and decrease the catalytic surface. The combustor should not be exposed to impingement of flames. This can happen when a rapid, strong draft draws flames directly into a catalytic convertor. This may also happen when the firebox's door or ash pan door is left open.

It is important to regularly inspect the catalytic combustor for physical damage and the need for replacement. If it is damaged or requires replacement, it must be replaced as quickly as possible to ensure the stove's maximum performance.