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 installed and maintained correctly they could release carbon monoxide, which can pose health risks to the family. To avoid this, select a wood stove that is EPA certified and uses the latest technology for safe operation.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic fireplace comes with a special catalyst, which looks like a honeycomb. It converts wood smoke into carbon dioxide. This is a fantastic option for anyone looking to reduce the air pollution in their homes while saving money. These stoves burn hotter and produce less creosote. They use less fuel. They are more expensive to operate than non catalytic models, and require regular maintenance of the combustion chamber.

Wood Stoves that have been certified by the EPA

The EPA requires that wood stoves be designed according to specific guidelines that reduce their emissions. These guidelines state that a catalytic wood stove must be tested at a level that is not more than 7.5 grams of smoke per hour. This compares to 4.1 grams per hour for an uncatalytic stove. It is important to keep in mind that lower emissions ratings do not mean more efficient heating.

Sizing and Selection

It is crucial to ensure that your wood stove is appropriate for the house in which it is installed. The wrong size stove will not work as intended and could overheat. Proper stove size increases heat output and reduces emissions. The brochure buying an EPA-certified Wood Stove (PDF 530K) offers a simple method of sizing and selecting a new wood stove.

Non-Catalytic and Catalytic stoves

The first type of wood stove wood burning manufactured was the non-catalytic stove. These stoves are also known as traditional wood-burning stoves, or open fire stoves. The non-catalytic stove is advantageous in that it does not require an additional combustion to reduce emissions. However, a significant amount of wasted energy is lost as smoke. The smoke from non-catalytic stoves has a poisonous substance known as creosote. The catalytic wood heater has reduced these problems. The catalytic stove utilizes catalysts that burn gases in the smoke to eliminate toxic creosote.

While the catalytic wood stove was developed as a means to reduce the emission of toxic gases however, it isn't as effective as the secondary burn system found in the non-catalytic stove. The catalyst can produce unhealthy fumes because it doesn't completely burn the byproducts of burning wood. The honeycomb structure may break down with time. This can lead to an increase in performance and the necessity for replacement.

Maintaining the Combustion Chamber Clean

A functioning catalytic combustor will have a light gray powdery appearance. It must be free of soot, ash or other tatty substances that could clog the cells and decrease catalytic surface area. The combustor should not be subjected to flame impingement. This can result from a strong, fast draft pulling flames directly into the catalytic converter. This can also happen when you leave the firebox and ash pan doors open.

It is important to regularly inspect the catalytic combustor for physical damage, and for the need to be replaced. If the catalytic combustor is damaged or needs to be replaced, it must be done as soon as is possible for optimal performance.