Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves are a non-carbon renewable source of heat that can save money on energy bills. They also support active woodland management that helps wildlife.

If they aren't properly installed and maintained they could release carbon monoxide that poses health risks to the entire family. To avoid this, look for an EPA-certified wood stove equipped with modern technology to ensure safe operation.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic stove is outfitted with a specific honeycomb-like catalyst which converts the smoke from wood into carbon dioxide and water. This is a great choice for anyone looking to reduce indoor air pollution and save money. They burn more hot and produce less creosote. They consume less fuel. They are more expensive to operate than non catalytic models and require regular maintenance of the combustion chamber.

Wood Stoves that are EPA-Certified

The EPA requires that wood stoves be constructed in accordance with 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 compared to 4.1 grams/hour for a non-catalytic stove. It is important to keep in mind that lower emissions ratings don't mean more efficient heating.

Sizing and Selection

It is vital to make sure your wood stove is appropriate for the house in which it will be installed. The wrong size stove will not work as intended and could even overheat. The proper stove size will increase the heat output while cutting emissions. The brochure: Buying an EPA-Certified wood stove (PDF 530K), provides a convenient way to measure and choose the right wood stove.

Non-Catalytical and Catalytical stoves

The first type of wood electric stove fireplace to be manufactured was the non-catalytic electric stove fireplace. 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 a second combustion to reduce emissions. However, a significant amount of wasted energy is lost as smoke. The smoke that is produced by wood stoves that are not catalytic contain creosote, a heavy substance which is a very toxic substance. The catalytic wood heater has reduced these problems. The catalytic wood stove employs a catalyst to burn the gases in the smoke and eliminates the toxic creosote.

The catalytic wood burning device was created to lower the emission of toxic gases. However, it is less effective than the secondary combustion system used in the non-catalytic model. The catalyst produces toxic fumes due to the fact that it doesn't completely burn the byproducts from burning wood. The honeycomb structure may be damaged over time. This could lead to lower performance and the need for replacement.

Keeping the Combustion Chamber Clean

A catalytic combustor that is operating properly will appear powdery gray. It should be free of ash, soot or tatty material that could clog the catalytic surfaces and decrease their surface area. The combustor shouldn't be subjected to flame impingement. This can occur when a rapid, strong draft forces flames into a catalytic converter. This can also happen if you open the firebox or the doors to the ash pan open.

It is important to regularly inspect the catalytic combustor to determine whether it has physical damage and the need to be replaced. If the catalytic combustor has become damaged or requires to be replaced, it must happen as soon as possible to ensure optimal performance.