Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

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

However, if not installed and maintained properly they can create carbon monoxide that poses health risks to the entire family. To avoid this, search for an EPA-certified wood stove with modern technology to ensure safety.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic stove comes with a special honeycomb-like catalyst that converts the smoke from wood into carbon dioxide and water. This is a fantastic option 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 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 that wood stoves be designed under certain guidelines that restrict their emissions. According to these guidelines a catalytic stove must not emit more than 7.5 grams per hour. This is compared to 4.1 grams per hour for a non-catalytic stove. It is important to keep in mind that lower emissions ratings do not necessarily translate into greater heating efficiency.

Sizing and Selection

It is vital to make sure your wood stove is properly designed for the space where it will be installed. A stove that isn't properly sized will not perform as intended and may even overheat. A properly sized stove improves heat output and reduces emissions. The brochure purchasing an EPA-certified wood Stove (PDF 530K) offers a simple method of sizing and selecting the right wood stove.

Non-Catalytical and Catalytical stoves

The first wood stove that was made was a non-catalytic stove. They are also referred to as traditional wood burning stoves or open-fire stoves. The primary advantage of the non-catalytic stove is that it doesn't require an additional combustion in order to reduce emissions. Smoke is a major source of energy waste. The smoke produced by small wood stove stoves that are not catalytic contain creosote, a heavy substance which is a very toxic substance. The introduction of the catalytic wood stove has eliminated these problems. The catalytic wood stove utilizes catalysts to burn off the gases in the smoke and eliminates toxic creosote.

The catalytic wood burner was designed to minimize toxic emissions. However it is less efficient than the secondary combustion system utilized in the non-catalytic model. The catalyst does produce some harmful fumes since it doesn't burn completely the byproducts from burning wood. Additionally, the honeycomb structure of the catalyst could degrade over time. This can lead to a decrease in performance and the necessity for replacement.

Keep the Combustion Chamber Clean

A catalytic combustor working properly will appear like a powdery gray. It must be free of soot, ash or other tatty substances that would plug up the cells and decrease catalytic surface area. The combustor should not be exposed to impingement of flames. This can occur when a powerful, fast draft pulls flames directly into a catalytic converter. This can also occur if the firebox door or ash pan's door has been left open.

It is important to check the catalytic combustor to determine whether it has physical damage and a need for replacement. If it is damaged or requires replacement, it must be replaced as soon as possible to ensure the stove's optimal performance.