Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves can help you save money on your energy bills. They also assist in active woodland management, which benefits wildlife.

If they are not properly installed and maintained they could release carbon monoxide, which can pose health risks to the family. To avoid this, look for an EPA-certified wood stove that has modern technology to ensure safety.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic stove is outfitted with an encapsulated catalyst which converts the smoke from wood burning stove fan into carbon dioxide and water. It is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to cut down on indoor pollution and save money by burning less wood. They burn more hot and produce less creosote. They use less fuel. They are more expensive to operate than non catalytic models and require regular maintenance on 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. The guidelines stipulate that a catalytic wood stove must be tested at a level that is not more than 7.5 grams of smoke per hour. This is in contrast to 4.1 g/hr of smoke for a non catalytic stove. It is important to keep in mind that lower emission ratings do not necessarily translate into greater efficiency in heating.

Sizing and Selection

It is very important to ensure that your wood stove is sized for the home in which it will be installed. A stove that is not properly sized will not perform as intended and could even overheat. A properly sized stove will increase heat output while cutting emissions. The brochure purchasing an EPA-certified contemporary wood burning stoves Stove (PDF 530K) provides a convenient method of sizing and choosing the right wood stove.

Non-Catalytical and Catalytic stoves

The first type of wood stove to be manufactured was the non-catalytic stove. They are also referred to as traditional wood burning stoves or open-fire Stove stoves. The non-catalytic stove is advantageous in that it doesn't need another combustion to lower emissions. However, a significant amount of energy wasted is lost as smoke. The smoke that is produced by a non-catalytic wood stove contains creosote, a hefty residue, which is a highly toxic substance. The introduction of the catalytic wood stove eliminated the risk of these issues. The catalytic stove uses a catalyst that burns the gases in the smoke to eliminate toxic creosote.

The catalytic wood burner was developed to minimize toxic emissions. However, it is less effective than the secondary combustion system utilized in the non-catalytic model. The catalyst does produce some unhealthy fumes because it doesn't fully burn the wood byproducts that result from burning. In addition the honeycomb structure the catalyst could degrade over time. This can result in decreased performance and a need for replacement.

Maintain the Combustion Chamber Clean

A catalytic combustor that is working properly will appear as a grayish powder. It should be free of ash, soot or other tatty substances that could clog the cells and reduce the surface area of catalytic reactions. The combustor shouldn't be subjected to flame impingement. This can occur when a rapid, strong draft draws flames directly into a catalytic converter. This can also occur when the firebox's door or ash pan's door has been left open.

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