EPA-Certified Wood Stoves May Not Meet Your Health and Safety Standards

Many communities have offered financial incentives to replace wood stoves with EPA-certified models which produce less pollution. Undark discovered that some of the latest stoves may not meet EPA standards.

In these times of high energy costs, cities are looking for ways to cut down on burning wood, particularly in areas with poor air quality. Here are 10 ways to improve the indoor air quality and extract more heat of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are among the most energy-efficient ways to heat your home. Modern EPA-certified wood stoves burn logs fast and produce less smoke than older models. This lets you burn more energy in your fireplace and cut down on heating expenses by up to 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves also increases over the lifetime of the stove when you use only seasoned hardwood.

Older wood stoves have an efficiency of 50 percent or less. This means that carbon dioxide and smoke are released into the air, which results in an evaporation of about half the energy potential in the fire. Modern stoves boast efficiencies of up to 85 percent or more, which is comparable to the efficiencies of oil and gas furnaces.

The higher efficiencies of wood stoves are made by controlling the fuel, air, and combustion process. Wood stoves that control the airflow can slow down how fast the fire is moving through the wood and permit the gas that is produced to remain hot and completely combust.

Additionally modern wood stoves can recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion into a new one that is more efficient in burning. This process is called reburn, and can boost wood stove burning efficiency by as much as 10 percent.

Another benefit of using wood as a source of heat is that it is carbon neutral. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while growing and release oxygen when they are burned. Wood is a sustainable resource for the environment, especially when it is sourced from local woodlands, which are managed in a way that encourages healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

Cleaning and maintaining wood stoves is essential for keeping homes warm. In the United States, 8.8 million households use wood stoves. A dirty stove and flue pipe can be a fire hazard and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves chimneys, flue pipes and stoves are more efficient.

The removal of ashes is the most frequent task to do when cleaning your wood stove. This is best done on a day that is cool, when the stove is no longer hot and you must wear protective gloves when handling the ashes. Choose a metal container that can hold all the ashes, and then dump it outside away from anything that may ignite. Alternately, you can add the ashes to your compost for an excellent addition to your garden.

Once the ashes have been removed from the stove, you can sweep the floor to eliminate any dust. It is also a great idea to keep at least three feet between your wood stove, and any other combustible objects like pillows or curtains. This will prevent the spread of fire and burning the objects.

A clean glass door interior of your stove will allow you to see the flames dancing, and it can also help you determine when to light a fire. Make sure you have a glass cleaner on hand to get rid of any smudged or tarred areas that might be present. Newspapers dipped in ash and water can be used to cleanse the glass if it's extremely dirty. Be careful not to scratch the glass since scratches can weaken glass and cause it to shatter when it is heated.

Creosote buildup on the inside of your flue is the primary cause of chimney fires. Creosote can be extremely flammable, so an accumulation of just one millimeter can trigger an explosion in your chimney. Clean the flue often, especially if burning pine or soft woods produce more creosote.

Burn only dry, seasoned wood that is split in half or smaller. Never burn artificial trash, logs or other items inside your wood stove.

Safety

contemporary wood burning stoves stove burning can produce extremely toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can enter the home, and have negative health effects on children, elderly adults, and those suffering from respiratory illnesses such as COPD or asthma. The exposure to wood smoke over time can also cause heart disease and eventually lung damage.

To reduce the risk of these issues It is crucial to follow proper methods for burning wood on your stove. This includes ensuring that the stove is working correctly and is able to produce enough heat to the size of the room and design. Only dry, well-seasoned hard woods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content should not exceed 20 percent. If the moisture content of the wood is higher it will burn more quickly and produce a smoky fire with more creosote forming on the chimney vent pipe's wall.

A good draw is another important safety feature. This can be achieved by observing how much air is flowing into the firebox and through the chimney. The owner's guide will provide specific instructions on how to alter the flow of air in most modern stoves. The highest heating efficiencies can be achieved when the air controls are operated correctly.

The flue pipe and chimney must be free of all combustible material, such as drapes, trash or paper. Insufficient clearance between combustibles as well as wood-burning appliances is the most common reason for house fires caused by wood stoves.

It is also essential to keep children away from wood stoves while the flame is burning or while ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and they can touch hot surfaces on the wood stove or put their hands in the flame. It is recommended to put up a childproof gate around the fireplace, or employ the fireplace screen. Additionally, it is important to regularly check the fireplace and wood stove for signs of wear.

Finally, it is essential to have your stove and chimney professionally checked every year for accumulation of creosote, bird nests and other problems that can affect the safety of your chimney and stove. This will reduce the risk of fires and health hazards as well as reduce the need for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are an effective way to lower your heating costs, but they need some additional maintenance. If you don't take care of the required maintenance on your wood stove, it could cause a fire that is dangerous to escape from the chimney or flue and could even trigger fire in your home. It is important to clean the stove's surfaces and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher at your desk and check it frequently. Smoke detectors are also an excellent idea for all rooms of the home, but they are especially useful in the room where the stove is.

In general you should clean the stove and chimney at least once per year. The schedule for cleaning can be altered based on how much the electric Stove heaters - ksbellows_en.acus.Kr, is used, and may be required to be done more frequently during winter. Use only dry and seasoned wood for burning in the stove. Avoid using a lot oil or kerosene to ignite the fire. These fuels can release toxic gases and can be harmful to your health.

You should inspect the gaskets on your door at the time of your regular cleaning. They are typically made of a braided material that can degrade over time. If you notice that the gasket is not tight you can purchase a new gasket made of fiberglass as well as some gasket cement to repair it. The hinges on these doors should be examined as well.

It is essential to check chimneys and flues to ensure that they are free of creosote and obstructions. During the inspection, check for cracks or other signs of damage in the chimney lining. Stovepipes must also be inspected and any damage should be fixed.

If you have a glass door on your wood stove, it is essential to keep it clean. This can be accomplished easily with a mix of water and ammonia. The solution is then applied to the glass with an abrasive or sponge. You can leave the solution for a few moments before wiping it over again.