Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

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

However, if not installed and maintained properly they can produce carbon monoxide that poses health risks for the entire family. To avoid this, choose a wood stove that's EPA certified and features the latest technology to ensure safe operation.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic fireplace is outfitted with a catalyst which resembles honeycomb. It converts wood smoke into carbon dioxide. This is a fantastic option for those who want to cut down on indoor air pollution and save money. They consume less fuel, burn faster, and produce less creosote. However, they can be more expensive to operate than non-catalytic models. They also require regular maintenance of the combustion chamber.

EPA-Certified Wood Stoves

The EPA requires wood stoves to be designed under certain guidelines that reduce their emissions. In accordance with these guidelines, catalytic stoves should not emit more than 7.5 grams 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 emissions ratings do not translate into better heating efficiency.

Sizing and Selection

It is essential that your wood Burning stove small stove is sized correctly for the home where it will be placed. The wrong sized stove won't perform as it should and could even overheat. Proper stove size increases the amount of heat produced and lowers emissions. The brochure: Buying a wood stove that is certified by the EPA (PDF 530K) offers a simple way to size and select the right wood stove.

Non-Catalytical and Catalytical stoves

The first wood stove produced was a non-catalytic stove. These are also known as traditional wood burning stoves or open-fire stoves. The non-catalytic stove has the advantage that it doesn't need a second combustion to reduce emissions. Smoke is one of the major sources of energy waste. The smoke produced by non-catalytic stoves has a poisonous substance called creosote. The catalytic wood heater has reduced the risks. The catalytic wood stove employs catalysts to burn off the gases in the smoke and eliminates the toxic creosote.

Although the catalytic wood stove was developed as a means to reduce the emission of toxic gases but it isn't as efficient as the secondary burn system used in the non-catalytic stove. The catalyst is unable to completely burn the byproducts of burning wood and therefore still produces some unhealthy emissions. Additionally the honeycomb structure the catalyst may break down over time. This can result in decreased performance and a need for replacement.

Make sure to keep the Combustion Chamber Clean

A catalytic combustor functioning properly will appear to be like a powdery gray. It should be free from ash, Wood Burning stove small soot or tatty material that could plug up the catalytic surfaces and reduce their surface area. The combustor should also not be subjected to impingement of flames. This can happen when a rapid, strong draft draws flames directly into a catalytic converter. This could also occur in the event that you leave the firebox and the doors to the ash pan open.

It is important to inspect the catalytic combustor to determine whether it has physical damage and the need for replacement. If it is damaged or in need of replacement, it should be done as soon as possible to ensure the stove's optimal performance.