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

Many communities have offered financial incentives to replace old wood stoves with EPA certified models that produce less pollutant. Undark discovered that some of the newer stoves may not be up to EPA standards.

In the midst of rising energy prices, a lot of cities are looking for ways to reduce burning wood, particularly in areas where air quality is poor. Here are 10 tips to improve the quality of your indoor air and gain more heat from every log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are among the most energy efficient methods to heat your home. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn up logs quickly and produce less creosote than previous models. This lets you burn a higher portion of the potential energy generated by your fireplace in a shorter period of time and reduce your heating bills by as much as 30 percent. If you only use wood that has been seasoned, the efficiency of wood stoves improves over the life of the stove.

Older wood stoves have an efficiency of 50 percent or lower. This means that carbon dioxide and smoke are released into the air, resulting in a loss of half the energy potential of the fire. Modern stoves can achieve efficiency of up to 85 percent or more, which is similar to the efficiency of gas and oil furnaces.

Wood stoves can be improved by controlling the airflow combustion, fuel, and processes. Wood stoves with controlled airflow can slow down the speed at which the flame moves through wood, allowing gases produced to stay hot and fully burn.

Modern wood stoves are able to recycle the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new fire which is more efficient in burning. This process, known as reburn, can increase the efficiency of wood stoves by as much as 10 percent.

Wood is also carbon neutral and carbon neutral, which is an additional benefit. When trees develop they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when burned. Wood is also an environmentally sustainable resource, particularly if it comes from woodlands in the local area that are managed in a manner that encourages the growth of healthy trees.

Cleanliness

With 8.8 million households that use wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and maintenance are an essential element of keeping your home warm. A dirty flue pipe or stove can cause carbon monoxide and fire dangers. Clean stoves, chimneys and flue pipes are more efficient.

Emptying the ashes is the primary task to do when cleaning your wood stove. This is best done on a cool day when the stove is no longer hot, and you should wear protective gloves when handling the ashes. Choose a metal container that is big enough to hold all of the ashes, and dump them outdoors away from anything that might cause a fire. You can also put the ashes to your compost for an excellent addition to your garden.

When the ashes have been cleared of the stove, it's the perfect time to sweep the floor and vacuum up any dust that remains. It is also a good idea to keep at least three feet between your wood stove, and any combustible items such as pillows or curtains. This helps to prevent the fire from growing out of control and burning these items.

As for the inside of your white electric stove, a clean glass door allows you to see of the dancing flames and help you know when it's time to light the fire again. Make sure you have glass cleaner available to clean any tarred or smudged areas that may be present. Newspapers dipped in ash and water can be used to wash the glass if it is extremely filthy. Avoid scratching the glass because this could cause it to shrink and break when heated.

Creosote accumulation on the inside of your flue is a major cause of chimney fires. Creosote can be extremely flammable, which is why an accumulation of just millimeters could cause the chimney to catch fire. Clean the flue frequently particularly if you are burning pine or other soft woods that generate more creosote than other kinds of wood.

Burn only dry, seasoned wood that is split in half or smaller. Also, never burn artificial garbage or logs in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves emit harmful gases like carbon monoxide and particulates. These harmful gases can be absorbed into the home, and have negative effects on the health of young people, older adults, and those suffering from respiratory ailments like COPD or asthma. In time, wood smoke exposure can cause lung damage and heart disease.

To reduce the risk of these issues, it is essential to follow the proper wood stove burning procedures. This includes making sure the stove is operating properly and has enough power to heat the size and shape of the room. In addition only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content should be less than 20%. If the moisture content is higher it will burn faster and create a smokier fire that has more creosote building up on the chimney vent pipe's walls.

Another crucial safety concern is ensuring that the stove is operating at a high draw by monitoring the amount of air that flows into the firebox and through the chimney. The majority of modern stoves offer several options to regulate the flow of air, and the owner's manual contains the procedures. Correctly operating the air controls can achieve the highest efficiency in heating.

Finally, the chimney and flue pipes must be kept free of material that could ignite, such as drapes, paper, or rugs. Inadequate clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is a leading reason for house fires caused by wood stoves.

It is also essential to keep children away from wood stoves while the flame is in progress or when ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and may want to touch the hot surfaces of the wood stove or even put their hands in the flame. Install a child-proof fence around the fireplace, or use a fireplace screen. In addition, it is essential to regularly inspect the fireplace and wood stove for signs of wear and tear.

It is also essential to have your stove and chimney professionally examined at least every year to check for creosote buildup, bird nests and other problems which can affect the safety of your stove. This will help to prevent fires and health hazards, as well as reduce the need for carbon monoxide remediation.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are an excellent method of saving money on home heating, they do require some additional maintenance. If you do not perform the required maintenance the wood stove could cause a dangerous fire to escape the flue or chimney or even start an explosion in your home. It is important to clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. Keep an extinguisher in your house and test it regularly. It's also a good idea to put smoke detectors in the house particularly in the room that houses the stove.

As a rule, you should clean the chimney and stove once a year. The schedule of cleaning should be altered in accordance with how frequently the stove is used. It may be necessary to clean it more often in winter. Also, make sure to use only seasoned and dry wood for burning in the stove. Avoid using a lot of oil or kerosene to ignite the fire. These fuels can release toxic gasses and pose a danger to your health.

When you clean your house regularly and maintenance, be sure to examine the gaskets on your doors. These are often made from braided rope-like material that can become degraded with repeated closing and opening. If you notice that the gasket is not tight, purchase a replacement fiberglass gasket and some gasket cement to fix it. Likewise, the hinges on these doors must be checked as well.

Chimneys and flues need to be examined to ensure that they are free of creosote build-up and obstructions. During the inspection, look out for cracks or other signs of damage in the chimney lining. Stovepipes must be examined as well, and any holes or dents need to be filled.

It is important to clean the glass door of your wood stove. It is easy to do this by mixing water and ammonia. A sponge or rag must be saturated with the solution, then wiped over the glass's surface until it is clean. It is possible to leave the solution for a few moments before wiping it over again.