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

Many communities have offered financial incentives for replacing old wood stoves with EPA certified models that produce less pollutant. Undark discovered that some of the latest stoves might not meet EPA standards.

In the midst of rising energy costs, cities are looking for ways to reduce the use of wood, particularly in areas with poor air quality. Here are 10 ways to improve the indoor air quality, and to get more heat out of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are one of the most energy efficient methods to heat your house. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn up logs quickly and produce less creosote than previous models. This allows you to burn more energy into your fireplace and cut down on heating costs by up to 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves improves over the life of the stove if you use only seasoned hardwood.

Older wood stoves usually have efficiencies of 50 percent or less. This means that a significant portion of the energy potential in the fire is lost because smoke and carbon monoxide are released into the air. Modern stoves can have an efficiency of 85% or more. This is comparable to gas and 913875 oil furnaces.

Wood stoves can be improved by controlling airflow, 913875 fuel, and combustion processes. Wood stoves with controlled airflow can slow the speed at which the flame moves through the wood, allowing gas produced to remain hot and fully burn.

In addition, 913875.xyz modern wood stoves can recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion into a new one that produces more efficient combustion. This process is called reburn and can improve the efficiency of a wood stove by up to 10 percent.

Another benefit of using wood as a source of heat is that it is considered carbon neutral. As trees develop they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when burnt. Wood is also an environmentally sustainable resource, particularly when it is obtained from local woodlands that are managed in a way that encourages the growth of healthy trees.

Cleanliness

With 8.8 million households using wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and maintenance are an essential part of keeping the home warm. A dirty stove and pipe can pose a fire hazard and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves, chimneys and flue pipes are also more efficient.

Emptying the ashes is the most common task you can do when cleaning your wood stove. This should be done on a day that is cool, when the stove isn't hot anymore and you must wear gloves to protect yourself when handling the ashes. Choose a metal container that can accommodate all of the ashes and then dispose of it outside away from anything that could burn. Alternately, you can add the ashes to your compost for a healthy addition to your garden.

While the ashes have been removed from the stove, you can sweep the floor to get rid of dust. It is also a good idea to keep at minimum 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any combustible items like pillows, curtains or toys. This helps to prevent the fire from getting out of control and 913875 burning these things.

A clear glass door on the interior of your stove will allow you to see the dancing flames and it will also help you determine when to start a fresh fire. Make sure you have glass cleaner available to get rid of any smudged or tarred areas that might be present. If the glass is extremely filthy it is possible to make use of newspaper soaked in water and ash to wipe it down. Be careful not to scratch the glass, since scratches can weaken glass and cause it to shatter when it is heated.

Creosote accumulation on the inside of your flue is the primary cause of chimney fires. A few millimeters of creosote can cause a fire in the chimney. Clean the flue frequently particularly when burning pine or soft woods produces more creosote.

Burn only seasoned, dry wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Never burn fake garbage, logs, or other items inside your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves can release toxic gasses like carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can enter your home and may have negative health effects for children, elderly adults or people suffering from respiratory ailments like asthma or COPD. In time, wood smoke exposure can cause heart disease and lung damage.

It is crucial to adhere to proper wood stove burn practices to avoid these dangers. This includes ensuring that the stove is functioning correctly and has the right power to heat the size and layout of the room. Only dry, well-seasoned and dry woods are suitable for burning in the stove. The moisture content should not exceed 20%. If the moisture content of the wood is higher, the fire will burn faster and 913875.xyz produce an smoky flame with more creosote on the chimney vent pipe's wall.

A good draw is another essential safety feature. This can be accomplished by monitoring the amount of air that flows into the firebox and through the chimney. The owner's manual will give specific instructions on how to alter the flow of air in most modern stoves. Correctly operating the air controls can achieve the highest efficiency of heating.

The chimney and flue pipe should be free of fire-prone materials, like drapes, trash or paper. The fires that occur in wood stoves are often caused by an inadequate clearance between combustibles, wood-burning appliances as well as combustibles.

Keep children away from wood stoves when the flame is burning or the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and they can touch hot surfaces of a wood stove or place their hands in the fire. It is recommended to put up a child-proof barrier around the fireplace or to use a fireplace screen. It is also important to check the fireplace regularly and wood stove for signs of wear and tear.

It is also important to ensure that your chimney and stove are professionally inspected once per year for the accumulation of creosote as well as bird nests and other issues that can impact the safety of your chimney or stove. This will prevent fires and health hazards as well as lessen the need for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

While wood stoves are an excellent method of saving money on heating bills but they also require additional maintenance. If you do not take care of the required maintenance on your wood stove, it could result in a fire that escapes the flue, which could lead to a chimney fire, or even a house fire. It is important to clean the stove's surfaces and flue. You should also keep an extinguisher on hand and test it regularly. Smoke detectors are a great idea throughout the home, but they are especially useful in the room where the stove is located.

As a rule, you should clean your stove and chimney at least once a year. The frequency of cleaning should be adjusted based on how much the stove is used, and may require more frequently during winter. Also, make sure to make sure you use only dry and well-seasoned wood to burn in the stove. Avoid using a lot oil or kerosene to ignite the fire. These fuels could release toxic gases and be harmful to your health.

It is recommended to check the gaskets on your door during your regular cleaning. They are typically made from a braided material which can become degraded over time. If you notice that the gasket is not tight and you need to replace it, buy a fiberglass gasket and some gasket cement to repair it. The hinges of these doors should be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues should be examined to ensure that they are free of creosote build-up and obstructions. During the inspection, look for cracks, and other indications of damage to the chimney lining. Stovepipes also need to be inspected, and any dents should be fixed.

If you have a glass door on your wood stove, it's important to keep this clean. This can be done quickly by mixing a solution of water and ammonia. A sponge or rag must be soaked with the solution, then wiped over the surface of the glass until it is clean. For tougher staining, you can leave the solution in place for a few minutes prior to wiping again.