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 polluting. Undark discovered that some of the more recent stoves may not meet EPA standards.

In an era of high energy costs, many cities are seeking to reduce wood combustion, especially in areas in which air quality is poor. Here are 10 ways to improve indoor air quality and get more heat out of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stove burning is one of the most efficient ways to heat your home. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn up logs quickly and produce less creosote than older models. This allows you to burn a higher proportion of the energy generated by your fireplace in a shorter amount of time and cut down on your heating bill by up to 30 percent. When you only use seasoned hardwood, the efficiency of wood stoves will increase over the lifetime of the stove.

Older wood stoves are efficient at 50 percent or less. This means that a significant portion of the potential energy generated by the fire is lost because carbon monoxide and smoke are released into the atmosphere. Modern stoves can boast an efficiency of up to 85% or more. This is comparable to gas and oil furnaces.

The higher efficiencies of wood stoves are made by controlling the air, fuel and combustion process. Wood stoves that have controlled airflow can slow the speed at which the fire moves through wood, allowing gas produced to stay hot and burn completely.

Modern wood stoves can also reuse the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new fire which is more efficient in burning. This process is called reburn and can increase the efficiency of wood stoves by up to 10 percent.

Another benefit of using wood as a source for heat is that it is carbon neutral. When trees develop, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when burnt. Wood is a sustainable resource for the environment, particularly when it is sourced from local woodlands managed in a way that promotes healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

With 8.8 million households using wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and Www.913875.Xyz (Https://Www.913875.Xyz/R69Su-6Yzzwv-K2R5-4Lf5E-Gs15Nd-731/) maintenance are an essential part of keeping the home warm. A filthy stove or flue pipe could cause carbon monoxide to build up and create fire dangers. Clean stoves as well as flue pipes and chimneys are more efficient.

The most frequent task associated with cleaning your wood stove is to empty the ashes. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove has cool down. Choose a metal container that will hold all of the ashes and then dispose of it outside, away from anything that could ignite. You can also put the ashes into your compost for an excellent addition to your garden.

While the ashes are out of the stove, it's a good time to sweep the floor and remove any dust that remains. It is also a great idea to put at least three feet between your wood stove and any combustible things such as pillows or curtains. This prevents a fire from getting out of control and burning these items.

Regarding the inside of your stove, a clean glass door allows you to see of the dancing flames and help you know when it is time to begin a new fire. Be sure to have a glass cleaner on hand in order to clean any smudged or tarred areas. Newspapers dipped in water and www.913875.Xyz ash can be used to clean the glass if it's extremely filthy. Be careful not to scratch the glass as scratches can weaken the glass and shatter when it is heated.

The accumulation of creosote in your chimney flue is among the main causes of chimney fires. A few millimeters of creosote may cause a fire to the chimney. Clean your flue often particularly if you burn pine or other soft woods that create more creosote than other kinds of wood.

Burn only seasoned, dry wood that is split in half or smaller. Do not burn artificial trash, logs or other objects in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves emit harmful gasses like carbon monoxide and particulates. These harmful gases can be found in the home and can have negative health effects on children, elderly adults or those suffering from respiratory issues such as asthma or COPD. Smoke from wood over time can also cause heart disease and lead to lung damage.

It is important to adhere to the proper burning practices for wood stoves to reduce the risk. This includes ensuring the stove is operating correctly and has the right energy output to meet the dimensions and layout of the room. Additionally only dry, well-seasoned woods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content should not exceed 20 percent. 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 walls.

Another crucial safety concern is to ensure that the stove has a good draw by observing the amount of air flowing into the firebox and through the chimney. The owner's manual will give detailed instructions on how to regulate air flow in the majority of modern stoves. The highest heating efficiencies can be achieved when air controls are operated correctly.

The chimney and flue pipe must be free of fire-prone materials, 913875 like drapes, trash or paper. The wood stove fires are often caused by an inadequate clearance between combustibles wood-burning appliances and combustibles.

It is also important to keep children away from wood stoves when the fire is in progress or when the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and they might touch hot surfaces on a wood stove or place their hands on the fire. It is recommended to put up a child-proof gate around the fireplace or use a fireplace screen. It is also essential to examine the fireplace and stove frequently for signs of wear.

Lastly, it is important to ensure that your chimney and stove are professionally inspected once per year for creosote accumulation and bird nests, as well as other issues that can impact the safety of your chimney and stove. This will help to prevent fires, health hazards and reduce the need for smoke or carbon monoxide remediation.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are an effective way to lower the cost of heating, however they require some extra maintenance. If you don't take care of the required maintenance, Www.913875.xyz (https://www.913875.xyz/) your wood stove can cause a dangerous fire to escape from the chimney or flue, and even cause an explosion in your home. It is also recommended to clean the stove's surfaces and flue. Keep an extinguisher on hand and test it frequently. It's also a good idea to put smoke detectors in the house particularly in the area with the stove.

In general it is recommended to clean your chimney and stove at least once per year. The cleaning schedule is dependent on how much the stove is being used, and it might require more frequently during winter. Make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood to burn in the stove. It is advised to avoid using lots of oil or kerosene for starting the fire, as these fuels have different burning patterns and generate toxic gases that can be detrimental to your health.

During your regular cleaning it is important to inspect the gaskets of your doors. They are typically made of a braided material that can be damaged over time. If you find that the gasket is not tight and you need to replace it, buy a fiberglass gasket and some gasket cement to repair it. Also, the hinges on these doors must be checked as well.

Chimneys and flues need to be inspected to ensure that they are free of creosote build-up and obstructions. During this inspection, look for cracks in the chimney liner, as well as any other signs of damage. Stovepipes must also be inspected and any damage should be repaired.

If you have a glass door on your wood stove, it's important to keep this clean. This can be accomplished quickly by mixing a solution of ammonia and 913875.xyz water. The solution is then applied to the glass with a rag or sponge. For tougher staining, leave the solution on for a few minutes prior to wiping it off again.