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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 emit less pollution. But Undark discovered that some of these modern stoves might not be up to EPA standards.

In an era of high energy costs, many cities are looking to reduce wood combustion, especially in areas where air quality is low. Here are 10 strategies to improve the indoor air quality, and extract more heat of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are one of the most efficient ways to heat your home. Modern wood stoves that are EPA-certified burn logs quickly and generate less smoke than older models. This allows you to burn a higher percentage of the potential energy generated by your fireplace in a shorter time and lower your heating costs by up to 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves improves over the life of the stove log burner if you use only seasoned hardwood.

Older wood stoves have an efficiency of 50 percent or lower. This means that carbon dioxide and smoke are released into the air, leading to an evaporation of about half the energy potential of the fire. Modern stoves have efficiency of up to 85 percent or visit their website greater, which is comparable to the efficiency of oil and gas furnaces.

Wood stoves can be more efficient by controlling the airflow as well as the multi fuel stoves - http://www.m2m2.ru - and combustion processes. Wood stoves that have controlled airflow can slow the speed at which the flame moves through wood, allowing the gases to remain hot and fully burn.

Additionally, modern wood stoves are able to recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion into a new fire that is more efficient in burning. This process is called reburn, and can boost the efficiency of wood stoves by up to 10 percent.

Another benefit of using wood as a source of heat is that it is carbon neutral. The trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air while growing and release oxygen when they burn. Wood is a resource that is sustainable for the environment, especially when it comes from local woodlands that are managed in a way that promotes healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

Cleaning and maintaining wood stoves is crucial to keeping homes warm. In the United States, 8.8 million households use wood stoves. A dirty stove or flue pipe can lead to carbon monoxide and fire dangers. Clean stoves chimneys, flue pipes and stoves are more efficient.

Cleaning the ashes is the most frequent task to do when cleaning your wood stove. This should be done on a cool day, when the stove isn't as hot and you must wear gloves to protect yourself when handling the ashes. Select a container made of metal that can accommodate all of the ashes and then dispose of it outside, away from anything that could ignite. 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 any dust. It is also a good idea to put 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 items.

As for the inside of your stove glass doors that are clean allow you to see of the flames dancing and help you know when it's time to light the fire again. Make sure you have a glass cleaner on hand in order to get rid of any tarred or smudged areas. If the glass is very filthy you can make use of newspaper soaked in water and ash to wipe it down. Avoid scratching the glass because this could cause it to break or break when heated.

The buildup of creosote inside your chimney flue is one the primary causes of chimney fires. Creosote is extremely flammable, so any layer of even a few millimeters can cause the chimney to catch fire. Clean the flue frequently particularly when burning pine or soft woods create more creosote.

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

Safety

Wood stoves are known to produce extremely harmful gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can enter your home and can have negative health consequences for older adults, children or people suffering from respiratory ailments like asthma or COPD. Exposure to wood smoke over time can cause heart disease and eventually lung damage.

It is essential to adhere to proper wood stove burn practices to avoid these dangers. This includes ensuring the stove is working properly and has enough energy output to meet the dimensions and shape of the room. Only dry, well-seasoned, hard woods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content of the firewood must be less than 20%. If the moisture content is higher it will burn more quickly and produce a more smoky fire with more creosote build-up on the chimney vent pipe walls.

Another important aspect of safety is ensuring that the stove has a sufficient draw by monitoring the amount of air flowing into the firebox and through the chimney. The majority of modern stoves offer a variety of ways to alter the flow of air and the owner's guide includes the procedures. Properly operating the air controls can achieve the highest heating efficiency.

Finally, the chimney and flue pipes must be free of combustible materials, [Redirect-Java] including drapes, paper, trash or rugs. The wood stove fires are usually caused by insufficient clearance between combustibles wood-burning appliances, and combustibles.

It is also important to keep children away from wood stoves while the flame is in progress or when ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and they can touch hot surfaces of a wood stove or place their hands on the fire. Install a child-proof fence around the fireplace or use a fireplace screen. It is also important to regularly check the fireplace and wood stove for signs of wear.

Finally, it is essential to ensure that your chimney and stove are professionally checked every year for the accumulation of creosote as well as bird nests and other issues that could affect stove and chimney safety. This will help to prevent fires and health hazards, as well as reduce the necessity for carbon monoxide remediation services.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are a great way to reduce the cost of heating, however they require some extra maintenance. If you fail to perform the necessary maintenance on your wood stove, it can cause a fire that escapes the flue, which could lead to a chimney fire, or even a house fire. In addition to sweeping the chimney and cleaning the stove, you need to clean and sweep the stove's surfaces and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher in the counter and test it frequently. It is also a good idea to put smoke detectors in the house, especially one in the room that houses the stove.

In general, you should clean the chimney and stove every year. Cleaning schedules need to be adjusted in accordance with how frequently the stove is used. It is possible to clean it more frequently in winter. You should also be sure to make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood to use in the stove. It is best to avoid using lots of oil or kerosene for starting the electric fire stove, since these fuels have different burning patterns and create toxic gases that can be dangerous to your health.

You should inspect your door gaskets during your regular cleaning. They are typically made from a braided material that can degrade over time. If you find that the gasket is loose and you need to replace it, buy a fiberglass gasket and some gasket cement to repair it. The hinges of these doors need to also be checked.

It is important to inspect chimneys and flues to ensure that they are clear of obstructions and creosote. During the inspection, check for cracks, and other indications of damage in the chimney lining. Stovepipes also need to be inspected and any damage should be repaired.

It is essential to clean the glass door of your wood stove. It is easy to do this by mixing water and ammonia. The solution should be wiped onto the glass using a rag or sponge. For tougher staining, leave the solution on for a few minutes prior to wiping it off again.