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

Many communities have provided financial incentives to replace old wood stoves with EPA-certified models that emit less pollution. Undark discovered that some of the more recent stoves may not meet EPA standards.

In these times of high energy costs, cities are looking for ways to cut down on burning wood, particularly in areas that have poor air quality. Here are 10 ways to improve indoor air quality and to get more heat out of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are among the most energy-efficient ways to heat your house. Modern EPA-certified wood stoves burn logs fast and produce less smoke than older models. This makes it possible to burn a higher proportion of the 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 seasoned hardwood, Www.913875.Xyz the efficiency of wood stoves increases over the lifetime of the stove.

Older wood stoves typically have efficiency of 50 percent or Www.913875.xyz less. This means that smoke and carbon dioxide are released into the air, which results in an evaporation of about half the energy potential of the fire. Modern stoves can boast an efficiency of up to 85 percent or more. This is similar to oil and gas furnaces.

Wood stoves can be more efficient by controlling the airflow combustion, fuel, and processes. Wood stoves that have controlled airflow can slow down the speed at which the flame moves through wood, allowing gas produced to remain hot and fully burn.

Modern wood stoves can reuse the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new flame that produces more efficient combustion. This process, referred to as reburn, can boost the efficiency of wood stoves by up to 10%.

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 they are burnt. Wood is also an eco-friendly 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 using wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and maintenance are an important aspect of keeping your home warm. A dirty stove and pipe can be a fire hazard and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean chimneys, stoves and 913875 flue pipes are more efficient.

Cleaning the ashes is the most common task 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 hold all the ashes and then dispose of it outside away from anything that could ignite. Alternately, you can add the ashes to your compost for an excellent addition to your garden.

After the ashes have been removed from the stove, sweep the floor to eliminate any dust. It is also a good idea to have at least 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any other combustible objects such as curtains, pillows or toys. This will stop a fire from spreading and burning the objects.

Regarding the inside of your stove a clean glass door allows you to enjoy a view of the flames dancing and help you know when it is time to light the fire again. Be sure to have a glass cleaning solution on hand in order to remove any smudged or tarred areas. If the glass is extremely filthy, you can use newspaper dipped in ash and water to clean it. Be careful not to scratch the glass because scratches can weaken the glass and cause it to shatter when the glass is heated.

Creosote accumulation on the inside of your flue is a major cause of chimney fires. Creosote can be extremely flammable, so a layer of even millimeters could cause a chimney fire. Clean the flue frequently particularly if you burn pine or other soft woods that produce more creosote than other types of wood.

To prevent creosote vapors from entering your home, only burn seasoned and dry wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Also, never burn artificial wood or trash in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves are known to produce extremely harmful gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These harmful gases can be absorbed into the home and cause negative health effects on young people, older adults, or those with respiratory illnesses such as COPD or asthma. As time passes exposure to wood smoke can cause lung damage and heart disease.

It is crucial to adhere to the proper burning techniques for wood stoves to avoid these dangers. This includes making sure that the stove is operating properly and that it has sufficient heat output for the room size and design. Only dry, www.913875.Xyz well-seasoned hard woods should be burnt 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, with more creosote accumulation on the chimney vent pipe's walls.

Another important safety issue is to ensure that the stove is operating at a high draw by observing the amount of air that flows into the firebox and through the chimney. The majority of modern stoves offer a variety of ways to alter the flow of air, www.913875.xyz (https://Www.913875.xyz/) and the owner's manual contains the procedures. The highest efficiency in heating can be achieved when control of the air flow is properly used.

The flue pipe and chimney must be free of all materials that could ignite, including drapes, trash or paper. Inadequate clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is a leading reason for house fires caused by wood stoves.

Keep children away from wood stoves while the fire is burning or when ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious, and they might touch hot surfaces of the wood stove or put their hands in the flame. It is recommended to install a childproof gate around the fireplace or make use of the fireplace screen. It is also important to check the fireplace regularly and wood stove for signs of wear.

It is also important to ensure that your chimney and stove are professionally checked every year for accumulation of creosote as well as bird nests and other issues that could affect stove and chimney safety. This will reduce the risk of fires and health hazards, and also reduce the necessity for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

While wood stoves are a great way to save money on home heating, they do require some additional maintenance. If you don't take care of the required maintenance the wood stove could cause a fire that is dangerous to escape from the chimney or flue or even start an explosion in your home. In addition to sweeping the chimney and cleaning the stove, you must to clean and sweep the surfaces in the stove and flue. You should also keep an extinguisher in your house and test it often. Smoke detectors are also beneficial throughout the home, but they are especially useful in the area where the stove is located.

As a rule it is recommended to clean your stove and chimney at least once per year. Cleaning schedules should be adjusted according to how often the stove is used. It might be necessary to clean it more often in winter. Make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood for burning 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.

When you clean your house regularly, you should check the gaskets on your doors. They are usually made of rope-like braids that may become degraded with repeated opening and closing. If you find that the gasket is loose and needs to be repaired, buy a new gasket made of fiberglass and adhesive. Also, the hinges of these doors need to be checked as well.

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 signs of damage in the chimney lining. Stovepipes need to be checked too and any holes or dents must be fixed.

It is essential to clean the glass door of your wood stove. This can be accomplished easily with a mix of water and ammonia. The solution is then applied to the glass with either a sponge or rag. It is possible to leave the solution for a couple of minutes before wiping it over again.