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 produce less polluting. Undark discovered that some of the latest stoves may not be up to EPA standards.

In the current climate of high energy costs, cities are looking to reduce wood combustion, particularly in areas in which air quality is poor. Here are 10 ways 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 EPA-certified wood stoves burn logs quickly and produce less smoke than older models. This allows you to use a greater proportion of the energy from your fire in a shorter amount of time and lower your heating costs by as much as 30 percent. When you only use seasoned hardwood, the efficiency of contemporary wood burning stoves stoves increases over the life of the stove.

Older wood stoves are efficient at 50 percent or lower. This means that smoke and carbon dioxide are released into the air, resulting in an evaporation of about half the energy potential in the fire. Modern stoves can boast an efficiency of 85% or more. This is comparable to oil and gas furnaces.

The higher efficiencies of wood stoves can be achieved by controlling the fuel, air, and combustion process. Wood stoves that regulate the airflow can slow down the speed at which fire moves through the wood, and permit the gas that is produced to stay hot and fully combust.

Modern wood stoves can also recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion to create a new fire which produces more efficient combustion. This process, known as Reburn, can improve the efficiency of wood stoves by up to 10 percent.

Wood is also carbon-neutral and carbon neutral, which is an additional benefit. The trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air as they are growing and release oxygen in return when they are burned. Wood is also an eco-friendly resource, particularly if it is obtained from local woodlands that are managed in a manner that encourages the growth of healthy trees.

Cleanliness

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

The removal of ashes is the most frequent task you can do when cleaning your wood stove. This is best done on a cool day, when the stove isn't hot anymore and you must wear gloves to protect yourself when handling the ashes. Select a container made of metal that can hold all the ashes and then dispose of it outside away from anything that may ignite. You can also add the ashes into your compost to create 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 good idea to leave at least three feet space between your wood stove, and any combustible things like pillows or curtains. This helps to prevent the fire from growing out of control and burning these things.

As for the inside of your stove, a clear glass door lets you to see of the dancing flames and will help you determine when it is time to start a new fire. Be sure to have a glass cleaning solution in your kitchen to remove any smudged or tarred areas. If the glass is extremely filthy you can use newspaper dipped in water and ash to clean it. Be careful not to scratch the glass, as scratches can weaken the glass and cause it to shatter when the glass is heated.

Creosote buildup on the inside of your flue is a major cause of chimney fires. Creosote is highly flammable, and an accumulation of just one millimeter can trigger an explosion in your chimney. Clean the flue regularly, especially if burning pine or soft woods create more creosote.

Burn only seasoned, dry wood that is split in half or smaller. Also, don't burn artificial garbage or logs 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 effects on the health of young people, older adults, or people suffering from respiratory ailments like COPD or asthma. Exposure to wood smoke in the long run can lead to heart disease and cause lung damage.

To avoid these risks, it is essential to follow the proper wood stove burning practices. These include ensuring that the stove is functioning correctly and has enough heat output to the size of the room and design. Only dry, well-seasoned, hard woods are suitable for burning in the stove. The moisture content of the wood must be less than 20%. If the moisture content is higher, it will burn more quickly and create a smokier fire, with more creosote accumulation on the chimney vent pipe's walls.

Another crucial safety concern is ensuring that the stove has a sufficient 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. When you operate the air controls correctly, you will ensure the highest heating efficiency.

The chimney and flue pipe must be free of all fire-prone materials, like drapes, trash or paper. The fires that occur in wood stoves are usually caused by insufficient clearance between combustibles wood-burning appliances and combustibles.

Be sure to keep children out of wood stoves when the fire is burning or when the ashes are being removed. Kids are naturally curious and might try to touch the hot surfaces of the wood stove or even place their hands into the fire. It is recommended to put up a child-proof barrier around the fireplace, or employ the fireplace screen. In addition, it is essential to check the fireplace regularly and Wood stove burning wood stove for signs of wear.

Finally, it is essential to have your stove and chimney professionally checked every year for accumulation of creosote as well as bird nests and other issues that could affect the safety of your chimney and stove. This will help prevent fires and health hazards, and will also lessen the need for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

Wood stoves can be an excellent way to cut down your heating expenses, but they require some extra maintenance. If you do not do the necessary maintenance on your wood stove, it could cause a fire that escapes the flue, a dangerous chimney fire, or even an unintentional house fire. In addition to sweeping the chimney and cleaning the stove, you need to sweep and clean the stove's surfaces and flue. It is also advisable to keep an extinguisher in your house and test it regularly. It is also a good idea to put smoke detectors throughout the home particularly in the area with the stove.

As a general rule cleaning your stove and chimney at least once per year. The schedule of cleaning should be altered depending on how often the stove is used. It might be necessary to clean it more often in winter. It is also important to make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood burning stove for sale to burn in the multifuel stove. Avoid using lots 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 inspect the gaskets of your doors. These are often made from braided rope-like material that can be damaged by repeated opening and closing. If you notice that the gasket is not tight, purchase a replacement gasket made of fiberglass and some cement to repair it. Also, the hinges of these doors need to be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues must be inspected to ensure that they are free of creosote accumulation and obstructions. During this inspection, you should look for cracks in the chimney liner, as well as any other indications of damage. Stovepipes should be inspected as well, and any holes or dents need to be filled.

It is essential to clean the glass door of your wood stove. This can be done quickly by mixing a solution of ammonia and water. A sponge or rag should be saturated with the solution, then wiped over the glass's surface until it is clean. For more difficult stains, you can leave the solution in place for a few minutes prior to wiping it off again.