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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 emit less pollutant. However, Undark discovered that some of these modern stoves may not be able to meet EPA standards.

In these times of high energy prices, a lot of cities are seeking ways to cut down on burning wood, particularly in areas where 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 among the most energy-efficient ways to heat your home. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs very quickly and produce less creosote than older models. This lets you burn a higher portion of the potential energy generated by your fireplace in a shorter amount of time and reduce your heating bills by as much as 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves grows over the lifetime of the stove if you use only wood that is seasoned.

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

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

Modern wood stoves are able to recycle the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new fire that produces more efficient combustion. This process is referred to as reburn and can increase the efficiency of wood stoves by up to 10 percent.

Wood is also carbon neutral, which is another advantage. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air while growing and release oxygen in return when they burn. Wood is also an eco-friendly resource, particularly if it is obtained from woodlands in the local area that are managed in a way that encourages the growth of healthy trees.

Cleanliness

With 8.8 million households that use wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and maintenance are an essential aspect of keeping your home warm. A dirty stove or flue pipe can cause carbon monoxide and fire dangers. Clean stoves, chimneys and flue pipes are also more efficient.

The most frequent task associated with cleaning your wood stove is emptying the ashes. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove has cool down. Select a container made of metal that will hold all of the ashes and dump it outside, away from anything that may ignite. You can also add the ashes to your compost pile for an organic addition to your garden.

After 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 keep at least three feet space between your wood stove, and any combustible items such as curtains or pillows. This will stop a fire from spreading and burning the objects.

A clear glass door inside of your woodburning stove will let you see the dancing flames and it can also aid you in determining when to light a fire. Ensure that you have a glass cleaner on hand to remove any tarred or smudged areas that could be present. Newspapers dipped in ash and water can be used to cleanse the glass if it's extremely filthy. Avoid scratching the glass since this could cause it to break or break when heated.

Creosote accumulation on the inside of your flue is the primary cause of chimney fires. Creosote is highly flammable, and a layer of even millimeters could cause a chimney fire. Clean the flue frequently, especially when burning pine or soft woods produces more creosote.

Burn only seasoned, dry wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Also, don't burn artificial logs or trash in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves can release toxic gases such as carbon monoxide or particulates. These toxins can enter the home, and can have negative health effects for children, elderly adults, or people suffering from respiratory illnesses such as COPD or asthma. Smoke from wood over time can cause heart disease and cause lung damage.

To reduce the risk of these issues to avoid these risks, it is vital to follow the proper wood stove burning procedures. This includes ensuring that the stove is operating correctly and has sufficient heat output to the size of the room and style. Only dry, well-seasoned and dry woods should be burnt in the stove. The moisture content of the firewood should be less than 20%. If the moisture content of the wood is higher the fire will burn more quickly and produce smoke that is smoky and has more creosote on the chimney vent pipe's wall.

A strong draw is an important safety feature. This can be achieved by observing how much air is flowing into the firebox as well as through the chimney. The owner's guide will provide specific instructions on how you can alter the flow of air in most modern stoves. The best efficiency of heating can be achieved when control of the air flow is properly used.

The flue pipe and chimney must be free of materials that could ignite, including drapes, trash or paper. Insufficient clearance between combustibles as well as wood-burning appliances is a leading cause of fires in homes caused by wood stoves.

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

It is also important to have your stove and chimney professionally examined at least once a year to check for creosote buildup, bird nests, and other issues that may affect the safety of your stove. This will help prevent fires and health hazards as well as reduce the need for smoke or CO2 remediation services.

Maintenance

Wood stoves can be an effective way to lower your heating costs, but they need some additional maintenance. If you fail to perform the necessary maintenance on your wood stove, it could result in a fire which escapes the flue, which could lead to a chimney fire, or a house fire. In addition to cleaning the chimney and cleaning the stove, you must to clean and sweep the stove's surfaces and flue. It is also advisable to keep an extinguisher on hand and test it regularly. Smoke detectors are a great idea throughout the house, but particularly in the room in which the stove is.

As a rule, you should clean the chimney and stove every year. The frequency of cleaning can be altered based on how much the stove is used, and may be required to be done more frequently in winter. Also, make sure to make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood to burn in the stove. It is recommended to avoid using lots of kerosene or oil when starting the fire, as these fuels have different burning patterns and create toxic gases that can be extremely dangerous to your health.

During your regular cleaning it is important to examine the gaskets on your doors. They are usually made of rope-like braids that may degrade with repeated opening and closing. If you find that the gasket is loose, purchase a replacement gasket made of fiberglass and some cement to fix it. The hinges of these doors should also be checked.

It is essential to check chimneys and flues to ensure that they are free of creosote and obstructions. During the inspection, look for cracks and other signs 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 is crucial to keep it clean. It is easy to do this by mixing water with ammonia. A sponge or rag should be soaked in the solution, then wiped over the surface of the glass until it is completely clean. For more difficult staining, leave the solution in place for a few minutes prior to wiping it off again.