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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 which produce less pollution. However, Undark found that some of these newer stoves may not meet EPA standards.

In a time of rising energy costs, cities are looking to reduce the use of wood, especially in areas where air quality is low. 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 energy efficient methods to heat your house. Modern wood stoves certified by the EPA burn logs quickly and generate less smoke than older models. This lets you burn more of the energy in your fire, and reduce heating costs by up to 30 percent. If you only use wood that has been seasoned, the efficiency of wood stoves will increase over the lifetime of the stove.

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

The higher efficiency of wood stoves are made by controlling the fuel, air and combustion process. Wood stoves that regulate the airflow are able to slow down the speed at which the fire moves through the wood and allow the gases that are produced to remain hot and combust completely.

Modern wood stoves can also reuse the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new flame that burns more efficiently. This process, called Reburn, can improve the efficiency of wood stoves by as much as 10 percent.

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

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 electric stove fireplace or flue pipe can pose a fire hazard and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves, flue pipes and chimneys are more efficient.

Emptying the ashes is the most common task to do when cleaning your wood stove. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove is cool down. Choose a container made of metal that is big enough to hold all of the ashes, then take them outside away from anything that might cause a fire. Alternatively, you can add the ashes to your compost pile for an excellent addition to your garden.

While the ashes are out of the stove, it is the perfect time to sweep the floor and vacuum up any residual dust. It is important to have at three feet of space between your wood stove and any combustible items like pillows, curtains or toys. This will stop the spread of a fire and burning the objects.

As for the interior of your stove, a clear glass door lets you to take a look of the dancing flames and help you know when it's time to start the fire again. Make sure you have a glass cleaning solution on hand in order to remove any tarred or smudged areas. If the glass is extremely dirty you can use newspaper dipped in ash and water to wipe it down. Avoid scratching the glass as this can cause it to shrink and break when heated.

The accumulation of creosote within your chimney flue is one of the primary causes of chimney fires. A few millimeters of creosote can cause a fire to a chimney. Clean the flue regularly particularly if you burn pine or other soft woods that generate more creosote than other types of wood.

To avoid creosote vapors entering your home, only burn dry, seasoned wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Never burn fake trash, logs or woodburning stove other items inside your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves emit harmful gasses like carbon monoxide or particulates. These toxins can make their way into the home, and can have negative effects on the health of young people, older adults, or people suffering from respiratory diseases such as COPD or asthma. Smoke from wood over time can also cause heart disease and lead to lung damage.

It is important to adhere to the proper wood stove burn practices in order avoid these risks. This includes ensuring that the stove is working properly and that it has sufficient heat output for the space and design. Only dry, well-seasoned and dry woods are suitable for burning in the stove. The firewood's moisture content must be less than 20 percent. If the moisture content is higher, it will burn more quickly and create a smokier fire with more creosote build-up on the chimney vent pipe's walls.

A good draw is another important safety element. This can be achieved by monitoring the amount of air that is flowing into the firebox as well as through the chimney. Most modern stoves have a variety of ways to adjust the air flow, and the owner's manual contains the procedures. The best efficiency of heating can be achieved when air controls are operated correctly.

The flue pipe and chimney should be free of fire-prone materials, like drapes, trash or paper. A lack of clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is the most common cause of fires in homes caused by wood stoves.

It is also important to keep children out of wood stoves when the fire is in progress or when ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and may want to touch the hot surfaces of a wood stove, or put their hands in the fire. It is recommended to install a child-proof barrier around the fireplace or to employ a fireplace screen. It is also essential to check the fireplace and wood stove burning woodburning stove (mouse click the next webpage) often for signs of wear and tear.

Finally, it is essential to have your stove and chimney professionally inspected once per year for accumulation of creosote and bird nests, as well as other issues that could affect the safety of your chimney or stove. This will help to prevent fires, health hazards and reduce the need for smoke or carbon monoxide remediation services.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are an effective way to lower your heating costs, but they require some extra maintenance. If you do not do the necessary maintenance on your wood stove, it could result in a fire that escapes the flue, a risky chimney fire, or even an unintentional house fire. In addition to sweeping the chimney and cleaning the stove, it is essential to clean and sweep the stove's surfaces and flue. It is also advisable to keep an extinguisher in your house and test it often. Smoke detectors are a great idea throughout the home, but they are especially useful in the area in which the stove is.

As a rule it is recommended to clean the stove and chimney every year. The cleaning schedule can be altered based on how much the stove is used, and it may be required to be done more frequently in winter. Only use dry and seasoned wood to burn in the stove. It is best to avoid using lots of oil or kerosene for beginning the fire, because these fuels burn differently and can generate toxic gases that can be harmful to your health.

You should inspect the gaskets on your door when you clean them regularly. They are typically made from a braided material that can degrade over time. If you find that the gasket is loose and needs to be fixed, purchase a replacement gasket seal made of fiberglass and adhesive. Also, the hinges of these doors need to be inspected as well.

It is important to inspect chimneys and flues to ensure that they are free of creosote and obstructions. During the inspection, look for cracks in the chimney liner as well as any other indications of damage. Stovepipes must also be inspected and any damage should be repaired.

It is crucial to clean the glass door of your wood stove. This can be done easily by using a mixture of water and ammonia. A rag or sponge should be saturated with the solution and wiped across the surface of the glass until it is completely clean. You can leave the solution for a few minutes before wiping it over again.