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 more modern stoves may not be able to meet EPA standards.

In these times of high energy costs, cities are looking for ways to reduce the use of wood, particularly in areas that have poor air quality. Here are 10 ways you can improve indoor air quality and get more heat out of every log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are among the most efficient ways to heat your home. Modern wood stoves certified by the EPA burn logs quickly and produce less smoke than older models. This allows you to make use of a larger percentage of the potential energy generated by your fireplace in a shorter time and reduce your heating bills by as much as 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves also grows over the lifetime of the stove when you use only seasoned hardwood.

Older wood stoves usually have efficiencies of 50 percent or less. This means that half the energy potential in the fire is lost as smoke and carbon monoxide are released into the air. Modern stoves have efficiencies of up to 85 percent or more, which is comparable to the efficiencies of gas and oil furnaces.

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

Modern wood stoves can also recycle the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new flame that burns more efficiently. This process is called reburn and can improve the efficiency of a wood stove by as much as 10 percent.

Another advantage of using wood as a source of heat powered wood stove fan (click the up coming webpage) is that it is considered carbon neutral. The trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while growing and release oxygen in return when they are burned. Wood is also an environmentally sustainable resource, especially 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 using wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and maintenance are an important aspect of keeping your home warm. A dirty flue pipe or stove can lead to carbon monoxide and Heat powered wood stove fan fire dangers. Clean stoves as well as flue pipes and chimneys are more efficient.

The removal of ashes is the primary task when cleaning your wood stove. This is best done on a day that is cool, when the stove isn't as hot, and you should wear protective gloves when handling the ashes. Choose a container made of steel that can accommodate all of the ashes, and then dump it outside, away from anything that could ignite. You can also incorporate the ashes to your compost to create a healthy addition to you garden.

Once the ashes have gone out of the stove, it is a good time to sweep the floor and remove any dust left behind. It is also a great idea to put at least three feet between your wood stove, and any combustible things such as pillows or curtains. This will prevent the spread of a fire and burning the objects.

For the inside of your stove, a clear glass door lets you to enjoy a view of the dancing flames and help you know when it's time to start an all-new fire. Be sure to have a glass cleaning solution in your kitchen to clean any tarred or smudged areas. Newspaper dipped in ash and water can be used to cleanse the glass if it is extremely filthy. Be careful not to scratch the glass because scratches can weaken the glass and shatter when it is heated.

Creosote build-up on the inside of your flue is a major cause of chimney fires. Creosote is extremely flammable, so a layer of even millimeters could cause a chimney fire. Clean the flue frequently particularly if you are burning pine or other soft woods that create more creosote compared to other types of wood.

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

Safety

Wood stove burning can produce very toxic gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can enter the home, and have negative health effects for young people, older adults, and those suffering from respiratory diseases such as COPD or asthma. As time passes exposure to wood smoke can cause lung damage and heart disease.

To prevent these risks, it is essential to follow the proper methods for burning wood on your stove. This includes making sure the stove is working properly and has enough energy output to meet the dimensions and design of the room. Only dry, well-seasoned hard woods should be burned in the stove. The firewood's moisture content should not exceed 20 percent. If the moisture content is higher it will burn faster and produce a more smoky fire with more creosote build-up on the chimney vent pipe walls.

Another important aspect of safety 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. Most modern stoves have several options to alter the flow of air and the owner's guide has documented the procedures. The highest heating efficiencies can be achieved if the air controls are operated correctly.

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

It is also important to keep children out of wood stoves while the fire is burning or while 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. Install a childproof fence around the fireplace, or install a fireplace screen. It is also important to examine the fireplace and stove regularly for signs of wear.

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

Maintenance

Wood stoves can be a great way to reduce your heating expenses, but they need some additional maintenance. If you do not take care of the required maintenance on your wood stove, it can cause a fire that escapes the flue, which could lead to a chimney fire, or even an unintentional house fire. You should also clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. Keep an extinguisher on hand and test it often. Smoke detectors are also a great idea throughout the house, but particularly in the room where the stove is located.

As a rule, you should clean the stove and chimney at least once per year. The cleaning schedule should be adjusted based on how much the stove is used, and may need to be done more frequently in winter. You should also be sure to use only seasoned and dry wood to use in the stove. It is advised to avoid using a lot of kerosene or oil for beginning the fire, because these fuels burn differently and can create toxic gases that can be extremely dangerous to your health.

It is recommended to check the gaskets on your door when you clean them regularly. These are often made from rope-like braids that may degrade with repeated opening and closing. If you notice the gasket is leaking and needs to be replaced, purchase a new gasket made of fiberglass and adhesive. The hinges on these doors should be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues need to be inspected to ensure they are free of creosote build-up and obstructions. During the inspection, look for cracks and other signs of damage in the chimney lining. Stovepipes should also be examined and any damage should be fixed.

If you have a glass door for your wood stove, it is essential to keep it clean. You can easily do this by mixing water and ammonia. A sponge or rag must be soaked in the solution, then wiped over the surface of the glass until it is completely clean. For more difficult stains, you can leave the solution in place for a few minutes before wiping again.