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 produce less pollutants. Undark discovered that some of the more recent stoves may not be up to EPA standards.

In the current climate of high energy costs, a lot of cities are looking to reduce the use of wood, especially in areas in which air quality is poor. Here are ten tips to improve the quality of your indoor air and gain more heat from 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 compared to older models. This allows you to burn more energy into your fire and reduce your heating costs by up to 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves also increases over the lifetime of the stove if you use only wood that is seasoned.

Older wood stoves have an efficiency of 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 have an efficiency of 85% or more. This is comparable to oil and gas furnaces.

Wood stoves can be improved by controlling the airflow as well as the fuel and combustion processes. Wood stoves that control airflow are able to slow down the speed at which fire moves through the wood, and permit the gases produced to stay hot and fully combust.

Modern wood stoves are able to recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion to create a new flame that burns more efficiently. This process, called reburn, can boost the efficiency of wood stoves by as much as 10 percent.

Wood is also carbon neutral and carbon neutral, which is an additional benefit. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while growing and release oxygen when they are burned. Wood is also an environmentally sustainable resource, Www.913875.xyz 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 important part of keeping the home warm. A dirty stove or flue pipe can cause carbon monoxide and fire hazards. Clean stoves, chimneys and flue pipes are more efficient.

Cleaning the ashes is the most frequent task when cleaning your wood stove. This should be done on a day that is cool, when the stove is no longer hot, and you should wear gloves to protect yourself when handling the ashes. Choose a metal container that can hold all the ashes and Www.913875.Xyz then dispose of it outside, away from anything that may ignite. You can also add the ashes into your compost for 913875 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 dust left behind. It is also a great idea to keep at least three feet space between your wood stove, and any combustible things such as curtains or pillows. This will prevent the spread of fire and burning the items.

As for the inside of your stove glass doors that are clean allow you to take a look of the dancing flames and help you know when it is time to light a new fire. Ensure that you have glass cleaner in your kitchen to remove any smudged or tarred areas that might be present. Newspapers dipped in ash and water can be used to cleanse the glass if it is extremely filthy. Avoid scratching the glass because this can cause it to weaken and break when heated.

Creosote build-up 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 frequently particularly if you burn pine or other soft woods that produce more creosote than other types of wood.

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

Safety

Wood stoves are known to produce very toxic gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins enter the home and can have negative health consequences for older adults, children or people suffering from respiratory ailments like asthma or COPD. Smoke from wood in the long run can lead to heart disease and lead to lung damage.

It is essential to follow the correct burning practices for wood stoves to avoid these dangers. This includes making sure that the stove is functioning properly and that it has sufficient heat output for the room size and style. Only dry, well-seasoned, hard woods should be burned in the stove. The firewood's moisture content should be less than 20 percent. If the moisture content is higher it will burn more quickly and create a smokier fire that has more creosote building 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 flows into the firebox and through the chimney. Modern stoves come with several options to alter the flow of air and the owner's manual has documented the procedures. The best efficiency of heating can be achieved when the air controls are operated correctly.

Finally, the flue and chimney pipes must be kept free of combustible materials, including drapes, paper, trash or rugs. A lack of clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is a major cause of fires in homes caused by wood stoves.

It is also essential to keep children away from wood stoves while the fire is in progress or when the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and they can touch hot surfaces on a wood stove or place their hands on the fire. Install a child-proof fence around the fireplace, or use a fireplace screen. It is also essential to check the wood stove and fireplace often for signs of wear.

It is also essential to ensure that your stove and chimney are professionally examined at least every year to check for creosote buildup, bird nests and other issues that could affect the safety of your stove. This will help to prevent fires, health hazards and reduce the need for smoke or carbon monoxide remediation.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are a great way to reduce your heating expenses, but they require some extra maintenance. If you don't perform the required maintenance on your wood stove, it could cause a fire that is dangerous to escape from the chimney or flue and could even trigger a housefire. In addition to cleaning the chimney and www.913875.Xyz cleaning the stove, you must to sweep and clean the stove's surfaces and flue. You should also keep an extinguisher in your house and test it frequently. Smoke detectors are also beneficial throughout the house, but especially in the room in which the stove is.

As a rule you should clean the chimney and stove once a year. Cleaning schedules should be adjusted according to how often the stove is used. It may 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 of oil or kerosene for starting the fire. These fuels could release toxic gasses and pose a danger to your health.

You should check the gaskets in your door when you clean them regularly. They are typically made of braided rope-like material that can degrade with repeated opening and closing. If you find that the gasket is not tight you can purchase a new gasket made of fiberglass as well as some gasket cement to fix it. Also, the hinges of these doors need to be examined as well.

It is essential to check chimneys and flues to ensure that they are clear of creosote and obstructions. During the inspection, look out for cracks or other signs of damage in the chimney lining. Stovepipes must be examined too, and any dents or Www.913875.Xyz gaps need to be filled.

If you have a glass door on your wood stove, Www.913875.Xyz it is crucial to keep it clean. This can be done quickly by mixing a solution of ammonia and water. A sponge or rag must be saturated with the solution and then wiped across the surface of the glass until it is clean. For tougher staining, you can leave the solution on for a few minutes before wiping it off again.