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

In the current climate of high energy costs, a lot of cities are trying to cut down on the use of wood, especially in areas where air quality is poor. Here are ten tips to improve indoor air quality and get more heat out of every log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are among the most efficient ways to heat your house. Modern EPA-certified wood stoves burn logs quickly and produce less smoke than older models. This lets you use a greater proportion of the energy of your fire in a shorter time and reduce your heating bills by up to 30 percent. If you use only wood that has been seasoned the efficiency of wood stoves will increase throughout the life of the stove.

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

Wood stoves can be more efficient by controlling the air combustion, fuel, and processes. Wood stoves that control airflow can slow down the speed at which flame moves through the wood and allow the gases produced to remain hot and 913875.xyz completely combust.

Modern wood stoves are able to recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion to create a new flame that produces more efficient combustion. This process is referred to as reburn and 913875 can increase wood stove burning efficiency by as much as 10 percent.

Another benefit of using wood as a source for heat is that it is carbon neutral. When trees expand, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when burnt. Wood is also an eco-friendly resource, especially if it comes from local woodlands 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 could be a fire hazard and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves, flue pipes and chimneys are more efficient.

The most common task associated with cleaning your wood stove is to empty the ashes. Wear gloves that are protective and wait until the stove is cool down. Choose a metal container that is that is large enough to hold all the ashes, and then dump them outdoors away from anything that might cause a fire. Alternately, you can 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 remove any dust. It is also a good idea to keep at minimum 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any other combustible objects like curtains, pillows or toys. This will prevent the spread of fire and 913875.xyz burning the items.

A clear glass door that is placed on the interior of your stove will let you see the dancing flames, and it will also assist you in determining the best time to start a fresh fire. Ensure that you have glass cleaner available to get rid of any smudged or tarred areas that might be present. Newspapers dipped in water and ash can be used to wash the glass if it's extremely filthy. Be careful not to scratch the glass since scratches can weaken glass and cause it to shatter when it is heated.

Creosote buildup on the inside of your flue is the primary cause of chimney fires. A tiny amount of creosote could cause a fire to the chimney. Clean the flue regularly particularly if you are burning pine or other soft woods that produce more creosote than other kinds of wood.

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

Safety

Wood stoves can release very toxic gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can enter the home, and can have negative health effects on children, older adults, or people suffering from respiratory diseases such as COPD or asthma. Exposure to wood smoke over time can also cause heart disease and cause lung damage.

To prevent these risks It is crucial to follow proper methods for burning wood on your stove. This includes ensuring that the stove is operating properly and has enough heat output for the size and layout of the room. In addition, only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods should be used in the stove. The firewood's moisture content must be less than 20%. If the moisture content of the firewood is higher the fire will burn faster and produce smoke that is smoky and has more creosote on the chimney vent pipe wall.

A good draw is another essential safety feature. This can be accomplished by monitoring how much air is flowing into the firebox as well as through the chimney. Modern stoves come with a variety of ways to adjust the air flow and the owner's guide contains the procedures. When you operate the air controls correctly, you can achieve the highest efficiency in heating.

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

Keep children away from wood stoves when the flame is burning or when the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and they can touch hot surfaces of the wood stove or put their hands in the flame. It is recommended to put up a child-proof barrier around the fireplace, 913875 or make use of the fireplace screen. Additionally, it is important to regularly inspect the fireplace and wood stove for 913875.xyz signs of wear.

It is also important to have your stove and chimney professionally checked at least once a year to ensure there is no creosote buildup, bird nests and other problems which can affect the safety of your stove. This will help prevent fires and health hazards and will also reduce the necessity for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

While wood stoves are an excellent method of saving money on home heating but they also require additional maintenance. If you don't do the necessary maintenance on your wood stove, it can cause a fire that escapes the flue, a risky chimney fire, or even a house fire. In addition to sweeping the chimney and cleaning the stove, you must to clean and Www.913875.Xyz sweep the stove's surfaces and flue. Keep an extinguisher in your house and test it regularly. Smoke detectors are also beneficial throughout the home, but they are especially useful in the room where the stove is.

As a rule it is recommended to clean your chimney and stove at least once a year. The cleaning schedule can be altered based on how often the stove is being used, and it might be required to be done more frequently in winter. Make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood for burning in the stove. It is recommended to stay clear of using a lot of oil or kerosene for beginning the fire, because these fuels have different burning patterns and create toxic gases that can be extremely dangerous to your health.

During your regular cleaning, you should examine the gaskets on your doors. These are usually made of a braided substance that may become degraded over time. If you notice that the gasket is loose you can purchase a new gasket made of fiberglass as well as some gasket cement to repair it. Also, the hinges on these doors should be inspected as well.

It is important to inspect chimneys and flues to make sure that they are clear of creosote and obstructions. During the inspection, look for cracks in the chimney liner as well as any other signs of damage. Stovepipes need to be checked too and any holes or dents must be fixed.

It is important to clean the glass door of your wood stove. This can be accomplished easily by using a mixture of water and ammonia. A sponge or rag should be soaked with the solution, then wiped over the surface of the glass until it is completely clean. You can let the solution sit for a couple of minutes before wiping it again.