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 pollutants. Undark discovered that some of the more recent stoves may not meet EPA standards.

In the midst of rising energy costs, cities are seeking ways to reduce burning wood, particularly in areas where air quality is poor. Here are 10 strategies to improve the indoor air quality and extract more heat of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are among the most efficient ways to heat your house. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn up logs quickly and produce less creosote compared to older models. This lets you use more of the energy in your fireplace and cut down on heating costs by up to 30 percent. When you only use seasoned hardwood, the efficiency of wood stoves improves over the life of the stove.

Older wood stoves typically have efficiency of less than 50 percent. This means that smoke and carbon dioxide are released into the air, which results in an evaporation of about half the energy potential of the fire. Modern stoves can boast an efficiency of up to 85 percent or more. This is comparable to gas and oil furnaces.

The higher efficiencies of wood stoves are made by controlling the air, fuel, and combustion process. Wood stoves with controlled airflow can slow the speed at which the fire moves through wood, allowing gases to stay hot and burn completely.

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

Another benefit of using wood as a source of heat is that it is carbon neutral. The trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air while growing and release oxygen in return when they burn. Wood is a resource that is sustainable for the environment, especially when it is sourced from local woodlands managed in a manner that encourages healthy tree growth.

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 stove or flue pipe could be a fire hazard, and could cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves as well as flue pipes and chimneys are more efficient.

The most commonly-asked task with cleaning your wood stove is emptying the ashes. This is best done on a cool day, when the stove isn't hot anymore and you must wear protective gloves when handling the ashes. Select a container made of metal that can accommodate all of the ashes, and then dump it outside away from anything that could burn. You can also incorporate the ashes into your compost to create a healthy addition to you garden.

While the ashes are out of the stove, it is a good time to sweep the floor and remove any dust that remains. It is also a good idea to leave at least three feet space between your wood stove and any combustible items such as curtains or pillows. This will prevent the spread of a fire and burning the objects.

Regarding the interior of your stove, a clear glass door lets you to see of the flames dancing and will help you determine when it is time to start the fire again. Make sure that you have glass cleaner in your kitchen to get rid of any smudged or tarred areas that could be present. If the glass is extremely dirty, you can use newspaper dipped in water and ash to wipe it down. Avoid scratching the glass as this could cause it to shrink and 913875 (https://www.913875.xyz/opgk66-3j3c-ju576i0-X4Qi-lg19k0b-3707) break when heated.

The buildup of creosote inside your chimney flue is one of the primary causes of chimney fires. Creosote is highly flammable, and a layer of even one millimeter can trigger a chimney fire. Clean the flue frequently, especially if you burn pine or other soft woods that produce more creosote compared to other types of wood.

To avoid creosote vapors entering your home, you should only burn dry and seasoned wood that has been split in half or smaller. Also, www.913875.xyz don't burn artificial logs or trash in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves are known to produce extremely harmful gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can enter the home and cause negative health effects on young people, older adults, or people suffering from respiratory ailments like COPD or 913875 asthma. Smoke from wood over time can also cause heart disease and cause lung damage.

It is essential to follow the correct wood stove burn practices to avoid these dangers. These include ensuring that the stove is working properly and that it is able to produce enough heat to the size of the room and design. Additionally only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods are allowed to be burned in the stove. The moisture content should be less than 20 percent. If the moisture content is higher, it will burn more quickly and produce a 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 flowing through the firebox and the chimney. Most modern stoves have various ways to alter the flow of air and the owner's manual contains procedures. Properly operating the air controls will ensure the highest heating efficiency.

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

It is also important to keep children away from wood stoves when the fire is in progress or when ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious, and may try to touch the hot surfaces of a wood stove or put their hands in the flame. Install a childproof fence around the fireplace, or use a fireplace screen. It is also crucial to inspect the wood stove and fireplace regularly for signs of wear.

It is also important to ensure that your chimney and stove are professionally inspected once per year for 913875 the accumulation of creosote as well as bird nests and other problems that can affect the safety of your chimney or stove. This will prevent fires and health hazards, and will also lessen the necessity for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

Although wood stoves are an excellent method of saving money on home heating but they also require additional maintenance. If you don't perform the necessary maintenance, your wood stove can cause a dangerous fire to escape from the chimney or flue, and even cause fire in your home. In addition to sweeping the chimney and cleaning the stove, you need to clean and sweep the surfaces in the stove and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher at the counter and test it frequently. It is also a good idea to put smoke detectors in the house particularly in the area with the stove.

As a rule you should clean the chimney and stove once a year. Cleaning schedules need to be adjusted according to how often the stove is used. It may be necessary to clean it more often in winter. Also, make sure to use only seasoned and dry wood for burning in the stove. It is advised to stay clear of using a lot of oil or kerosene for starting the fire, as these fuels have different burning patterns and produce toxic gases that could be detrimental to your health.

You should check the gaskets in your door at the time of your regular cleaning. They are typically made from a braided material which can be damaged over time. If you find that the gasket is leaking and needs to be replaced, purchase an alternative fiberglass seal and some gasket adhesive. Likewise, the hinges on these doors must be checked as well.

It is essential to check flues and chimneys to ensure that they are free of creosote and 913875 obstructions. During the inspection, check for cracks or other signs of damage to the chimney lining. Stovepipes should be inspected too and any dents or gaps need to be filled.

If you have a glass door on your wood stove, it is important to keep this clean. This can be done easily with a mix of ammonia and water. A rag or sponge should be saturated with the solution and then wiped across the glass's surface until it is completely clean. For more difficult stains, you can leave the solution in place for a few minutes before wiping the glass again.