EPA-Certified Wood Stoves May Not Meet Your Health and Safety Standards

Many communities have provided financial incentives to replace wood stoves with EPA-certified models which produce less polluting. However, Undark found that some of these newer stoves may not meet EPA standards.

In a time of rising energy costs, many cities are trying to cut down on the use of wood, especially in areas where air quality is poor. Here are 10 tips to improve indoor air quality and get more heat from every log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are one of the most efficient ways to heat your home. Modern EPA-certified wood stoves burn logs fast and produce less smoke than older models. This allows you to burn more energy into your fireplace and cut down on heating expenses by as much as 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves improves over the life of the stove if you only use seasoned hardwood.

Older wood stoves have an efficiency of 50 percent or less. This means that carbon dioxide and smoke are released into the air, which results in losing half of the energy potential in the fire. Modern stoves can have 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 fuel, air and combustion process. Wood stoves with controlled airflow can slow the speed at which the flame moves through the wood, allowing gases produced to remain hot and burn completely.

Modern wood stoves can also recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion to create a new fire which burns more efficiently. This process, called Reburn, can improve the efficiency of wood stoves up to 10%.

Wood is also carbon-neutral which is a further benefit. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air while growing and release oxygen in return when they are burned. Wood is a renewable resource for the environment, particularly when it is sourced from local woodlands, which are managed in a way that promotes healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

With 8.8 million households using wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and maintenance are an essential aspect of keeping your home warm. A dirty stove and pipe can pose an ignition source and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean chimneys, stoves and flue pipes are also more efficient.

The most commonly-asked task with cleaning your wood stove is emptying the ashes. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove has cooled down. Choose a container made of metal that is large enough to hold all the ashes, and dump them in a safe place 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.

Once the ashes have been removed from the stove, sweep the floor to eliminate any dust. It is also a great idea to keep at least three feet between your wood stove, and any combustible items such as curtains or pillows. This prevents the fire from getting out of control and burning these things.

A clear glass door inside of your stove will let you see the dancing flames, and it can also assist you in determining the best time to light a new fire. Make sure to have a glass cleaner in your kitchen to get rid of any tarred or smudged areas. Newspapers dipped in ash and water can be used to wash the glass if it is extremely dirty. Be careful not to scratch the glass, since scratches can weaken glass and 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 in the chimney. Clean the flue frequently 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, you should only burn dry and seasoned wood that has been split in half or smaller. Never burn fake trash, logs or other items in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves can release toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins enter the home and can have negative health consequences for older adults, children or those suffering from respiratory issues like asthma or COPD. Exposure to wood smoke over time can also cause heart disease and cause lung damage.

To prevent these risks to avoid these risks, it is vital to follow the proper wood stove burning practices. This includes making sure the stove is operating correctly and has the right heat output for the size and layout of the room. In addition only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content should not exceed 20%. If the moisture content of the firewood is higher, the fire will burn faster and produce a smoky fire with more creosote on the chimney vent pipe's wall.

A well-drawn chimney is an additional important safety feature. This can be achieved by monitoring how much air flows into the firebox as well as through the chimney. The majority of modern stoves offer several options to adjust the air flow and the owner's guide contains the procedures. Correctly operating the air controls can ensure the highest heating efficiency.

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

It is also essential to keep children out of wood stoves while the fire is burning or when ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and they might touch hot surfaces on a wood stove or place their hands in the fire. Install a childproof fence around the fireplace, www.913875.xyz (https://www.913875.xyz/) or use a fireplace screen. It is also important to inspect the fireplace and wood stove regularly for signs of wear and tear.

It is also important to have your chimney and stove professionally inspected at least once a year to check for creosote buildup, bird nests, and other issues that may affect the safety of your stove. This will help prevent fires and health hazards, as well as reduce the necessity for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

Wood stoves can be an effective way to lower your heating costs, but they require some extra maintenance. If you do not perform the necessary maintenance, your wood stove can cause a fire that is dangerous to escape from the chimney or flue, and even cause a housefire. It is also recommended to clean the stove's surfaces and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher on your desk and check it frequently. It's also a good idea to put smoke detectors around the house particularly in the room with the stove.

As a rule it is recommended to clean your stove and chimney at least once per year. The schedule for cleaning should be adjusted based on the amount that the stove is used, and it may need to be done more frequently during winter. Use only dry and seasoned wood for burning in the stove. It is best to stay clear of using a lot of kerosene or oil for starting the fire, 913875 since these fuels burn differently and produce toxic gases that could be dangerous to your health.

You should inspect your door gaskets during your regular cleaning. These are often made from braided rope-like material that can become degraded with repeated closing and opening. If you notice that the gasket is loose 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 crucial to examine chimneys and flues to make sure that they are clear of obstructions and creosote. During the inspection, look out for cracks and other signs of damage in the chimney lining. Stovepipes must be examined as well and any holes or dents must be fixed.

It is important to clean the glass door of your wood stove. You can easily do this by mixing water and ammonia. A rag or sponge should be soaked in the solution and then wiped across 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 prior to wiping again.