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. But Undark found that some of these more modern stoves might not be up to EPA standards.

In these times of high energy prices, a lot of cities are looking for ways to cut down on burning wood, particularly in areas where air quality is poor. Here are 10 strategies to improve the indoor air quality, and to get more heat out of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are one of the most energy efficient methods to heat your house. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs extremely quickly and 5829186.Xyz produce less creosote than older models. This lets you use a greater percentage of the potential energy generated by your fireplace in a shorter amount of time and 5829186.xyz lower your heating costs by as much as 30 percent. When you only use well-seasoned wood, the efficiency of wood stoves improves throughout the life of the stove.

Older wood stoves generally have efficiencies of 50 percent or less. This means that half the energy potential in the fire is lost when carbon monoxide and smoke are released into the atmosphere. Modern stoves can boast an efficiency of 85% or more. This is comparable to oil and gas furnaces.

Wood stoves can be made more efficient by controlling the air, fuel, and combustion processes. Wood stoves with 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 fire that is more efficient in burning. This process, known as reburn, can increase the efficiency of wood stoves by up to 10 percent.

Wood is also carbon neutral and carbon neutral, which is an additional benefit. The trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air while growing and release oxygen in return when they are burned. Wood is a resource that is sustainable for the environment, especially when it comes from local woodlands, 5829186 which are managed in a manner that encourages healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

With 8.8 million households that use wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and maintenance are a crucial element of keeping your home warm. A dirty stove or flue pipe can cause carbon monoxide and fire dangers. Clean chimneys, stoves and www.5829186.Xyz flue pipes are 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 cool down. Choose a container made of metal that is large enough to accommodate all the ashes, and dump them in a safe place away from anything that could burn. You can also add the ashes to your compost to create an excellent addition to your garden.

Once the ashes have gone out of the stove, it's a good time to sweep the floor and vacuum up any residual dust. It is also a good idea to keep at least three feet between your wood stove, and any other combustible objects such as pillows or curtains. This will stop a fire from spreading and burning the items.

A clean glass door interior of your stove will allow you to see the dancing flames and can help you determine when to light a new fire. Ensure that you have a glass cleaner on hand to remove any smudged or tarred areas that might be present. Newspapers dipped in ash and water can be used to wash the glass if it's extremely dirty. Be careful not to scratch the glass since scratches can weaken glass and shatter when it is heated.

The buildup of creosote inside your chimney flue is among the main causes of chimney fires. Creosote is extremely flammable, and a layer of even a few millimeters can cause an explosion in your chimney. Clean the flue often, especially if burning soft or pine woods produce more creosote.

Burn only seasoned, dry wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Do not burn artificial logs, trash or other items in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves emit harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can make their way into the home and cause negative health effects for children, elderly adults, or people suffering from respiratory diseases such as COPD or asthma. In time, www.5829186.Xyz wood smoke exposure can cause heart disease and lung damage.

To avoid these risks It is crucial to adhere to the correct wood stove burning practices. This includes ensuring the stove is operating correctly and 5829186.xyz has the right energy output to meet the dimensions and design of the room. Only dry, well-seasoned, hard woods should be burnt in the stove. The moisture content should be below 20 percent. If the moisture content is higher, it will burn more quickly and produce a smoky fire, with more creosote accumulation on the chimney vent pipe walls.

A good draw is another important safety element. This can be accomplished by monitoring the amount of air that is circulating through the firebox as well as through the chimney. The owner's guide will provide specific instructions on how to adjust air flow in most modern stoves. The highest efficiency in heating can be achieved when air controls are properly operated.

Finally, the flue and chimney pipes should be free of fire-prone materials, such as drapes, papers, trash or rug. A lack of clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is the most common reason for house fires caused by wood stoves.

It is also important to keep children out of wood stoves when the fire is in progress or when 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 flame. Install a child-proof fence around the fireplace or install a fireplace screen. It is also essential to check the wood stove and fireplace regularly for signs of wear.

It is also essential to have your stove and chimney professionally checked at least once per year to check for creosote buildup, bird nests, and other problems which can affect the safety of your stove. This will help to prevent fires and health hazards, as well as reduce the need for smoke or carbon monoxide remediation services.

Maintenance

Wood stoves can be a great way to reduce your heating costs, but they do require a little more maintenance. If you fail to 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 an unintentional house fire. In addition to cleaning the chimney and cleaning the stove, you must to clean and sweep the surfaces in the stove and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher on the counter and test it frequently. Smoke detectors are also a great idea throughout the house, but particularly in the room where the stove is.

As a rule cleaning your chimney and stove at least once per year. The schedule of cleaning should be altered according to how often the stove is used. It may be necessary to clean it more frequently in winter. Only use dry and seasoned wood to burn in the stove. It is recommended to avoid using lots of kerosene or oil when starting the fire, as these fuels burn differently and can create toxic gases that can be extremely harmful to your health.

It is recommended to check the gaskets in your door during your regular cleaning. They are typically made of rope-like braids that may be damaged by repeated opening and closing. If you notice that the gasket is loose and needs to be fixed, purchase a replacement gasket seal made of fiberglass and adhesive. The hinges of these doors need to be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues need to be inspected to ensure that they are free of creosote accumulation and obstructions. During this inspection, look for cracks in the chimney liner and any other signs of damage. Stovepipes must be examined as well and any dents or gaps should be repaired.

If you have a glass door for your wood stove, it's important to keep this clean. This can be done easily by using a mixture of ammonia and water. A sponge or rag must be soaked in the solution, then wiped over the surface of the glass until it is completely clean. You can let the solution sit for a few moments before wiping it again.