EPA-Certified Wood Stoves May Not Meet Your Health and Safety Standards
Many communities have offered incentives to purchase wood stoves with EPA-certified models that emit less polluting. However, Undark discovered that some of these newer stoves might not be up to EPA standards.
In a time of rising energy costs, many cities are looking to reduce wood combustion, especially in areas in which 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 one of the most energy efficient methods to heat your home. Modern wood stoves that are EPA-certified burn logs quickly and generate less smoke than older models. This lets you burn a higher 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 well-seasoned wood, the efficiency of wood stoves increases throughout the life of the stove.
Older wood stoves are efficient at 50 percent or less. This means that half of the potential energy generated by the fire is lost as carbon monoxide and smoke are released into the atmosphere. Modern stoves can have an efficiency of 85 percent or more. This is similar to oil and gas furnaces.
Wood stoves can be more efficient 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 the flame moves through the wood and permit the gases produced to remain hot and combust completely.
Additionally modern wood stoves can recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion into a fresh fire that produces more efficient combustion. This process is called reburn and can increase the efficiency of a wood stove by as much as 10 percent.
Wood is also carbon neutral and carbon neutral, which is an additional benefit. As trees expand they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when burnt. Wood is a renewable resource for the environment, particularly when it comes from local woodlands 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 aspect of keeping your home warm. A dirty stove and pipe can pose a fire hazard, and
Www.913875.xyz could cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves, flue pipes and chimneys are more efficient.
Emptying the ashes is the most common task to do when cleaning your wood stove. Wear gloves that are protective and wait until the stove is cool down. Choose a container made of steel that can accommodate all of the ashes and dump it outside away from anything that may ignite. Alternatively, you can add the ashes to your compost pile for an organic addition to your garden.
Once the ashes have gone out of the stove, it is an ideal time to sweep the floor and remove any residual dust. It is also a great idea to put at least three feet space between your wood stove and any other combustible objects like pillows or curtains. This prevents a fire from getting out of control and burning these things.
Regarding the inside of your stove, a clear glass door lets you to take a look of the dancing flames and will help you determine when it is time to begin a new fire. Make sure you have a glass cleaning solution on hand in order to get rid of any tarred or smudged areas. If the glass is very filthy you can make use of newspaper soaked in water and ash to clean it. Be careful not to scratch the glass because scratches can weaken the glass and shatter when it is heated.
The accumulation of creosote within your chimney flue is one of the primary causes of chimney fires. A tiny amount of creosote could cause a fire in the chimney. Clean the flue regularly, especially if burning pine or soft woods produce more creosote.
Burn only seasoned, dry wood that is split in half or smaller. Also, do not burn fake garbage or logs in your wood stove.
Safety
Wood stoves emit harmful gasses like carbon monoxide and particulates. These harmful gases can be found in the home and can have negative health consequences for children, elderly adults or those with respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD. Over time exposure to wood smoke may cause heart disease and lung damage.
It is important to adhere to proper burning techniques for wood stoves to avoid these dangers. These include ensuring that the stove is working correctly and has sufficient heat output for
Www.913875.Xyz the room size and design. In addition only dry, well-seasoned woods should be used in the stove. The moisture content should not exceed 20 percent. If the moisture content is higher it will burn more quickly and produce a smoky fire that has more creosote building up on the chimney vent pipe walls.
Another important safety issue is to ensure that the stove is operating at a high draw by monitoring the amount of air flowing into the firebox and through the chimney. The majority of modern stoves offer various ways to regulate the flow of air and the owner's manual contains the procedures. The highest efficiency in heating can be achieved when air controls are properly operated.
The chimney and flue pipe should be free of combustible material, such as drapes, paper or trash. The wood stove fires are often caused by an inadequate clearance between combustibles wood-burning appliances, and combustibles.
It is also essential to keep children out of wood stoves while the flame is burning or
913875 while 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. It is recommended to install a child-proof gate around the fireplace or employ the fireplace screen. It is also important to check the fireplace regularly and wood stove for signs of wear and tear.
It is also essential to have your stove and chimney professionally checked at least once a year to check for creosote buildup, bird nests and other issues that could affect the safety of your stove. This will help prevent fires and health hazards, as well as reduce the necessity for carbon monoxide remediation.
Maintenance
Although wood stoves are a great way to save the cost of heating your home, they do require some additional maintenance. If you fail to take care of the required maintenance on your wood stove, it can result in a fire which escapes the flue, a dangerous chimney fire, or even an unintentional house fire. In addition to sweeping the chimney and cleaning the stove, you must to sweep and clean the surfaces in the stove and flue. It is also advisable to keep an extinguisher in your house and test it often. It is also an excellent idea to place smoke detectors around the house, especially one in the area with the stove.
In general, you should clean your chimney and stove at least once per year. The schedule of cleaning should be altered in accordance with how frequently 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 for beginning the fire, because these fuels have different burning patterns and generate toxic gases that can be very dangerous to your health.
You should check the gaskets on your door when you clean them regularly. These are often made from braided rope-like material that can be damaged by repeated closing and opening. If you notice that the gasket is loose and needs to be replaced, purchase an alternative fiberglass seal and some gasket adhesive. The hinges of these doors should be inspected as well.
Chimneys and
913875.Xyz (
www.913875.Xyz) flues must be inspected to ensure that they are free of creosote build up and obstructions. During the inspection, look for cracks, and other indications of damage in the chimney lining. Stovepipes also need to be inspected, and any dents should be repaired.
It is important to clean the glass door of your wood stove. It is easy to do this by mixing water and ammonia. The solution should be wiped onto the glass using an abrasive or sponge. You can let the solution sit for a few minutes before wiping it over again.
