You Can Explain Wood Burning Stove To Your Mom

Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves are a carbon-free renewable source of heat that could reduce energy costs. They also assist in active woodland management, benefitting wildlife.

If they aren't properly maintained and installed, they can produce carbon monoxide that poses health hazards to the family. To avoid this, choose an appliance made of wood that is EPA certified and has modern technology for safe operation.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic stove is outfitted with a specific honeycomb-like catalyst which converts the smoke from wood into carbon dioxide and water. It is a great option for those who want to cut down on indoor pollution and save money by burning less wood. These stoves use less fuel, burn faster, and produce less creosote. However, they can be more expensive to operate than non-catalytic models. They also require regular maintenance of the combustion chamber.

Wood Stoves certified by the EPA

The EPA requires that wood stoves be designed under certain guidelines that restrict their emissions. These guidelines state that a catalytic wood stove must test at least 7.5 grams of smoke per hour. This is in contrast to 4.1 grams per hour of smoke for a non catalytic stove. It's important to remember that lower emission ratings do not necessarily translate into greater heating efficiency.

Sizing and Selection

It is important that your wood stove is designed appropriately for the space in which it will be installed. The wrong sized stove won't perform as it should and could even overheat. A properly sized stove improves the heat output and reduces emissions. The brochure purchasing an EPA-certified wood Stove (PDF 530K) offers a simple method of sizing and selecting the best wood stove.

Non-Catalytic and Catalytic stoves

The first type of wood stove that was manufactured was the non-catalytic stove. They are also referred to as traditional wood burning stoves or open-fire stoves. The primary advantage of the non-catalytic stove is that it doesn't need an additional combustion in order to reduce emissions. Smoke is a major source of energy wasted. The smoke produced by a wood stove that is not catalytic has creosote, a hefty residue which is a very toxic substance. The introduction of the catalytic wood stove has eliminated these problems. The catalytic small wood burning stove stove utilizes a catalyst to burn the gases in the smoke and eliminates the toxic creosote.

Although the catalytic wood stove was designed as a means to reduce the emission of toxic gases but it isn't as efficient as the secondary burn system found in the non-catalytic stove. The catalyst doesn't completely burn the byproducts from burning wood, and consequently emits harmful emissions. Additionally, the honeycomb structure of the catalyst can break down over time. This can lead to a decline in performance and the need for replacement.

Maintaining the Combustion Chamber Clean

A catalytic combustor operating properly will appear like a powdery gray. It should be free of ash, soot or tatty material that could clog the catalytic surfaces and decrease their surface area. The combustor should not be exposed to flame impingement. This can result from a strong, fast draft pulling flames directly into the catalytic converter. This can also happen in the event that you leave the firebox and the doors to the ash pan open.

It is essential to regularly inspect the catalytic combustor to determine whether it has physical damage and a need to be replaced. If the catalytic unit is damaged or requires to be replaced, it must happen as soon as possible to ensure optimal performance.