15 Wood Stove Burning Benefits That Everyone Should Be Able To

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

Many communities have provided financial incentives to replace old wood stoves with EPA certified models that emit less pollutants. Undark discovered that some of the newer stoves might not meet EPA standards.

In these times of high energy costs, cities are looking for ways to cut down on wood burning, especially in areas with poor air quality. Here are 10 tips to improve the quality of indoor air and get more heat powered stove fan from every log.

Efficiency

Wood electric stove heaters (m.Bornchamps.com) burning is 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 use a greater proportion of the energy from your fire in a shorter amount of time and lower your heating costs by up to 30 percent. When you only use well-seasoned wood, the efficiency of wood stoves improves throughout the life of the stove.

Older wood stoves are efficient at 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 of the fire. Modern stoves can have an efficiency of up to 85% or more. This is comparable to gas and oil furnaces.

Wood stoves can be improved by controlling the airflow, fuel, and combustion processes. Wood stoves that control the airflow are able to slow down how fast the fire is moving through the wood and permit the gases produced to remain hot and completely combust.

Additionally, modern wood stoves are able to recycle the byproducts of incomplete combustion into a new one that produces more efficient combustion. This process is known as reburn, and can boost wood stove burning efficiency by as much as 10 percent.

Wood is also carbon-neutral, which is another advantage. When trees develop they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when burnt. Wood is a resource that is sustainable for the environment, particularly when it is sourced from local woodlands that are managed in a way that encourages healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

Cleaning and maintaining wood stoves is essential for keeping homes warm. In the United States, 8.8 million households make use of wood stoves. A dirty stove and flue pipe can be a fire hazard, and could cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean chimneys, stoves and flue pipes are more efficient.

The most common task associated with cleaning your wood stove is to empty the ashes. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove has cool down. Choose a metal container that is that is large enough to hold all of the ashes, and then dump them in a safe place away from anything that might cause a fire. You can also incorporate the ashes into your compost for an organic addition to your garden.

While the ashes have been removed from the stove, sweep the floor to get rid of dust. It is recommended to have at minimum 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any other combustible objects like curtains, pillows or toys. This will stop the spread of a fire and burning the items.

A clean glass door on the inside of your stove will allow you to see the flames dancing, and it will also assist you in determining the best time to light a fire. Make sure you have a glass cleaner in your kitchen to remove any smudged or tarred areas. If the glass is very dirty you can make use of newspaper soaked in ash and water to clean it. 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. Creosote can be extremely flammable, which is why a layer of even millimeters could cause a chimney fire. Clean the flue frequently especially if burning pine or soft woods produces more creosote.

To prevent creosote vapors from entering your home, you should only burn dry and seasoned wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Never burn artificial trash, logs or other items inside your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves can emit toxic gases such as carbon monoxide or particulates. These harmful gases can be absorbed into the home and cause negative health effects for young people, older adults, or those with respiratory diseases such as COPD or asthma. As time passes exposure to wood smoke may cause heart disease and lung damage.

To reduce the risk of these issues, it is essential to follow the proper methods for burning wood on your stove. This includes making sure the stove is functioning correctly and has the right energy output to meet the dimensions and design of the room. Additionally only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods are allowed to be used in the stove. The moisture content should not exceed 20%. If the moisture content is higher it will burn more quickly and produce a more smoky fire, with more creosote accumulation on the chimney vent pipe's walls.

A strong draw is an essential safety feature. This can be accomplished by observing how much air is circulating through the firebox as well as through the chimney. Modern stoves come with a variety of ways to regulate the flow of air and the owner's guide includes procedures. The highest efficiency in heating can be achieved when the air controls are properly operated.

The chimney and flue pipe must be free of all materials that could ignite, including drapes, trash or paper. A lack of clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is a major cause of fires in homes caused by wood stoves.

It is also important to keep children out of wood stoves while the flame is in progress or when the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and they might touch hot surfaces of a wood stove or place their hands in the fire. It is recommended to put up a child-proof barrier around the fireplace or to employ the fireplace screen. It is also important to regularly check the fireplace and wood stove for signs of wear.

It is also important to ensure that your chimney and stove are regularly inspected for accumulation of creosote as well as bird nests and other issues that could affect the safety of your chimney or stove. This will help prevent fires and health hazards as well as reducing the need for smoke or carbon monoxide remediation services.

Maintenance

Although wood stoves are an excellent way to save money on home heating however, they require additional maintenance. If you do not do the necessary maintenance on your wood stove, it could cause a fire that escapes the flue, a dangerous chimney fire, or a house fire. In addition to sweeping the chimney and cleaning the stove, you must to sweep and clean the stove's surfaces and flue. It is also advisable to keep an extinguisher on hand and test it frequently. It's also an excellent idea to place smoke detectors throughout the home particularly in the room with the stove.

In general cleaning your stove and chimney at least once per year. Cleaning schedules need to be adjusted in accordance with how frequently the stove is used. It might be necessary to clean it more frequently in winter. Make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood to use in the stove. It is recommended to avoid using a lot of kerosene or oil when beginning the fire, because these fuels burn differently and can generate toxic gases that can be very detrimental to your health.

When you clean your house regularly it is important to inspect the gaskets of your doors. They are typically made of a braided substance that may degrade over time. If you notice that the gasket is loose and you need to replace it, buy a gasket made of fiberglass as well as some gasket cement to fix it. The hinges on these doors should be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues must be examined to ensure that they are free of creosote build-up and obstructions. During the inspection, check for cracks, and other indications of damage to the chimney lining. Stovepipes must also be inspected and any damage should be repaired.

It is crucial to clean the glass door of your wood stove. This can be accomplished easily with a mix of ammonia and water. The solution is then wiped onto the glass using an abrasive or sponge. You can let the solution sit for a few moments before wiping it again.