15 Terms That Everyone Within The Wood Burning Stove Industry Should K…

Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood woodburning stoves can help you reduce your energy bills. They also aid in active woodland management that helps wildlife.

If they aren't properly installed and maintained, they can produce carbon monoxide, which can pose health hazards to the family. To avoid this, look for an EPA-certified wood stove that has modern technology to ensure safety.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic fireplace is equipped with a special catalyst, which looks like a honeycomb. It converts wood smoke into water and carbon dioxide. It is a great option for those who want to reduce their indoor pollution and save money by burning less wood. These stoves burn hotter and produce less creosote. They consume less fuel. However, they are more expensive to operate than non-catalytic models, and require regular maintenance of the combustion chamber.

Wood Stoves that have been certified by the EPA

The EPA requires that wood stoves be constructed in accordance with certain guidelines that reduce their emissions. According to these guidelines catalytic stoves should not emit more than 7.5 grams per hour. This compares to 4.1 g/hr for a non-catalytic stove. It is important to keep in mind that lower emission ratings don't necessarily translate into greater heating efficiency.

Sizing and Selection

It is very important to ensure that your wood stove is properly sized for the home where it will be installed. A stove that isn't properly sized will not perform as intended and may even overheat. A properly-sized stove increases the heat output and reduces emissions. The brochure purchasing an EPA-certified wood Stove (PDF 530K) offers a straightforward method of sizing and choosing the right wood stove.

Non-Catalytical and Catalytical stoves

The first wood stove made was an uncatalytic stove. They are also referred to as traditional wood burning stoves or open-fire stoves. The non-catalytic stove is advantageous in that it doesn't require a second combustion to reduce emissions. Smoke is the primary source of energy wasted. The smoke produced by non-catalytic stoves has a poisonous substance called creosote. The introduction of the catalytic wood stove eliminated these issues. The catalytic wood stove uses catalysts to burn the gases in the smoke and eliminates toxic creosote.

Although the catalytic wood stove was developed to help reduce toxic emissions, it is not as effective as the secondary burn system that is found in the non-catalytic stove. The catalyst is unable to completely burn the byproducts of burning wood, which is why it emits harmful emissions. The honeycomb structure can also degrade over time. This can lead to lower performance and the necessity for replacement.

Cleaning the Combustion Chamber Clean

A catalytic combustor functioning properly will appear to be as a grayish powder. It should be free of soot, ash, or any other material that could plug up the catalytic surfaces and decrease their surface area. The combustor must not be subjected to impingement of flames. This can result from an extremely fast, strong draft that draws flames directly into the catalytic converter. This could also occur when you leave the firebox and ash pan doors open.

It is crucial to check the catalytic combustor for physical damage and a need for replacement. If the catalytic combustor is damaged or needs to be replaced, it should be done as quickly as is feasible for optimal performance.