How To Get More Benefits From Your Wood Burning Stove

wood burning Stove Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves can help you save money on your energy bills. They also help with active woodland management that helps wildlife.

If they are not installed and maintained correctly, they can produce carbon monoxide which poses health risks to the family. To avoid this, search for an EPA-certified wood stove equipped with modern technology to ensure safety.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic stove is outfitted with a specific honeycomb-like catalyst which converts the smoke from wood into carbon dioxide and water. This is an excellent option for anyone looking to reduce the air pollution in their homes while saving money. These stoves use less fuel, burn faster and produce less creosote. They are more expensive to operate than non catalytic models and require regular maintenance of the combustion chamber.

Wood Stoves Certified by the EPA

The EPA requires that wood stoves be constructed in accordance with certain guidelines that limit their emissions. According to these guidelines a catalytic stove must not emit more than 7.5 grams per hour. This is in contrast to 4.1 g/hr for an uncatalytic stove. But, it's important to remember that lower emissions ratings do not translate into better heating efficiency.

Sizing and Selection

It is essential that your wood stove is designed appropriately for the space in which it will be installed. The wrong sized stove will not perform as intended and may even overheat. A properly-sized electric stove heaters increases the amount of heat produced and lowers emissions. The brochure: Buying an certified wood stove that is EPA-certified (PDF 530K) offers a simple way to measure and choose the right wood stove.

Non-Catalytical and Catalytic stoves

The first wood stove made was an uncatalytic stove. These are also known as traditional wood burning stoves or open-fire stoves. The non-catalytic stove has the advantage that it does not require an additional combustion to reduce emissions. However, a substantial amount of wasted energy is lost as smoke. The smoke from a non-catalytic wood stove contains creosote, a heavy substance, which is a highly toxic substance. The introduction of the catalytic wood stove has eliminated the risk of these issues. The catalytic stove is catalysts that burn gases in the smoke to eliminate the toxic creosote.

The catalytic wood burner was designed to minimize toxic emissions. However it is less efficient than the secondary combustion system utilized in the non-catalytic model. The catalyst does not completely burn the byproducts produced by burning wood, which is why it emits harmful fumes. In addition, the honeycomb structure of the catalyst could degrade over time. This can lead to a decline in performance and a need for replacement.

Keep the Combustion Chamber Clean

A catalytic combustor that is functioning properly will appear to be powdery gray. It should be free of soot, ash or other materials that could clog the cells and decrease catalytic surface area. The combustor shouldn't be exposed to flame impingement. This can occur when a rapid, strong draft pulls flames directly into a catalytic convertor. This can also happen when you open the firebox or ash pan doors open.

It is important to inspect the catalytic combustor for physical damage and a need to be replaced. If the catalytic combustor has become damaged or needs to be replaced, it must be done as soon as is possible for optimal performance.