Watch Out: What Wood Burning Stove Is Taking Over And What To Do About…

Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves are a carbon-free renewable source of heat that can save money on energy bills. They also assist in active woodland management, which benefits wildlife.

However, if they aren't installed and maintained properly they can create carbon monoxide that poses health hazards for the family. To avoid this, select a wood stove that's EPA certified and uses the latest technology to ensure safe operation.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic stove is equipped with a special honeycomb-like catalyst which converts the smoke from wood into carbon dioxide and water. It is a good choice for anyone who wants to cut down on indoor air pollution and save money by burning less wood. These stoves use less 5kw multi fuel stove, 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 according to certain guidelines which limit their emissions. The guidelines stipulate that a catalytic wood stove should be tested at a level that is not more than 7.5 grams of smoke per hour. This compares with 4.1 g/hr of smoke for a non catalytic stove. But, it's important to note that lower emissions ratings do not translate into better heating efficiency.

Sizing and Selection

It is very important to ensure that your wood stove is properly appropriate for the house in which it will be installed. A stove that is not properly sized will not work as intended and may even overheat. A properly-sized stove increases the amount of heat produced and lowers emissions. The brochure: Buying a wood stove that is certified by the EPA (PDF 530K) offers a simple way to size and select the best wood stove.

Non-Catalytical and Catalytic 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 main benefit of a non-catalytic stove is that it doesn't need an additional combustion to reduce emissions. Smoke is one of the major sources of wasted energy. The smoke produced by non-catalytic stoves has a poisonous substance called creosote. The introduction of the catalytic wood stove reduced the risk of these issues. The catalytic wood stove utilizes a catalyst to burn the smoke containing gases and eliminates toxic creosote.

The catalytic wood burner was developed to minimize toxic emissions. However, it is less effective than the secondary combustion system utilized in the non-catalytic model. The catalyst is unable to completely burn the byproducts from burning wood and therefore still emits harmful fumes. The honeycomb structure can also be damaged over time. This could result in a decrease in performance and a need for replacement.

Maintain the Combustion Chamber Clean

A catalytic combustor that is operating properly will appear powdery gray. It should be free of ash, soot or other tatty substances that would plug up the cells and reduce the surface area of catalytic reactions. The combustor should also not be subjected to impingement of flames. This can happen when a powerful, fast draft forces flames into a catalytic converter. This could also occur if you leave the firebox and ash pan doors open.

It is important to regularly inspect the catalytic combustor to determine whether it has physical damage, and for the need for replacement. If the catalytic combustor is damaged or requires to be replaced, it must be done as soon as is possible to ensure maximum performance.