What's The Reason? Wood Stove Burning Is Everywhere This Year

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

Many communities have provided financial incentives to replace wood stoves with EPA-certified models which produce less pollution. Undark discovered that some of the latest stoves may not be up to EPA standards.

In these times of high energy prices, a lot of cities are seeking ways to cut down on burning wood, particularly in areas with poor air quality. Here are 10 ways to improve indoor air quality and get more heat out of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are one of the most energy efficient methods to heat your house. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs very quickly and produce less creosote than older models. This lets you burn more energy into your fire and reduce your heating costs by up to 30 percent. When you only use seasoned hardwood, the efficiency of wood stoves improves over the lifetime of the stove.

Older wood stoves typically have efficiency of less than 50 percent. This means that half the potential energy generated by the fire is lost as carbon monoxide and smoke are released into the atmosphere. Modern stoves can achieve efficiencies of up to 85 percent or greater, which is comparable to the efficiencies of gas and oil furnaces.

The higher efficiencies of wood stoves can be achieved by controlling the air, fuel, and combustion process. Wood stoves that regulate the airflow can slow down how fast the fire is moving through the wood and permit the gases that are produced to remain hot and completely combust.

Modern wood stoves can reuse the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new fire which is more efficient in burning. This process, known as reburn, can boost the efficiency of wood stoves up to 10%.

Another advantage of using wood as a source of heat is that it is considered carbon neutral. As trees develop they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when they are burned. Wood is a sustainable resource for the environment, particularly when it is sourced from local woodlands that are managed in a manner that encourages healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

Cleaning and maintenance of wood stoves is essential for keeping homes warm. In the United States, 8.8 million households utilize wood stoves. A dirty flue pipe or stove could cause carbon monoxide to build up and create fire dangers. Clean chimneys, stoves and flue pipes are more efficient.

The most frequent task associated with cleaning your wood stove is to empty the ashes. This should be done on a day that is cool, when the stove isn't as hot and you must wear protective gloves when handling the ashes. Choose a container made of metal that is that is large enough to accommodate all the ashes, and dump them outdoors away from anything that could be able to ignite. You can also incorporate the ashes to your compost to create an excellent addition to your garden.

After the ashes have been removed from the stove, you can sweep the floor to remove any dust. It is also a good idea to leave at least three feet space between your wood stove, and any combustible items like pillows or curtains. This will prevent a fire from spreading and burning the objects.

A clear glass door on the interior of your stove will allow you to see the dancing flames, and it will also help you determine when to light a fire. Ensure that you have a glass cleaner on hand to get rid of any tarred or smudged areas that might be present. If the glass is very filthy it is possible to use newspaper dipped in ash and water to wipe it down. Be careful not to scratch the glass since scratches can weaken glass and cause it to shatter when the glass is heated.

Creosote accumulation on the inside of your flue is a major cause of chimney fires. Creosote is highly flammable, and an accumulation of just a few millimeters can cause the chimney to catch fire. Clean your flue often, especially if you burn pine or other soft woods that produce more creosote than other kinds of wood.

To avoid creosote vapors entering your home, you should only burn seasoned and dry wood that has been split in half or smaller. Also, never burn artificial garbage or logs in your wood stove.

Safety

wood burning stoves near me stoves are known to produce extremely toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide and particulates. These harmful gases can be found in the home and can have negative health consequences for young people, older adults or people suffering from respiratory ailments such as asthma or COPD. The exposure to wood smoke in the long run can lead to heart disease and eventually lung damage.

It is crucial to follow the correct wood stove burn practices to avoid these dangers. This includes ensuring that the stove is working correctly and has sufficient heat output for the size and shape of the room. In addition only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods are allowed to be used in the stove. The moisture content of the firewood should not exceed 20 percent. If the moisture content of the firewood is higher the fire will burn more quickly and create smoke that is smoky and has more creosote on the chimney vent pipe's wall.

A well-drawn chimney is an additional important safety element. This can be achieved by monitoring how much air flows into the firebox as well as through the chimney. The owner's guide will provide specific instructions on how you can alter the flow of air in most modern stoves. The best efficiency of heating can be achieved when air controls are operated correctly.

The chimney and flue pipe must be free of combustible material, such as drapes, trash or paper. Insufficient clearance between combustibles as well as wood-burning appliances is a leading reason for house fires caused by wood stoves.

Be sure to keep children out of wood stoves when the fire is burning or the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and they might touch hot surfaces of the electric stove fires (browse around this site) or place their hands on the fire. It is recommended to put up a child-proof barrier around the fireplace or make use of a fireplace screen. It is also important to inspect the fireplace and wood stove often for signs of wear.

It is also important to ensure that your chimney and stove are professionally inspected once per year for accumulation of creosote as well as bird nests and other issues that can impact the safety of your chimney or stove. This will help avoid fires and health hazards as well as reducing the necessity for carbon monoxide remediation.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are an effective way to lower the cost of heating, however they require some extra maintenance. If you don't do the necessary maintenance on your wood stove, it could cause a fire that escapes the flue, a dangerous chimney fire, or even an unintentional house fire. It is also recommended to clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher in hand and test it regularly. Smoke detectors are also an excellent idea for all rooms of the house, but especially in the room where the stove wood burning is located.

In general, you should clean your chimney and stove at least once a year. Cleaning schedules need to be adjusted depending on how often the stove is used. It is possible to clean it more frequently in winter. You should also be sure to make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood to use in the stove. It is recommended to avoid using lots of kerosene or oil for starting the fire, since these fuels have different burning patterns and generate toxic gases that can be extremely dangerous to your health.

In the course of your regular cleaning and maintenance, be sure to inspect the gaskets of your doors. They are typically made of braided rope-like material that can become degraded with repeated closing and opening. If you notice the gasket is not sealing properly and requires to be fixed, purchase an alternative fiberglass seal and some gasket adhesive. The hinges of these doors must be examined as well.

Chimneys and flues need to be examined to ensure that they are free of creosote build up and obstructions. During this inspection, you should look for cracks in the chimney liner and any other signs of damage. Stovepipes also need to be inspected and any damage should be repaired.

If you have a glass door on your wood stove, it is crucial to keep it clean. You can easily accomplish this by mixing water with ammonia. The solution should be applied to the glass using either a sponge or rag. It is possible to leave the solution for a few moments before wiping it off again.