The Reason Everyone Is Talking About Wood Stove Burning This Moment

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

Many communities have offered financial incentives to replace old wood stoves with EPA certified models that produce less pollutants. Undark discovered that some of the more recent stoves may not be up to EPA standards.

In a time of high energy prices, many cities are looking for ways to reduce burning wood, particularly in areas where air quality is poor. Here are 10 strategies to improve indoor air quality and to get more heat out of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are one of the most efficient methods to heat your home. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs very quickly and produce less creosote than older models. This allows you to burn more of the energy in your fire, and reduce heating expenses by as much as 30%. If you use only wood that has been seasoned the efficiency of wood stoves will increase throughout the life of the stove.

Older wood stoves have an efficiency of 50 percent or lower. This means that carbon dioxide and smoke are released into the air, resulting in losing half of the energy potential of the fire. Modern stoves can boast an efficiency of up to 85 percent or more. This is comparable to gas and oil furnaces.

Wood stoves can be more efficient by controlling the air, fuel, and combustion processes. Wood stoves with controlled airflow can slow the speed at which the fire moves through the wood, allowing gas produced to remain hot and fully burn.

Modern wood stoves can recycle the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new fire that is more efficient in burning. This process is referred to as reburn, and can boost wood stove burning efficiency by up to 10 percent.

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

Cleanliness

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

The most common task associated with cleaning your wood stove is emptying the ashes. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove has cooled down. Select a metal container big enough to hold all the ashes, and then dump them outdoors away from anything that could be able to ignite. You can also add the ashes to your compost for a healthy addition to your garden.

While the ashes have been removed from the stove, sweep the floor to get rid of any dust. It is also a good idea to put at least three feet between your wood electric stove heaters and any combustible items such as pillows or curtains. This will prevent the spread of a fire and burning the objects.

A clear glass door on the inside of your stove will let you see the flames dancing, and it will also assist you in determining the best time to light a new fire. Ensure that you have glass cleaner in your kitchen to get rid of any tarred or smudged areas that could be present. If the glass is very dirty it is possible to use newspaper dipped in ash and water to clean it. Avoid scratching the glass since this could cause it to break or break when heated.

Creosote build-up on the inside of your flue is the primary cause of chimney fires. Creosote is extremely flammable, and any layer of even one millimeter can trigger the chimney to catch fire. Clean the flue regularly, especially if burning pine or soft woods produces more creosote.

To ensure that creosote-free vapors do not enter your home, only burn seasoned and dry wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Never burn fake garbage, logs, or other items in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves emit harmful gasses like carbon monoxide and particulates. These harmful gases can be found in the home and could have adverse health effects for young people, older adults or people suffering from respiratory ailments such as asthma or COPD. Smoke from wood over time can also cause heart disease and eventually lung damage.

It is important to adhere to proper burning techniques for wood stoves to reduce the risk. This includes making sure the stove is working correctly and has the right heat output for the size and shape of the room. In addition, only dry, well-seasoned woods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content should be below 20 percent. If the moisture content of the wood is higher, the fire will burn more quickly and produce a smoky fire with more creosote buildup on the chimney vent pipe's wall.

Another important safety issue is ensuring that the stove is operating at a high draw by observing the amount of air that flows into the firebox and through the chimney. The owner's manual will give detailed instructions on how to adjust air flow in most modern stoves. Properly operating the air controls will ensure the highest efficiency in heating.

The chimney and flue pipes must be kept free of combustible materials, including drapes, papers, trash or rugs. Inadequate clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is a leading cause of fires in homes caused by wood stoves.

It is also essential to keep children away from wood stoves while the flame is burning or when the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious, and they can touch hot surfaces on a wood stove or place their hands in the flame. It is recommended to install a child-proof barrier around the fireplace or to make use of a fireplace screen. Additionally, it is important to check the fireplace regularly and wood stove for signs of wear.

Finally, it is essential to have your stove and chimney professionally checked every year for accumulation of creosote and bird nests, as well as other issues that can impact stove and chimney safety. This will help prevent fires and health hazards and will also lessen the need for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are an excellent method of saving the cost of heating your home, they do require some additional maintenance. If you don't take care of the required maintenance, your wood stove can cause a fire that is dangerous to escape from the chimney or flue, and even cause a housefire. You should also clean the stove's surfaces and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher at hand and test it regularly. Smoke detectors are also beneficial throughout the home, but they are especially useful in the area where the stove is located.

As a general rule, you should clean your stove and chimney at least once a year. Cleaning schedules need to be adjusted in accordance with how frequently the stove is used. It may be necessary to clean it more frequently in winter. It is also important to make sure you use only dry and well-seasoned wood to use in the stove. It is best to stay clear of using a lot of oil or kerosene for beginning the fire, because these fuels burn differently and generate toxic gases that can be harmful to your health.

You should check the gaskets on your door during your regular cleaning. They are usually made of rope-like braids that may be damaged by repeated opening and closing. If you find that the gasket is not tight and you need to replace it, buy a fiberglass gasket and some gasket cement to fix it. The hinges on these doors should be examined as well.

It is important to inspect chimneys and flues to ensure that they are free of obstructions and creosote. During the inspection, look out for cracks or other signs of damage to the chimney lining. Stovepipes need to be checked too, and any dents or gaps should be repaired.

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