Why We Are In Love With Wood Burning Stove (And You Should Too!)

Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves are a non-carbon renewable source of heat that could save money on energy bills. They also help with active woodland management that helps wildlife.

If they are not properly maintained and installed, they can produce carbon monoxide which can pose health hazards for the entire 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 specific catalyst which looks like honeycomb. It converts wood smoke into water and carbon dioxide. This is an excellent option for those looking to reduce the air pollution in their homes while saving money. The stoves are hotter and produce less creosote. They use less fuel. 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 designed according to specific guidelines that restrict their emissions. These guidelines dictate that a catalytic wood stove should test no higher than 7.5 grams of smoke per hour. This is compared to 4.1 grams/hour for a non-catalytic stove. It is important to note that lower emissions ratings don't translate into better heating efficiency.

Sizing and Selection

It is very important to make sure your wood stove is sized for the home where it will be installed. The wrong sized stove will not function as it was intended and may even overheat. The proper stove size will increase the heat output while decreasing emissions. The brochure purchasing an EPA-certified wood Stove (PDF 530K) offers a simple method for sizing and selecting the best wood stove Fireplace (Thewrightbeef.com).

Non-Catalytical and Catalytical stoves

The first wood stove produced was a non-catalytic stove. They are also referred to as traditional wood burning stoves or open-fire stoves. The non-catalytic electric stove fires is advantageous in that it doesn't need another combustion to lower emissions. However, a substantial amount of wasted energy is lost as smoke. The smoke from non-catalytic stoves is contaminated with a toxic substance known as creosote. The catalytic wood heater has helped to alleviate these problems. The catalytic stove is catalysts that burn gases in the smoke to eliminate toxic creosote.

Although the catalytic wood stove was created to help reduce toxic emissions, it is not as efficient as the secondary burn system used in the non-catalytic stove. The catalyst doesn't completely burn the byproducts of burning wood, and consequently produces harmful fumes. In addition, the honeycomb structure of the catalyst may break down over time. This can result in decreased performance and the need for replacement.

Keeping the Combustion Chamber Clean

A catalytic combustor functioning properly will appear to be powdery gray. 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 should not be subject to impingement of flames. This can result from an extremely fast, strong draft that is pulling flames directly into the catalytic converter. This could also occur when you leave the firebox or the ash pan doors open.

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