10 Essentials Concerning Wood Burning Stove You Didn't Learn At S…

Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves are a carbon-free renewable source of heat that could help you save money on your energy bills. They also help with active woodland management, which benefits wildlife.

However, if they aren't properly maintained and installed, they can create carbon monoxide which can pose health risks for the entire family. To avoid this, look for an EPA-certified wood stove with modern technology to ensure safe operation.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic fireplace is equipped with a catalyst which resembles honeycomb. It converts wood smoke into carbon dioxide. It is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to cut down on indoor air pollution and save money by burning less wood burning stove for sale. These stoves burn hotter and produce less creosote. They use less fuel. They are more expensive to operate than non catalytic models, and require regular maintenance on the combustion chamber.

Wood Stoves Certified by the EPA

The EPA requires wood stoves to be constructed according to certain guidelines that reduce their emissions. According to these guidelines a catalytic stove must not emit more than 7.5 grams per hour. This compares to 4.1 grams/hour for an uncatalytic stove. However, it's important to note that lower emissions ratings do not mean more efficient heating.

Sizing and Selection

It is essential that your wood stove is built correctly for the home where it will be installed. A stove that is not properly sized will not perform as intended and may even overheat. A properly sized stove improves the amount of heat produced and lowers emissions. The brochure: Buying an EPA-Certified Wood electric stove fireplace (PDF 530K) offers a straightforward method of sizing and choosing the right wood stove.

Non-Catalytic and Catalytic 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 primary advantage of the non-catalytic stove is that it doesn't require an additional combustion to reduce emissions. Smoke is the primary source of wasted energy. The smoke produced by a wood stove that is not catalytic has creosote, a hefty residue, which is a highly toxic substance. The catalytic wood heater has eliminated the risks. The catalytic wood stove utilizes catalysts to burn the smoke's gases and eliminates the toxic creosote.

While the catalytic wood stove was designed as a means to reduce the emission of toxic gases but it isn't as effective as the secondary burn system found in the non-catalytic stove. The catalyst produces unhealthy fumes because it doesn't burn completely the wood byproducts that result from burning. The honeycomb structure could be damaged over time. This can lead to a decline in performance and a need for replacement.

Cleaning the Combustion Chamber Clean

A properly functioning catalytic combustor will have a light gray powdery appearance. 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 must not be subject to flame impingement. This can be caused by a strong, fast draft that draws flames directly into the catalytic converter. This could also occur when you open the firebox or the doors to the ash pan open.

It is important to inspect the catalytic combustor for physical damage and the need to be replaced. If the catalytic combustor is damaged or requires to be replaced, it must be done as quickly as is feasible for optimal performance.