12 Companies Leading The Way In Wood Burning Stove

Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves can help you save money on your energy bills. They also help with active woodland management, which benefits wildlife.

If they aren't installed and maintained correctly they may release carbon monoxide which poses health risks to the entire family. To avoid this, pick a wood stove that is EPA certified and uses the latest technology for safe operation.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic fireplace comes with a catalyst which looks like honeycomb. It converts wood smoke into carbon dioxide. This is a great choice for anyone looking to reduce indoor air pollution while saving money. They use less fuel, burn hotter and produce less creosote. However, they can be 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 electric wood stove stoves are designed according to certain guidelines which reduce their emissions. According to these guidelines a catalytic stove must not emit more than 7.5 grams per hour. This is in comparison to 4.1 grams of smoke per hour for a non catalytic stove. It is important to keep in mind that lower emissions ratings don't mean more efficient heating.

Sizing and Selection

It is vital to ensure that your wood stove is appropriate for the house where it will be installed. A stove that is not properly sized will not work as intended and may even overheat. A properly sized stove will increase heat output while cutting emissions. The brochure buying an EPA-certified Wood Stove (PDF 530K) provides a convenient method for sizing and selecting a new wood stove.

Non-Catalytical and Catalytic stoves

The first wood stove produced was an uncatalytic stove. These are also known as traditional wood burning stoves or open-Fire Stove stoves. The non-catalytic stove is advantageous in that it doesn't require a second combustion to reduce emissions. Smoke is a major source of wasted energy. The smoke produced by non-catalytic stoves has a poisonous substance called creosote. The catalytic wood heater has reduced the risk of these issues. The catalytic stove uses a catalyst that burns the gases in the smoke to remove the toxic creosote.

Although the catalytic wood stove was created to help reduce the emission of toxic gases but it isn't as effective as the secondary burn system used in the non-catalytic stove. The catalyst does not completely burn the byproducts produced by burning wood, which is why it produces harmful emissions. Additionally the honeycomb structure the catalyst can break down over time. This can lead to a decline in performance and the need for replacement.

Maintain the Combustion Chamber Clean

A functioning catalytic combustor will have an appearance of light gray powdery. It must be free of ash, soot or other tatty substances that would plug up the cells and decrease the surface area of catalytic reactions. The combustor shouldn't be subjected to flame impingement. This can be caused by an extremely fast, strong draft pulling flames directly into the catalytic converter. This could also occur if you leave the firebox or the ash pan doors open.

It is important to inspect the combustion chamber of the catalytic catalytic for physical damage or the need to replace. If it is damaged or requires replacement, it must be replaced as soon as possible to ensure the stove's maximum performance.