12 Facts About Wood Burning Stove To Make You Look Smart Around Other …

Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves can help you save money on your energy bills. They also aid in active woodland management, which is beneficial to wildlife.

If they are not properly maintained and installed, they can create carbon monoxide that poses health hazards for the entire family. To avoid this, pick an appliance made of wood that is EPA certified and has modern technology to ensure safe operation.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic fireplace comes with a catalyst which looks like a honeycomb. It converts wood smoke into carbon dioxide. It is an excellent choice for those who want to reduce their indoor pollution and save money by burning less wood. The stoves are hotter and produce less creosote. They use less fuel. However, they are more expensive to operate than non-catalytic models, and require regular maintenance of the combustion chamber.

Wood Stoves that are EPA-Certified

The EPA requires that wood burning stove small stoves be designed in accordance with certain guidelines that reduce their emissions. These guidelines state that a catalytic wood stove must test at least 7.5 grams of smoke per hour. This is compared to 4.1 g/hr for an uncatalytic stove. It's important to remember that lower emissions ratings do not necessarily translate into better heating efficiency.

Sizing and Selection

It is essential that your wood stove is sized to fit the area in which it will be put in. The wrong sized stove will not perform as intended and could even overheat. Proper stove size increases heat output and reduces emissions. The brochure buying an EPA-certified Wood Stove (PDF 530K) offers a straightforward method for sizing and selecting the best wood stove.

Non-Catalytic and Catalytic stoves

The first wood stove made was an uncatalytic stove. They are also referred to as traditional wood burning stoves or open-Fire Stove stoves. The non-catalytic stove has the advantage that it doesn't require a second combustion to reduce emissions. However, a significant amount of energy that is wasted is lost in the form of smoke. The smoke from non-catalytic stoves is contaminated with a toxic substance known as creosote. The introduction of the catalytic wood stove reduced these issues. The catalytic wood stove employs a catalyst to burn the gases in the smoke and eliminates the toxic creosote.

While the catalytic wood stove was developed to help reduce toxic emissions, it is not as effective as the secondary burn system found in the non-catalytic stove. The catalyst is unable to completely burn the byproducts produced by burning wood, and consequently produces some unhealthy fumes. The honeycomb structure could be damaged over time. This can lead to an increase in performance and the necessity for replacement.

Keeping the Combustion Chamber Clean

A catalytic combustor that is operating properly will appear as a grayish powder. It should be free of soot, ash or other materials which could block the cells and decrease the catalytic surface. The combustor must not be exposed to impingement of flames. This could occur when a rapid, strong draft draws flames directly into a catalytic converter. This can also occur when the firebox's door or ash pan door is left open.

It is crucial to examine the catalytic combustion chamber regularly for physical damage or the need to replace. If the catalytic unit is damaged or requires to be replaced, it must happen as soon as possible for optimal performance.