Why You Should Focus On Improving Wood Burning Stove

Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves can help you reduce your energy bills. They also assist in active woodland management, benefitting wildlife.

However, if they aren't properly maintained and installed, they can create carbon monoxide that poses health hazards for the family. To avoid this, pick a wood stove that is EPA certified and has modern technology to ensure safe operation.

Catalytic multifuel stoves

A catalytic fireplace is equipped with a catalyst that looks like honeycomb. It converts wood smoke into carbon dioxide. It is a good choice for those who want to cut down on indoor pollution and save money by burning less wood. They burn more hot and produce less creosote. They consume less multi fuel stoves for sale. However, they are 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 wood stoves are designed in accordance with certain guidelines that restrict their emissions. The guidelines stipulate that a catalytic wood stove should test at least 7.5 grams of smoke per hour. This is compared to 4.1 grams/hour for an uncatalytic stove. However, it's important to remember that lower emissions ratings don't mean more efficient heating.

Sizing and Selection

It is important that your wood stove is sized appropriately for the space in which it will be installed. The wrong size stove will not work 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) provides a convenient method of sizing and choosing the right wood stove.

Non-Catalytical and Catalytic stoves

The first wood stove that was made was an uncatalytic stove. They are also referred to as traditional wood burning stoves or open-fire stoves. The non-catalytic stove is advantageous in that it does not require a second combustion to reduce emissions. However, a significant amount of wasted energy is lost as smoke. The smoke from non-catalytic stoves is contaminated with a toxic substance known as creosote. The introduction of the catalytic wood stove has eliminated these problems. The catalytic wood stove utilizes catalysts to burn the smoke containing gases and eliminates toxic creosote.

The catalytic wood burner was developed to lower the emission of toxic gases. However, it is less effective than the secondary combustion system utilized in the non-catalytic model. The catalyst is unable to completely burn the byproducts produced by burning wood, which is why it produces some unhealthy emissions. Additionally, the honeycomb structure of the catalyst may break down over time. This could lead to lower performance and the need for replacement.

Maintain the Combustion Chamber Clean

A catalytic combustor operating properly will appear like a powdery gray. It should be free of ash, soot or other tatty substances that would plug up the cells and reduce the catalytic surface. The combustor shouldn't be exposed to flame impingement. This could occur when a strong, rapid draft forces flames into a catalytic convertor. This could also happen when the firebox's or ash pan's door has been left open.

It is essential to check the combustion chamber of the catalytic catalytic for physical damage or a need to replace. If the catalytic combustor is damaged or needs to be replaced, it must happen as soon as possible to ensure maximum performance.