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EPA-Certified Wood Stoves May Not Meet Your Health and Safety Standards

Many communities have offered financial incentives to replace old wood stoves with EPA-certified models that produce less pollution. But Undark discovered that some of these more modern stoves might not be up to EPA standards.

In an era of high energy costs, a lot of cities are trying to cut down on wood combustion, particularly in areas where air quality is poor. Here are 10 ways to improve the indoor air quality, and to get more heat out of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stove burning is one of the most efficient ways to heat your home. Modern wood stoves certified by the EPA burn logs fast and produce less smoke than older models. This makes it possible to make use of a larger percentage of the potential energy from your fire in a shorter period of time and cut down on your heating bill by as much as 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves also grows over the lifetime of the stove when you use only seasoned hardwood.

Older wood stoves are efficient at 50 percent or less. This means that carbon dioxide and smoke are released into the air, leading to a loss of half the energy potential in the fire. Modern stoves can have an efficiency of 85% or www.913875.xyz more. This is comparable to oil and gas furnaces.

Wood stoves can be more efficient by controlling the air as well as the fuel and combustion processes. Wood stoves that control the airflow can slow down the speed at which the fire is moving through the wood, and permit the gases that are produced to stay hot and completely combust.

Modern wood stoves can also recycle the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new fire that produces more efficient combustion. This process, referred to as Reburn, can improve the efficiency of wood stoves by up to 10%.

Wood is also carbon neutral, 913875 which is another advantage. The trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air while growing and release oxygen when they are burned. Wood is a resource that is sustainable for the environment, particularly when it comes from local woodlands that are managed in a way that promotes healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

With 8.8 million households that use wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and maintenance are an essential element of keeping your home warm. A dirty stove or flue pipe can be a fire hazard, and could cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves chimneys, flue pipes and stoves are more efficient.

The most commonly-asked task with cleaning your wood stove is to empty the ashes. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove has cooled down. Choose a container made of metal that is that is large enough to hold all the ashes, and then dump them in a safe place away from anything that could burn. You can also add the ashes to your compost for an organic addition to your garden.

Once the ashes have gone out of the stove, it is a good time to sweep the floor and sweep up any dust left behind. It is also a great idea to keep at least three feet between your wood stove and any combustible things such as pillows or curtains. This will prevent the spread of a fire and burning the items.

A clear glass door interior of your stove will let you see the dancing flames and it will also aid you in determining when to start a fresh fire. Make sure you have glass cleaner available to get rid of any smudged or tarred areas that may be present. Newspapers dipped in water and ash can be used to cleanse the glass if it's extremely dirty. Avoid scratching the glass since this could cause it to shrink and break when heated.

The buildup of creosote inside your chimney flue is one of the main causes of chimney fires. A few millimeters of creosote can cause a fire in the chimney. Clean the flue regularly, especially if you burn pine or other soft woods that produce more creosote compared to other types of wood.

Burn only seasoned, dry wood that is split in half or smaller. Do not burn artificial trash, logs or other objects in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves can release toxic gases such as carbon monoxide or particulates. These toxins can enter the home, and have negative effects on the health of children, elderly adults, or those with respiratory ailments like COPD or asthma. Over time exposure to wood smoke can cause heart disease and lung damage.

To reduce the risk of these issues It is crucial to adhere to the correct methods for burning wood on your stove. This includes ensuring that the stove is functioning correctly and has enough heat output to the size of the room and design. In addition, only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content of the wood should be less than 20%. If the moisture content is higher, it will burn faster and create a smokier fire with more creosote build-up on the chimney vent pipe's walls.

Another important safety issue is to ensure that the stove is operating at a high draw by observing the amount of air that flows into the firebox and through the chimney. Modern stoves come with a variety of ways to regulate the flow of air, and the owner's manual includes procedures. Correctly operating the air controls can achieve the highest efficiency of heating.

Additionally, the chimney and flue pipes must be kept clear of any fire-prone materials, such as drapes, paper, trash or carpets. Inadequate clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is a major cause of fires in homes caused by wood stoves.

Be sure to keep children away from wood stoves when the flame is burning or when the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious, and they might touch hot surfaces of the wood stove or put their hands in the fire. Install a child-proof fence around the fireplace or install a fireplace screen. It is also important to check the fireplace regularly and wood stove for signs of wear.

Finally, it is essential to ensure that your chimney and stove are professionally inspected once per year for creosote accumulation and bird nests, as well as other issues that could affect stove and chimney safety. This will help prevent fires, health hazards and reduce the necessity for carbon monoxide remediation.

Maintenance

Although wood stoves are an excellent method of saving money on heating bills however, they require additional maintenance. If you do not take care of the required maintenance on your wood stove, it could result in a fire that escapes the flue, which could lead to a chimney fire, or even a house fire. It is also recommended to clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher on the counter and test it frequently. Smoke detectors are a great idea throughout the house, but particularly in the room where the stove is.

As a general rule cleaning your chimney and stove at least once per year. The frequency of cleaning should be adjusted based on how often the stove is used, and it may require more frequently in winter. Make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood to use in the stove. It is recommended to stay clear of using a lot of oil or kerosene for starting the fire, as these fuels have different burning patterns and generate toxic gases that can be extremely dangerous to your health.

It is recommended to check the gaskets on your door during your regular cleaning. They are typically made from a braided material which can degrade over time. If you find that the gasket is loose, purchase a replacement gasket made of fiberglass as well as some gasket cement to repair it. The hinges of these doors need to be examined as well.

It is crucial to examine chimneys and flues to ensure that they are clear of creosote and obstructions. During the inspection, look for cracks in the chimney liner as well as any other indications of damage. Stovepipes also need to be inspected and any damage should be fixed.

It is essential to clean the glass door of your wood stove. This can be done easily with a mix of water and ammonia. A sponge or rag must be soaked with the solution, then wiped over the glass's surface until it is completely clean. For more difficult staining, leave the solution in place for a few minutes before wiping the glass again.