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. Undark discovered that some of the latest stoves may not be up to EPA standards.

In the midst of rising energy prices, a lot of cities are looking for ways to reduce burning wood, particularly in areas with poor air quality. Here are 10 tips to improve the quality of your indoor air and gain more heat from each log.

Efficiency

Wood stove burning is one of the most efficient ways to heat your home. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs extremely quickly and produce less creosote than older models. This lets you use more energy into your fireplace and cut down on heating expenses by as much as 30 percent. If you only use well-seasoned wood the efficiency of wood stoves improves over the life of the stove.

Older wood stoves have an efficiency of 50 percent or lower. This means that smoke and carbon dioxide are released into the air, leading to a loss of half the energy potential in the fire. Modern stoves boast efficiency of 85 percent or more, which is comparable to the efficiency of oil and gas furnaces.

Wood stoves can be made more efficient by controlling the air combustion, fuel, and processes. Wood stoves with controlled airflow can slow the speed at which the fire moves through wood, allowing the gas produced to stay hot and burn completely.

Additionally, modern wood stoves are able to recycle the waste products of incomplete combustion into a fresh fire that produces more efficient combustion. This process is known as reburn, and can boost the efficiency of wood stoves by as much as 10 percent.

Another advantage of using wood as a source of heat is that it is carbon neutral. The trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while growing and release oxygen in return when they burn. Wood is a sustainable resource for the environment, particularly when it comes from local woodlands that are managed in a way that encourages healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

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

Emptying the ashes is the primary task you can do when cleaning your wood stove. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove has cooled down. Select a container made of metal that will hold all of the ashes and dump it outside away from anything that may ignite. Alternatively, you can add the ashes to your compost pile for an organic addition to your garden.

When the ashes have been cleared of the stove, it is an ideal time to sweep the floor and sweep up any residual dust. It is important to keep at least 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any other combustible objects like pillows, curtains or toys. This prevents the fire from getting out of control and burning these things.

Regarding the inside of your stove a clean glass door allows you to take a look of the dancing flames and can help you tell when it's time to start an all-new fire. Make sure you have glass cleaner available to clean any smudged or tarred areas that might be present. Newspaper dipped into water and ash can be used to wash the glass if it's extremely dirty. Be careful not to scratch the glass because scratches can weaken the glass and shatter when it is heated.

Creosote accumulation on the inside of your flue is the primary cause of chimney fires. Creosote can be extremely flammable, and any layer of even millimeters could cause the chimney to catch fire. Clean the flue frequently especially in the event that burning soft or pine woods produces more creosote.

Burn only seasoned, dry wood that has been split in half or smaller. Also, don't burn artificial logs or trash in your electric wood stove stove.

Safety

Wood stove burning can produce very toxic gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can enter the home and cause negative effects on the health of children, older adults, and those suffering from respiratory diseases such as COPD or asthma. Smoke from wood over time can cause heart disease and eventually lung damage.

To prevent these risks to avoid these risks, it is vital to adhere to the correct wood stove burning procedures. This includes ensuring that the stove is functioning properly and that it has sufficient heat output for the space and style. Only dry, well-seasoned, hard woods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content of the wood must be less than 20%. If the moisture content is higher, it will burn more quickly and produce a more smoky fire with more creosote build-up on the chimney vent pipe walls.

Another important safety issue is to ensure that the stove has a good draw by observing the amount of air flowing into the firebox and through the chimney. The owner's manual will give specific instructions on how you can alter the flow of air in most modern stoves. Properly operating the air controls can ensure the highest efficiency of heating.

Finally, the flue and chimney pipes should be free of fire-prone materials, such as drapes, paper, trash or rug. The wood stove fires are often caused by an insufficient clearance between combustibles wood-burning appliances, and combustibles.

Be sure to keep children away from wood stoves while the fire is burning or 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. It is recommended to put up a child-proof gate around the fireplace or employ the fireplace screen. Additionally, it is important to regularly inspect the fireplace and wood stove for signs of wear.

Finally, it is essential to have your stove and chimney professionally checked every year for accumulation of creosote and bird nests, as well as other problems that can affect stove and chimney safety. This will reduce the risk of fires and health hazards and will also lessen the need for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

Although wood stoves are an excellent method of saving the cost of heating your home but they also require additional maintenance. If you don't take care of the required maintenance, your wood stove can cause a fire that is dangerous to escape from the chimney or flue or even start a housefire. You should also clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. It is also advisable to keep an extinguisher in your house and test it often. Smoke detectors are beneficial throughout the house, but especially in the area in which the stove is.

As a general rule cleaning your stove and chimney at least once a year. Cleaning schedules need to be adjusted according to how often the stove is used. It may be necessary to clean it more often in winter. Make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood for burning in the stove. Avoid using a lot oil or kerosene to ignite the electric fire stove. These fuels can produce toxic gases and can be harmful to your health.

When you clean your house regularly, you should inspect the gaskets of your doors. They are typically made of rope-like braids that may degrade with repeated closing and opening. If you notice that the gasket is not tight, purchase a replacement gasket made of fiberglass as well as some gasket cement to repair it. Likewise, the hinges on these doors must be inspected as well.

It is crucial to examine flues and chimneys to ensure that they are clear of creosote and obstructions. During the inspection, look for cracks or other signs of damage to the chimney lining. Stovepipes need to be checked too and any gaps or dents should be repaired.

It is important to clean the glass door of your wood stove. This can be done quickly by mixing a solution of water and ammonia. The solution is then wiped onto the glass using a rag or sponge. For more difficult staining, you can leave the solution in place for a couple of minutes before wiping it off again.