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

Many communities have offered financial incentives for replacing old wood stoves with EPA certified models that produce less pollutants. Undark discovered that some of the more recent stoves might not meet EPA standards.

In an era of high energy costs, many cities are seeking to reduce wood combustion, especially in areas in which air quality is poor. Here are ten tips to improve indoor air quality and get more heat out of every log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are one of the most energy-efficient ways to heat your house. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs extremely quickly and produce less creosote compared to older models. This lets you use more energy in your fire, and reduce heating expenses by up to 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves grows over the lifetime of the stove when you use only seasoned hardwood.

Older wood stoves generally have efficiencies of less than 50 percent. This means that half of the potential energy generated by the fire is lost as carbon monoxide and smoke are released into the atmosphere. Modern stoves can have an efficiency of up to 85 percent or more. This is similar to oil and gas furnaces.

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

Modern wood stoves can also reuse the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new flame that burns more efficiently. This process, known as reburn, can increase the efficiency of wood stoves by as much as 10%.

Another benefit of using wood as a source of heat is that it is carbon neutral. The trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air while growing and release oxygen when they are burned. Wood is also an environmentally sustainable resource, especially if it is obtained from woodlands in the local area that are managed in a manner that encourages the growth of healthy trees.

Cleanliness

Cleaning and maintaining wood stoves is important for keeping homes warm. In the United States, 8.8 million households utilize wood stoves. A dirty stove or flue pipe can be a fire hazard and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean chimneys, stoves and flue pipes are also more efficient.

The most commonly-asked task with cleaning your wood stove is to empty the ashes. This should be done on a cool day when the stove isn't hot anymore, and you should wear gloves that are protective when handling the ashes. Choose a metal container that can accommodate all of the ashes, and then dump it outside, away from anything that could burn. You can also put the ashes to your compost to make an organic addition to your garden.

While the ashes are out of the stove, it is a good time to sweep the floor and remove any residual dust. It is also a great idea to put at least three feet space between your wood stove and 5829186 (Https://Www.5829186.Xyz) any combustible items such as curtains or pillows. This will prevent a fire from spreading and burning the objects.

As for the inside of your stove, glass doors that are clean allow you to enjoy a view of the dancing flames and help you know when it is time to light a new fire. Ensure that you have glass cleaner in your kitchen to get rid of any tarred or smudged areas that could be present. Newspaper dipped in water and ash can be used to clean the glass if it is extremely dirty. Be careful not to scratch the glass since scratches can weaken glass and shatter when it is heated.

Creosote buildup on the inside of your flue is the primary cause of chimney fires. Creosote is highly flammable, so an accumulation of just one millimeter can trigger the chimney to catch fire. Clean your flue often, especially if you burn pine or other soft woods that produce more creosote compared to other types of wood.

To prevent creosote vapors from entering your home, you should only burn dry and seasoned wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Also, do not burn fake wood or trash in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves can release toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can make their way into the home, and can have negative effects on the health of children, elderly adults, or those with respiratory illnesses such as COPD or asthma. Exposure to wood smoke over time can also cause heart disease and eventually lung damage.

To avoid these risks to avoid these risks, it is vital to adhere to the correct methods for burning wood on your stove. This includes ensuring that the stove is functioning properly and that it is able to produce enough heat for the space and style. Additionally only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods should be burned in the stove. The firewood's moisture content should be less than 20%. If the moisture content is higher it will burn more quickly and produce a more smoky fire, with more creosote accumulation on the chimney vent pipe walls.

A good draw is another important safety element. This can be achieved by observing how much air is circulating through the firebox and through the chimney. The owner's manual will give detailed instructions on how to regulate air flow in the majority of modern stoves. When you operate the air controls correctly, you will ensure the highest efficiency of heating.

The chimney and flue pipe should be free of combustible material, such as drapes, paper or trash. A lack of clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is a major 5829186.xyz cause of fires in homes caused by wood stoves.

It is also important to keep children away from wood stoves while the fire is burning or while the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious, and might try to touch the hot surfaces of a wood stove or put their hands in the flame. It is recommended to put up a child-proof barrier around the fireplace or to make use of a fireplace screen. It is also crucial to examine the fireplace and wood stove frequently for signs of wear and tear.

Finally, it is essential to have your stove and chimney professionally checked every year for creosote accumulation and bird nests, as well as other issues that can impact the safety of your chimney or stove. This will help prevent fires and health hazards as well as reducing the necessity for carbon monoxide remediation.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are a great way to save money on heating bills but they also require additional maintenance. If you do not perform the required maintenance on your wood stove, it could cause a dangerous fire to escape the flue or Www.5829186.Xyz chimney and could even trigger a housefire. It is also recommended to clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. You should also keep an extinguisher in your house and test it frequently. It's also an excellent idea to place smoke detectors throughout the home, especially one in the area with the stove.

As a rule, you should clean the chimney and stove at least once per year. The cleaning schedule should be adjusted based on how often the stove is used, and it may be required to be done more frequently in winter. Only use dry and seasoned wood to burn in the stove. It is best to avoid using a lot of kerosene or oil when beginning the fire, because these fuels burn differently and can produce toxic gases that could be extremely dangerous to your health.

In the course of your regular cleaning it is important to check the gaskets on your doors. They are typically made of a braided substance that may degrade over time. If you notice the gasket is not sealing properly and requires to be repaired, buy an alternative gasket made of fiberglass and adhesive. Likewise, the hinges on these doors must be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues must be inspected to ensure they are free of creosote build up and obstructions. During this inspection, you should look for cracks in the chimney liner, as well as any other signs of damage. Stovepipes need to be checked as well, and any dents or gaps should be repaired.

It is important to clean the glass door of your wood stove. This can be accomplished easily by using a mixture of ammonia and water. The solution is then applied to the glass with either a sponge or rag. For tougher staining, you can leave the solution in place for a few minutes before wiping the glass again.