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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 emit less pollution. Undark discovered that some of the newer stoves might not meet EPA standards.

In a time of rising energy costs, a lot of cities are seeking to reduce the use of wood, especially in areas where air quality is low. Here are 10 strategies to improve indoor air quality, and extract more heat of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are one of the most efficient methods to heat your home. Modern wood stoves certified by the EPA burn logs quickly and generate less smoke than older models. This lets you use more of the energy in your fire and reduce your heating expenses by as much as 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves increases over the lifetime of the stove if you use only wood that is seasoned.

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

The higher efficiency of wood stoves are achieved by controlling the fuel, air, and combustion process. Wood stoves that control airflow can slow down the speed at which the flame moves through the wood and allow the gas that is produced to remain hot and combust completely.

Modern wood stoves can also recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion to create a new fire that is more efficient in burning. This process, known as reburn, can increase the efficiency of wood stoves by up to 10%.

Another advantage of using wood as a source for heat is that it is carbon neutral. As trees grow they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when burned. Wood is a resource that is sustainable for the environment, particularly when it comes from local woodlands managed in a manner that encourages healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

Cleaning and maintaining wood stoves is essential for keeping homes warm. In the United States, 8.8 million households make use of wood stoves. A dirty stove and pipe can pose an ignition source and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean chimneys, stoves and flue pipes 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 cool down. Choose a container made of steel that can hold all the ashes and dump it outside away from anything that could ignite. You can also add the ashes to your compost for an excellent addition to your garden.

When the ashes have been cleared of the stove, it is a good time to sweep the floor and vacuum up any dust that remains. It is important to leave at minimum 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any other combustible objects such as curtains, pillows or toys. This helps to prevent the fire from growing out of control and burning these items.

As for 913875 the interior of your stove, a clear glass door lets you to enjoy a view of the flames dancing and will help you determine when it's time to begin an all-new fire. Make sure that you have glass cleaner in your kitchen to remove any tarred or 913875.xyz smudged areas that might be present. If the glass is very filthy, you can make use of a newspaper that has been dipped in water and ash to wipe it down. Be careful not to scratch the glass because scratches can weaken the glass and shatter when it is heated.

Creosote build-up on the inside of your flue is a major cause of chimney fires. Creosote is highly flammable, so an accumulation of just one millimeter can trigger a chimney fire. Clean the flue frequently particularly if you burn pine or other soft woods that produce more creosote compared to other types of wood.

Burn only seasoned, dry wood that has been split in half or Www.913875.Xyz smaller. Never burn artificial trash, logs or other items in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves are known to produce very toxic gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can enter the home and cause negative health effects on children, older adults, www.913875.xyz or those with respiratory illnesses such as COPD or asthma. Over time exposure to wood smoke may cause lung damage and heart disease.

To reduce the risk of these issues It is crucial to adhere to the correct methods for burning wood on your stove. These include ensuring that the stove is working properly and that it has sufficient heat output for the room size and style. Additionally, only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content should be less than 20 percent. If the moisture content of the wood is higher it will burn faster and produce smoke that is smoky and has more creosote forming on the chimney vent pipe wall.

Another important safety issue is to ensure that the stove has a good draw by monitoring the amount of air that flows through the firebox and the chimney. The owner's guide will provide specific instructions on how you can regulate air flow in the majority of modern stoves. When you operate the air controls correctly, you can achieve the highest efficiency of heating.

The chimney and Www.913875.xyz flue pipe must be free of all materials that could ignite, including drapes, trash or paper. Inadequate clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is a leading cause of house fires caused by wood stoves.

Be sure to keep children out of wood stoves when the fire is burning or when the ashes are being removed. Kids are naturally curious and may want to touch the hot surfaces of a wood stove, or put their hands into the fire. It is recommended to install a childproof gate around the fireplace or use a fireplace screen. It is also crucial to check the wood stove and fireplace often for signs of wear and tear.

It is also important to have your stove and chimney professionally inspected at least every year to look for creosote buildup, bird nests, and other issues that may affect the safety of your stove. This will help to prevent fires and health hazards as well as reducing the need for smoke or carbon monoxide remediation.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are a great way to save money on home heating however, they require additional maintenance. If you don't perform the necessary maintenance, your wood stove can cause a fire that is dangerous to escape from the chimney or flue or even start an explosion in your home. It is important to clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher in the counter and test it frequently. It is also a good idea to put smoke detectors in the house, especially one in the room with the stove.

As a rule you should clean the stove and chimney every year. The frequency of cleaning is dependent on the amount that the stove is being used, and it might require more frequently in winter. It is also important to use only seasoned and dry wood to burn in the stove. Avoid using a lot of oil or kerosene for starting the fire. These fuels can release toxic gasses and pose a danger to your health.

It is recommended to check your door gaskets when you clean them regularly. These are often made from rope-like braids which can be damaged by repeated opening and closing. If you find that the gasket is loose and needs to be replaced, purchase an alternative gasket made of fiberglass and adhesive. The hinges on these doors should be checked as well.

It is important to inspect chimneys and flues to make sure that they are free of creosote and obstructions. During this inspection, look for cracks in the chimney liner and any other indications of damage. Stovepipes need to be checked too and any gaps or dents should be repaired.

If you have a glass door on your wood stove, it is crucial to keep it clean. You can do this by mixing water and ammonia. A rag or sponge should be soaked in the solution and wiped across the glass's surface until it is clean. You can leave the solution for a few moments before wiping it over again.