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

Many communities have offered financial incentives to replace wood stoves with EPA-certified models that produce less pollution. Undark discovered that some of the latest stoves may not meet EPA standards.

In these times of high energy costs, cities are seeking ways to reduce wood burning, especially in areas with poor air quality. Here are ten ways you can improve the quality of your indoor air and gain more heat from each log.

Efficiency

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

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

Wood stoves can be made more efficient by controlling the airflow combustion, 913875 fuel, and processes. Wood stoves that control the airflow can slow down the speed at which the fire is moving through the wood and allow the gas that is produced to stay hot and fully combust.

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

Wood is also carbon-neutral and carbon neutral, which is an additional benefit. The trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air as they are growing and release oxygen in return when they burn. Wood is also an environmentally sustainable resource, especially if it comes from local woodlands that are managed in a manner that encourages the growth of healthy trees.

Cleanliness

Cleaning and maintaining wood stoves is crucial to keeping homes warm. In the United States, 8.8 million households use wood stoves. A dirty stove and flue pipe can pose a fire hazard and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves as well as flue pipes and chimneys are more efficient.

Cleaning the ashes is the most common task to do when cleaning your wood stove. This is best done on a cool day when the stove isn't hot anymore, and you should wear protective gloves when handling the ashes. Choose a metal container that is big enough to hold all of the ashes, then take them outdoors away from anything that might cause a fire. You can also add the ashes to your compost pile for an excellent addition to your garden.

Once the ashes have gone out of the stove, it's a good time to sweep the floor and vacuum up any dust left behind. It is also a good idea to have at three feet of space between your wood stove and any combustible items such as curtains, pillows or toys. This helps to prevent a fire from getting out of control and burning these things.

A clear glass door that is placed on the inside of your stove will allow you to see the dancing flames, and it can also aid you in determining when to light a fire. Make sure to have a glass cleaner in your kitchen to remove any tarred or smudged areas. Newspaper dipped in water and ash can be used to cleanse the glass if it is extremely filthy. Avoid scratching the glass as this can cause it to weaken and break when heated.

The accumulation of creosote within your chimney flue is one of the main causes of chimney fires. A few millimeters of creosote can cause a fire to a chimney. Clean the flue regularly particularly if you are burning pine or other soft woods that create more creosote than other kinds of wood.

Burn only seasoned, dry wood that is split in half or smaller. Also, do not burn fake logs or trash in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves are known to produce very toxic gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These harmful gases can be absorbed into the home, and can have negative effects on the health of children, elderly adults, and those suffering from respiratory illnesses such as COPD or asthma. Exposure to wood smoke in the long run can lead to heart disease and cause lung damage.

To prevent these risks It is crucial to adhere to the correct wood stove burning practices. This includes ensuring the stove is working correctly and has the right energy output to meet the dimensions and design of the room. Only dry, well-seasoned, hard woods should be burnt in the stove. The moisture content should be less than 20%. If the moisture content of the wood is higher it will burn more quickly and produce a smoky fire with more creosote forming on the chimney vent pipe wall.

Another important aspect of safety is ensuring that the stove is operating at a high draw by observing the amount of air flowing into the firebox and through the chimney. The majority of modern stoves offer several options to regulate the flow of air and the owner's manual contains the procedures. The best efficiency of heating can be achieved when the air controls are operated correctly.

The flue and chimney pipes must be free of fire-prone materials, such as drapes, papers, trash or rug. The fires that occur in wood stoves are usually caused by inadequate clearance between combustibles, wood-burning appliances as well as combustibles.

It is also essential to keep children away from wood stoves while the fire is in progress or when the ashes are being removed. Kids are naturally curious and may try to touch the hot surfaces of a wood stove, or put their hands in the fire. It is recommended to put up a childproof gate around the fireplace, or employ a fireplace screen. It is also crucial to examine the fireplace and stove frequently for signs of wear and tear.

Finally, it is essential to ensure that your chimney and stove are professionally inspected once per year for the accumulation of creosote and bird nests, as well as other issues that could affect the safety of your chimney and stove. This will prevent fires and health hazards as well as reduce the need for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

While wood stoves are a great way to save the cost of heating your home, they do require some additional maintenance. If you do not take care of the required maintenance on your wood stove, it can result in a fire that escapes the flue, a risky chimney fire, or a house fire. In addition to sweeping the chimney and cleaning the stove, you need to clean and sweep the stove's surfaces and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher at your desk and check it frequently. It is also a good idea to put smoke detectors around the house, especially one in the room that houses the stove.

As a rule, you should clean the chimney and stove once a year. Cleaning schedules should be adjusted in accordance with how frequently the stove is used. It might be necessary to clean it more often in winter. You should also be sure to make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood to use in the stove. It is recommended to avoid using a lot of oil or kerosene for starting the fire, as these fuels have different burning patterns and produce toxic gases that could be extremely detrimental to your health.

In the course of your regular cleaning, you should check the gaskets on your doors. They are typically made of a braided substance that may become degraded over time. If you find that the gasket is not sealing properly and requires to be repaired, buy a new gasket made of fiberglass and adhesive. The hinges of these doors should be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues should be examined to ensure that they are free of creosote accumulation and obstructions. During the inspection, look for cracks or other signs of damage in the chimney lining. Stovepipes should also be examined, and any dents should be repaired.

It is essential to clean the glass door of your wood stove. This can be accomplished quickly by mixing a solution of water and ammonia. A sponge or rag must be soaked with the solution and wiped across the surface of the glass until it is completely clean. For 913875.Xyz more difficult stains, you can leave the solution in place for a few minutes prior to wiping again.