How Wood Stove Burning Has Changed My Life The Better

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

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

In an era of high energy costs, cities are looking to reduce the use of wood, especially in areas where air quality is poor. Here are 10 strategies to improve indoor air quality and get more heat out of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are among the most efficient ways to heat your house. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs very quickly and produce less creosote compared to older models. This lets you use more of the energy in your fire and reduce your heating expenses by as much as 30%. If you only use well-seasoned wood the efficiency of wood stoves increases throughout the life of the stove.

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

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

In addition modern wood stoves are able to recycle the waste products of incomplete combustion into a new fire that burns more efficiently. This process, referred to as Reburn, can improve the efficiency of wood stoves by up to 10 percent.

Wood is also carbon-neutral and carbon neutral, which is an additional benefit. 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, especially when it is sourced from local woodlands, which are managed in a manner that encourages healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

Cleaning and maintenance of wood stoves is essential for keeping homes warm. In the United States, 8.8 million households make use of wood stoves. A dirty stove or flue pipe can lead to carbon monoxide and fire dangers. Clean stoves, chimneys and flue pipes are more efficient.

The most frequent task associated with cleaning your wood stove is to empty the ashes. This is best done on a cool day when the stove isn't as hot and you must wear protective gloves when handling the ashes. Choose a metal container that is big enough to accommodate all the ashes, and then dump them outside away from anything that could cause a fire. You can also add the ashes into your compost to create an excellent addition to your garden.

While the ashes have been removed from the stove, you can sweep the floor to remove dust. It is also a great idea to put at least three feet between your wood stove and any combustible things such as curtains or pillows. This will prevent the spread of a fire and burning the objects.

A clear glass door that is placed on the inside of your stove will allow you to see the dancing flames, and can help you determine when to light a new fire. Make sure you have glass cleaner in your kitchen to get rid of any smudged or tarred areas that may be present. If the glass is very dirty, you can make use of a newspaper that has been dipped in ash and water to wipe it down. Be careful not to scratch the glass, because scratches can weaken the glass and cause it to shatter when the glass is heated.

Creosote build-up on the inside of your flue is a major cause of chimney fires. Creosote is highly flammable, which is why a layer of even one millimeter can trigger an explosion in your chimney. Clean the flue regularly particularly if you are burning pine or other soft woods that produce more creosote than other types of wood.

Burn only dry, seasoned wood that is split in half or smaller. Never burn artificial garbage, logs, or other items in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves can emit toxic gases like carbon monoxide or particulates. These toxins can enter your home and may have negative health consequences for children, elderly adults or people suffering from respiratory ailments like asthma or COPD. Exposure to wood smoke over time can also 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 practices. These include ensuring that the stove is functioning correctly and has sufficient heat output to the size of the room and design. In addition only dry, well-seasoned woods should be used in the bio ethanol stove. The moisture content should be below 20%. If the moisture content of the wood is higher it will burn more quickly and produce an smoky flame with more creosote forming on the chimney vent pipe's wall.

A good draw is another essential safety feature. This can be achieved by monitoring the amount of air that flows into the firebox and through the chimney. Modern stoves come with a variety of ways to adjust the air flow and the owner's manual has documented procedures. The highest heating efficiencies can be achieved when the air controls are operated correctly.

The flue and chimney pipes must be kept free of material that could ignite, such as drapes, paper, or carpets. A lack of clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is a major cause of house fires caused by wood stoves.

Be sure to keep children away from Wood Burning Stove Near Me (Www.Haim.Kr) stoves while the fire is burning or when the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and may want to touch the hot surfaces of a wood stove or put their hands in the fire. Install a child-proof fence around the fireplace, or use a fireplace screen. Additionally, it is important to check the fireplace regularly and wood stove for signs of wear.

Finally, it is essential to have your stove and chimney regularly inspected for creosote accumulation, bird nests and other issues that can impact the safety of your chimney and stove. This will help prevent fires, health hazards and reduce the necessity for carbon monoxide 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 fail to do the necessary maintenance on your wood stove wood, it could result in a fire which escapes the flue, which could lead to a chimney fire, or even a house fire. It is important to clean the stove's surfaces and flue. It is also advisable to keep an extinguisher on hand and test it regularly. 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 schedule for cleaning is dependent on how much the stove is used, and it may need to be done more frequently in winter. It is also important to make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood to use in the stove. It is advised to avoid using a lot of kerosene or oil for starting the fire, since these fuels burn differently and generate toxic gases that can be very detrimental to your health.

You should inspect the gaskets on your door at the time of your regular cleaning. These are usually made of a braided material that can become degraded over time. If you notice the gasket is leaking and needs to be replaced, purchase a new gasket seal made of fiberglass and adhesive. Also, the hinges of these doors need to be examined as well.

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

If you have a glass door for your wood stove, it is important to keep this clean. You can do this by mixing water with ammonia. The solution should be applied to the glass using either a sponge or rag. For tougher staining, you can leave the solution in place for a few minutes before wiping it off again.