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 that emit less pollution. However, Undark found that some of these more modern stoves might not be up to EPA standards.

In a time of rising energy costs, many cities are looking to reduce wood combustion, especially in areas where air quality is poor. Here are ten ways you can improve the quality of your indoor air and gain more heat from each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are one of the most efficient methods to heat your home. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn up logs quickly and produce less creosote than previous models. This lets you use more energy into your fire and reduce your heating expenses by up to 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves also increases over the lifetime of the stove when you use only 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 in the fire. Modern stoves can have an efficiency of up to 85 percent or more. This is comparable to oil and gas furnaces.

The higher efficiency of wood stoves are made by controlling the air, fuel, and combustion process. Wood stoves with controlled airflow can slow down the speed at which the fire moves through the wood, allowing gases to stay hot and completely burn.

Modern wood stoves can recycle the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new fire which burns more efficiently. This process is known as reburn and can increase wood stove burning efficiency by as much as 10 percent.

Wood is also carbon-neutral, which is another advantage. When trees expand they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when they are burned. Wood is a sustainable resource for the environment, especially 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 utilize wood stoves. A dirty stove or flue pipe could be an ignition source and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves, chimneys and flue pipes are also 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 is cool down. Choose a metal container that is big enough to hold all the ashes, then take them outside away from anything that might burn. You can also incorporate the ashes to your compost to make a healthy addition to you garden.

When the ashes have been cleared of the stove, it's an ideal time to sweep the floor and remove any dust that remains. It is also a great idea to put at least three feet space between your wood white electric stove and any combustible things such as curtains or pillows. This will prevent the spread of a fire and burning the items.

A clean glass door inside of your stove will let you see the dancing flames and it can also aid you in determining when to start a fresh fire. Make sure to have a glass cleaner on hand in order to get rid of any tarred or smudged areas. If the glass is very dirty you can make use of newspaper soaked in ash and water to clean it. Avoid scratching the glass since this could cause it to break or break when heated.

The accumulation of creosote in your chimney flue is among the primary causes of chimney fires. A few millimeters of creosote may cause a fire in the chimney. Clean the flue frequently particularly if you burn pine or other soft woods that create more creosote than other types of wood.

To avoid creosote vapors entering your home, you should only burn seasoned and dry wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Do not burn artificial garbage, logs, or other items in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves emit harmful gasses like carbon monoxide and particulates. These harmful gases can be found in the home and can have negative health effects for older adults, children or people suffering from respiratory ailments like asthma or COPD. As time passes exposure to wood smoke may cause heart disease and lung damage.

To prevent these risks, it is essential to follow proper wood stove burning practices. This includes ensuring that the stove is operating correctly and has the right heat output for the size and shape of the room. Only dry, well-seasoned and dry woods should be burnt in the stove. The firewood's moisture content should not exceed 20%. If the moisture content of the firewood is higher, the fire will burn more quickly and create an smoky flame with more creosote forming on the chimney vent pipe wall.

Another important safety issue is to ensure that the stove is operating at a high draw by observing the amount of air flowing through the firebox and 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 efficiency in heating can be achieved if the air controls are operated correctly.

Finally, the flue and chimney pipes should be kept free of fire-prone materials, such as drapes, paper, or carpets. A lack of clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is the most common cause of house fires caused by wood stoves.

Keep children away from wood stoves when the fire is burning or when the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and may try to touch the hot surfaces of a wood stove, or put their hands in the flame. It is recommended to put up a childproof gate around the fireplace, or make use of a fireplace screen. In addition, it is essential to regularly check the fireplace and wood stove for signs of wear.

It is also important to have your stove and chimney professionally inspected once per year for the accumulation of creosote, bird nests and other problems that can affect stove and chimney safety. This will reduce the risk of fires and health hazards as well as reduce the need for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

While wood stoves are an excellent method of saving money on heating bills however, they require additional maintenance. If you fail to perform the necessary maintenance on your wood stove, it could result in a fire that escapes the flue, which could lead to a chimney fire, or even a house fire. It is also recommended to clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. It is also advisable to keep a fire extinguisher handy and test it regularly. Smoke detectors are also a great idea throughout the house, but particularly in the area where the stove is.

As a rule, you should clean the stove and chimney at least once per year. The cleaning schedule is dependent on how much the stove is used, and may require more frequently in winter. Only use dry and seasoned wood to use in the stove. It is recommended to stay clear of using a lot of oil or kerosene for starting the fire, as these fuels have different burning patterns and generate toxic gases that can be very dangerous to your health.

During your regular cleaning it is important to examine the gaskets on your doors. These are often made from rope-like braids which can be damaged by repeated opening and closing. If you notice that the gasket is loose and needs to be repaired, buy a new gasket made of fiberglass and adhesive. The hinges of these doors should be examined as well.

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

It is essential to clean the glass door of your wood stove. You can easily do this by mixing water and ammonia. The solution should be wiped onto the glass using an abrasive or sponge. For more difficult staining, leave the solution on for a few minutes before wiping again.