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

Many communities have offered financial incentives to replace old wood stoves with EPA certified models that produce less pollutants. Undark discovered that some of the newer stoves may not be up to EPA standards.

In a time of rising energy costs, cities are trying to cut down on the use of wood, especially in areas where air quality is low. Here are 10 ways to improve indoor air quality and extract more heat of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stove burning is 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 makes it possible to burn a higher proportion of the energy of your fire in a shorter time and lower your heating costs by as much as 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves improves over the life of the stove when you use only seasoned hardwood.

Older wood stoves are efficient at 50 percent or lower. This means that a significant portion of the potential energy in the fire is lost as smoke and carbon monoxide are released into the atmosphere. Modern stoves can boast an efficiency of 85% or more. This is comparable to gas and oil furnaces.

The higher efficiencies of wood stoves are achieved by controlling the fuel, air, and combustion process. Wood stoves that regulate the airflow can slow down how fast the flame moves through the wood and permit the gases produced to stay hot and combust completely.

Modern wood stoves are able to reuse the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new fire that produces more efficient combustion. This process, called reburn, can increase the efficiency of wood stoves by up to 10%.

Another benefit of using wood as a source for heat is that it is carbon neutral. As trees develop they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when they are burnt. Wood is also an environmentally sustainable resource, especially if it is obtained from local woodlands that are managed in a way that encourages the growth of healthy trees.

Cleanliness

With 8.8 million households using wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and maintenance are an essential part of keeping the home warm. A dirty stove and pipe can pose an ignition source and Www.913875.Xyz can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves chimneys, flue pipes and stoves are more efficient.

The most commonly-asked task with cleaning your wood stove is emptying the ashes. Wear gloves that are protective and wait until the stove has cooled down. Choose a container made of steel that will hold all of the ashes and then dispose of it outside, away from anything that could burn. Alternatively, you can add the ashes to your compost for an organic addition to your garden.

Once the ashes have been removed from the stove, sweep the floor to eliminate any dust. It is also a good idea to leave at least 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any other combustible objects like pillows, curtains or toys. This will prevent the spread of a fire and burning the objects.

A clean glass door on the interior of your stove will allow you to see the dancing flames and it will also help you determine when to start a fresh fire. Be sure to have a glass cleaning solution on hand in order to clean any smudged or tarred areas. If the glass is extremely filthy you can make use of a newspaper that has been dipped in ash and water to wipe it down. Avoid scratching the glass as this can cause it to break or break when heated.

Creosote buildup on the inside of your flue is the primary cause of chimney fires. A few millimeters of creosote can cause a fire in the chimney. Clean the flue frequently particularly if you are burning pine or other soft woods that create more creosote than other types of wood.

Burn only seasoned, dry wood that has been split in half or smaller. Do not burn artificial garbage, logs, or other items inside your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves can release toxic gasses like carbon monoxide or particulates. These toxins can enter the home, and have negative effects on the health of young people, older adults, or people suffering from respiratory ailments like COPD or asthma. As time passes, wood smoke exposure can cause lung damage and heart disease.

To reduce the risk of these issues to avoid these risks, it is vital to adhere to the correct wood stove burning practices. This includes ensuring that the stove is functioning properly and has enough heat output for the size and design of the room. Only dry, well-seasoned and dry woods should be burnt in the stove. The moisture content of the wood should be less than 20 percent. If the moisture content of the firewood is higher, the fire will burn more quickly and create a smoky fire with more creosote on the chimney vent pipe wall.

Another important aspect of safety is to ensure that the stove is operating at a high draw by observing the amount of air that flows through the firebox and the chimney. The owner's manual will give specific instructions on how you can alter the flow of air in most modern stoves. The best efficiency of heating can be achieved if the air controls are operated correctly.

The flue and chimney pipes must be kept clear of any material that could ignite, such as drapes, paper, or rug. Inadequate clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is a major reason for house fires caused by wood stoves.

It is also essential to keep children away from wood stoves when the fire is burning or when ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and they might touch hot surfaces of the stove or place their hands in the flame. Install a child-proof fence around the fireplace, or 913875; www.913875.Xyz, install a fireplace screen. It is also important to regularly inspect the fireplace and wood stove for signs of wear and tear.

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

Maintenance

While wood stoves are a great way to save the cost of heating your home however, they require additional maintenance. If you do not take care of the required maintenance on your wood stove, it can cause a fire that escapes the flue, a risky chimney fire, or even an unintentional house fire. It is important to clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher in hand and test it regularly. It is also a good idea to put smoke detectors throughout the home particularly in the room with the stove.

As a rule, you should clean the stove and chimney at least once per year. The cleaning schedule should be adjusted based on the amount that the stove is being used, and it might be required to be done more frequently during winter. Only use dry and seasoned wood for burning in the stove. It is best to avoid using a lot of kerosene or oil for beginning the fire, because these fuels burn differently and can create toxic gases that can be very detrimental to your health.

You should check the gaskets in your door 913875.xyz when you clean them regularly. They are typically made of a braided material that can become degraded over time. If you notice the gasket is loose and needs to be fixed, purchase a replacement gasket made of fiberglass and adhesive. Also, the hinges on these doors should be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues need to 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, as well as any other indications of damage. Stovepipes should also be examined and any dents must be repaired.

It is essential to clean the glass door of your wood stove. It is easy to accomplish this by mixing water and ammonia. The solution is then applied to the glass using an abrasive or sponge. You can leave the solution for a few minutes before wiping it over again.