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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 produce less pollution. But Undark discovered that some of these newer stoves may not be able to meet EPA standards.

In these times of high energy prices, a lot of cities are looking for ways to reduce burning wood, particularly in areas where air quality is poor. Here are 10 ways to improve indoor air quality, and extract more heat of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are one of the most energy-efficient ways to heat your home. Modern wood stoves that are EPA-certified burn logs quickly and produce less smoke than older models. This allows you to burn a higher percentage of the potential energy of your fire in a shorter time and lower your heating costs by up to 30 percent. If you only use seasoned hardwood the efficiency of wood stoves improves over the life of the stove.

Older wood stoves have an efficiency of 50 percent or less. This means that half the energy potential in the fire is lost because carbon monoxide and smoke are released into the air. Modern stoves can have an efficiency of 85% or more. This is comparable to oil and gas furnaces.

Wood stoves can be improved by controlling the air as well as the fuel and combustion processes. Wood stoves that control the airflow can slow down the speed at which the flame moves through the wood and allow the gases produced to remain hot and combust completely.

Modern wood stoves can reuse the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new fire that produces more efficient combustion. This process, known as reburn, can boost the efficiency of wood stoves by as much as 10 percent.

Wood is also carbon neutral and carbon neutral, which is an additional benefit. When trees develop they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when they are burned. Wood is a sustainable resource for the environment, particularly when it comes from local woodlands managed in a way that promotes healthy tree growth.

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 or flue pipe can cause carbon monoxide and fire hazards. Clean stoves as well as flue pipes and chimneys are more efficient.

Cleaning the ashes is the most frequent task when cleaning your wood stove. This should be done on a cool day, when the stove isn't as hot and you must wear protective gloves when handling the ashes. Choose a container made of steel that can hold all the ashes and 5829186.xyz - https://www.5829186.xyz/f2apa-73wm-14lw9-gq7u-p94k0k-3872/ - dump it outside away from anything that could burn. Alternatively, you can add the ashes to your compost pile for a healthy addition to your garden.

Once the ashes have gone out of the stove, it is an ideal time to sweep the floor and sweep up any dust that remains. It is also a good idea to keep at minimum 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any combustible items like curtains, pillows or toys. This will prevent a fire from spreading and burning the items.

A clean glass door on the inside of your stove will let you see the flames dancing, and can help you determine when to light a fire. Make sure you have a glass cleaner available to get rid of any smudged or tarred areas. If the glass is extremely filthy, you can make use of a newspaper that has been dipped in water and ash to clean it. Avoid scratching the glass because this can cause it to break or break when heated.

Creosote build-up on the inside of your flue is the primary cause of chimney fires. Creosote is extremely flammable, and an accumulation of just one millimeter can trigger a chimney fire. Clean your flue often particularly if you are burning pine or other soft woods that generate more creosote compared to other types of wood.

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

Safety

Wood stove burning can produce extremely toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can make their way into the home and cause negative health effects for young people, older adults, and those suffering from respiratory ailments like COPD or asthma. The exposure to wood smoke in the long run can lead to heart disease and cause lung damage.

To avoid these risks, it is essential to follow the proper wood stove burning practices. This includes ensuring the stove is operating properly and has enough power to heat the size and layout of the room. In addition, only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods should be used in the stove. The moisture content should be below 20 percent. If the moisture content is higher it will burn faster and create a smokier fire that has more creosote building up on the chimney vent pipe's walls.

A well-drawn chimney is an additional important safety element. This can be accomplished by monitoring the amount of air that flows into the firebox as well as through the chimney. The majority of modern stoves offer various ways to alter the flow of air and Www.5829186.xyz the owner's guide has documented procedures. The highest efficiency in heating can be achieved when the control of the air flow is properly used.

The flue pipe and chimney should be free of fire-prone materials, like drapes, trash or paper. The fires that occur in wood stoves are usually caused by inadequate clearance between combustibles, wood-burning appliances as well as combustibles.

Be sure to keep children away from wood stoves while the fire is burning or 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 in the fire. Install a childproof fence around the fireplace or use a fireplace screen. It is also important to regularly check the fireplace and wood stove for signs of wear.

Lastly, 5829186.xyz it is important to have your stove and chimney professionally inspected once per year for the accumulation of creosote and bird nests, as well as other issues that can impact the safety of your chimney and stove. This will help avoid fires, health hazards and reduce the need for smoke or carbon monoxide remediation.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are an excellent way to save the cost of heating your home, they do require some additional maintenance. If you fail to take care of the required maintenance on your wood stove, it could result in a fire which escapes the flue, a risky chimney fire, or an unintentional house fire. You should also clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. Keep an extinguisher in your house and test it often. It's also an excellent idea to place smoke detectors around the house particularly in the room that houses the stove.

As a rule it is recommended to clean the stove and chimney once a year. The schedule for 5829186 cleaning can be altered based on how often the stove is being used, and it might be required to be done more frequently during winter. You should also be sure to use only seasoned and dry wood to burn in the stove. Avoid using a lot oil or kerosene to start the fire. These fuels can produce toxic gases and be harmful to your health.

You should inspect the gaskets on your door during your regular cleaning. They are typically made of a braided material which can degrade over time. If you find that the gasket is loose, purchase a replacement gasket made of fiberglass and some cement to fix it. The hinges of these doors need to be checked as well.

Chimneys and flues must 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 must be repaired.

If you have a glass door on your wood stove, it is crucial to keep it clean. This can be accomplished quickly by mixing a solution of ammonia and water. The solution should be wiped onto the glass using an abrasive or sponge. It is possible to leave the solution for a few moments before wiping it again.