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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 emit less pollution. Undark discovered that some of the more recent stoves might not meet EPA standards.

In these times of high energy costs, cities are looking for ways to reduce wood burning, especially in areas that have poor air quality. Here are ten tips to improve indoor air quality and get more heat from every 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 fast and produce less smoke than older models. This lets you burn more energy into your fire, and reduce heating expenses by as much as 30%. The efficiency of wood stoves also increases over the lifetime of the stove when you use only wood that is seasoned.

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

Wood stoves can be improved by controlling the air as well as the fuel and combustion processes. Wood stoves that control airflow can slow down the speed at which the fire moves through the wood, and permit the gas that is produced to stay hot and combust completely.

Additionally modern wood stoves can recycle the waste products of incomplete combustion into a new one that is more efficient in burning. This process, called reburn, can increase the efficiency of wood stoves up to 10 percent.

Another benefit of using wood as a source for heat is that it is considered carbon neutral. When trees develop they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when burnt. Wood is a renewable resource for the environment, especially when it is sourced from local woodlands managed in a manner that encourages healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

With 8.8 million households using wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and maintenance are an important element of keeping your home warm. A dirty stove or 5829186 flue pipe could cause carbon monoxide to build up and create fire dangers. Clean chimneys, stoves and flue pipes are also more efficient.

The most commonly-asked task with cleaning your wood stove is emptying the ashes. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove has cooled down. Choose a metal container that will hold all of the ashes and then dispose of it outside away from anything that could burn. You can also add the ashes to your compost pile for a healthy addition to your garden.

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

A clean glass door interior of your stove will let you see the dancing flames and it will also help you determine when to start a fresh fire. Make sure to have a glass cleaner on hand in order to get rid of any tarred or www.5829186.xyz smudged areas. If the glass is very filthy it is possible to make use of newspaper soaked in ash and water to wipe it down. Avoid scratching the glass as this could cause it to shrink and break when heated.

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

To ensure that creosote-free vapors do not enter your home, only burn dry, seasoned wood that has been split in half or smaller. Never burn artificial garbage, logs, or other items in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves can release very toxic gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins enter the home and can have negative health consequences for children, elderly adults or those with respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD. As time passes exposure to wood smoke may cause lung damage and heart disease.

It is essential to adhere to the proper burning techniques for wood stoves to avoid these dangers. This includes ensuring that the stove is functioning properly and that it has enough heat output to the size of the room and design. Only dry, well-seasoned hard woods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content of the wood should be less than 20%. If the moisture content is higher it will burn more quickly and create a smokier fire, with more creosote accumulation on the chimney vent pipe walls.

Another important aspect of safety is to ensure that the stove is operating at a high draw by monitoring the amount of air flowing into the firebox and through the chimney. The owner's manual will give specific instructions on how you can alter the flow of air in most modern stoves. Correctly operating the air controls can ensure the highest efficiency of heating.

The chimney and flue pipe must be free of combustible material, such as drapes, paper or trash. The wood stove fires are usually caused by insufficient clearance between combustibles wood-burning appliances as well as combustibles.

Keep children away from wood stoves while the fire is burning or when ashes are being removed. Kids are naturally curious and may want to touch the hot surfaces of a wood stove or place their hands into the flame. It is recommended to put up a childproof gate around the fireplace or to make use of a fireplace screen. It is also crucial to check the fireplace and 5829186.xyz wood stove regularly for 5829186 signs of wear.

It is also important to have your stove and chimney professionally examined at least once a year to check for creosote buildup, bird nests, and 5829186.xyz other problems which can affect the safety of your stove. This will reduce the risk of fires and health hazards and also lessen the need for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

Wood stoves can be an effective way to lower your heating expenses, but they do require a little more maintenance. If you don't do the necessary maintenance on your wood stove, it can result in a fire which escapes the flue, a dangerous chimney fire, or a house fire. In addition to sweeping the chimney and cleaning the stove, you need to sweep and clean the surfaces in the stove and flue. You should also keep an extinguisher in your house and 5829186 test it often. Smoke detectors are also beneficial throughout the home, but they are especially useful in the room in which the stove is.

As a rule it is recommended to clean your chimney and stove at least once per year. Cleaning schedules need to be adjusted in accordance with how frequently the stove is used. It might be necessary to clean it more frequently in winter. Also, make sure to make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood to use in the stove. It is best to avoid using a lot of kerosene or oil when starting the fire, since these fuels burn differently and create toxic gases that can be harmful to your health.

It is recommended to check the gaskets on your door when you clean them regularly. These are often made from rope-like braids that may become degraded with repeated opening and closing. If you notice that the gasket is loose, purchase a replacement gasket made of fiberglass as well as some gasket cement to repair it. Also, the hinges of these doors need to be checked as well.

It is important to inspect chimneys and flues to ensure that they are free of obstructions and creosote. During the inspection, check for cracks, and other indications of damage to the chimney lining. Stovepipes need to be checked too and any dents or gaps need to be filled.

If you have a glass door for your wood stove, it is essential to keep it clean. This can be done easily by using a mixture of ammonia and water. A sponge or rag must be soaked in the solution and wiped across the surface of the glass until it is completely clean. For tougher staining, leave the solution in place for a few minutes prior to wiping it off again.