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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 emit less pollution. But Undark found that some of these more modern stoves may not meet EPA standards.

In these times of high energy costs, cities are seeking ways to cut down on burning wood, particularly in areas with poor air quality. Here are ten things you can do to improve indoor air quality and get more heat from every log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are among the most energy efficient methods to heat your house. Modern wood stoves certified by the EPA burn logs fast and produce less smoke than older models. This lets you make use of a larger proportion of the energy from your fire in a shorter period of time and lower your heating costs by up to 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves improves over the life of the stove when you use only seasoned hardwood.

Older wood stoves generally have efficiencies of less than 50 percent. This means that smoke and carbon dioxide are released into the air, leading to losing half of the energy potential of the fire. Modern stoves can achieve efficiency of up to 85 percent or greater, which is comparable to the efficiency of oil and gas furnaces.

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

Additionally modern wood stoves can recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion into a fresh fire that burns more efficiently. This process is called reburn and can improve wood stove burning efficiency by up to 10 percent.

Wood is also carbon neutral, which is another advantage. As trees expand, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when burnt. Wood is a renewable resource for the environment, particularly when it comes from local woodlands, 913875.xyz; www.913875.xyz, which are managed in a way that promotes healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

Cleaning and maintenance of wood stoves is crucial to keeping homes warm. In the United States, 8.8 million households make use of wood stoves. A dirty stove and pipe can be an ignition source and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean chimneys, stoves and flue pipes are also more efficient.

Cleaning the ashes is the most frequent task you can do when cleaning your wood stove. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove is cool down. Select a metal container big enough to accommodate all the ashes, and dump them outside away from anything that might cause a fire. You can also put the ashes to your compost to create a healthy addition to you garden.

Once the ashes have gone out of the stove, it's an ideal time to sweep the floor and sweep up any dust that remains. It is also a great idea to keep at least three feet space between your wood stove, and any combustible items such as pillows or curtains. This will prevent the spread of a fire and burning the items.

A clean glass door inside of your stove will allow you to see the flames dancing, and it will also help you determine when to light a fire. Make sure you have glass cleaner in your kitchen to clean any tarred or smudged areas that may be present. Newspapers dipped in ash and water can be used to wash the glass if it's extremely filthy. Avoid scratching the glass since this can 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 can cause a fire in the chimney. Clean the flue regularly especially in the event that burning pine or soft woods produce more creosote.

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

Safety

Wood stoves can emit toxic gasses like carbon monoxide or www.913875.Xyz particulates. These toxins can enter the home, and have negative health effects for children, elderly adults, and those suffering from respiratory illnesses such as COPD or asthma. The exposure to wood smoke over time can cause heart disease and lead to lung damage.

It is essential to adhere to the proper burning practices for wood stoves in order avoid these risks. This includes ensuring the stove is working properly and has enough heat output for the size and shape of the room. In addition only dry, well-seasoned woods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content should be below 20%. If the moisture content of the wood is higher it will burn more quickly and create smoke that is smoky and has more creosote forming on the chimney vent pipe's wall.

Another important safety issue is to ensure that the stove is operating at a high draw by monitoring the amount of air that flows through the firebox and 913875 (www.913875.xyz) the chimney. The owner's guide will provide specific instructions on how you can regulate air flow in the majority of modern stoves. When you operate the air controls correctly, you can achieve the highest efficiency of heating.

The chimney and flue pipe should be free of fire-prone materials, like drapes, trash or paper. The wood stove fires are often caused by an inadequate clearance between combustibles wood-burning appliances and combustibles.

Be sure to keep children away from wood stoves while the fire is burning or the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and might try to touch the hot surfaces of the wood stove or even put their hands into the fire. Install a child-proof fence around the fireplace or install a fireplace screen. It is also crucial to examine the fireplace and stove frequently for signs of wear.

Lastly, it is important to ensure that your chimney and stove are professionally checked every year for the accumulation of creosote, bird nests and other issues that could affect the safety of your chimney or stove. This will help avoid fires and health hazards, as well as reduce the necessity for carbon monoxide remediation.

Maintenance

While wood stoves are an excellent method of saving money on home heating but they also require additional maintenance. If you do not take care of the required maintenance on your wood stove, it could result in a fire that escapes the flue, a dangerous chimney fire, or even a house fire. In addition to cleaning the chimney and cleaning the stove, it is essential to clean and sweep the surfaces in the stove and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher on the counter and test it frequently. It's also recommended to install smoke detectors in the house, especially one in the room with the stove.

In general cleaning your stove and chimney at least once per year. Cleaning schedules should be adjusted in accordance with how frequently the stove is used. It is possible to clean it more often in winter. It is also important to make sure you use only dry and well-seasoned wood to burn in the stove. Avoid using a lot oil or kerosene for starting the fire. These fuels could release toxic gases and be harmful to your health.

During your regular cleaning it is important to check the gaskets on your doors. They are typically made of a braided substance that may degrade over time. If you notice the gasket is not sealing properly and requires to be repaired, buy a replacement gasket made of fiberglass and adhesive. The hinges of these doors should also be checked.

Chimneys and flues must be inspected to ensure that they are free of creosote build-up and obstructions. During the inspection, check for 913875 cracks or other signs of damage in the chimney lining. Stovepipes should also be examined, and any dents should be repaired.

If you have a glass door for your wood stove, it is crucial to keep it clean. You can accomplish this by mixing water with ammonia. The solution is then wiped onto the glass using an abrasive or sponge. For more difficult staining, 913875 you can leave the solution in place for a couple of minutes before wiping it off again.