How To Know If You re Prepared For Wood Stove Burning

EPA-Certified Wood Stoves May Not Meet Your Health and 913875.xyz Safety Standards

Many communities have offered financial incentives to replace wood stoves with EPA-certified models which produce less polluting. Undark discovered that some of the latest stoves might not meet EPA standards.

In a time of high energy costs, cities are seeking ways to reduce the use of wood, particularly in areas where air quality is poor. Here are 10 ways to improve the indoor air quality, and get more heat out of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stove burning is one of the most efficient ways to heat your home. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs extremely quickly and produce less creosote than older models. This lets you use more of the energy in your fire and reduce your heating expenses by up to 30%. The efficiency of wood stoves also increases over the lifetime of the stove if you only use seasoned hardwood.

Older wood stoves usually have efficiencies of 50 percent or less. This means that carbon dioxide and smoke are released into the air, resulting in an evaporation of about half the energy potential of the fire. Modern stoves can boast an efficiency of 85 percent or more. This is comparable to oil and 913875 gas furnaces.

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

In addition, modern wood stoves can recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion into a new one that produces more efficient combustion. This process, referred to as Reburn, can improve the efficiency of wood stoves up to 10 percent.

Another benefit of using wood as a source of heat is that it is considered carbon neutral. The trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while growing and release oxygen when they are burned. Wood is a sustainable resource for the environment, particularly when it is sourced from local woodlands, which are managed in a manner that encourages healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

With 8.8 million households that use wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and maintenance are an essential element of keeping your home warm. A dirty stove and flue pipe can be a fire hazard, and could cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves chimneys, flue pipes and stoves are more efficient.

The most common task associated with cleaning your wood stove is emptying the ashes. This is best done on a cool day when the stove isn't hot anymore and you must wear gloves to protect yourself when handling the ashes. Choose a container made of steel that can accommodate all of the ashes and then dispose of it outside away from anything that could ignite. You can also add the ashes to your compost for an organic addition to your garden.

While the ashes have been removed from the stove, you can sweep the floor to eliminate dust. It is recommended to keep at least 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any combustible items such as curtains, pillows or toys. This will stop a fire from spreading and burning the items.

A clean glass door that is placed on the interior of your stove will allow you to see the flames dancing, and it can also aid you in determining when to start a fresh fire. Make sure to have a glass cleaner in your kitchen to clean any tarred or smudged areas. Newspaper dipped in ash and water can be used to wash the glass if it's extremely dirty. Avoid scratching the glass because this could cause it to weaken and break when heated.

The accumulation of creosote in your chimney flue is one the main causes of chimney fires. A tiny amount of creosote could cause a fire to the chimney. Clean the flue frequently, especially if burning soft or pine woods produce more creosote.

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

Safety

Wood stoves are known to produce very toxic gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins enter the home and may have negative health effects for children, elderly adults or people suffering from respiratory ailments such as asthma or COPD. Over time, wood smoke exposure can cause lung damage and heart disease.

To reduce the risk of these issues It is crucial to follow the proper methods for burning wood on your stove. These include ensuring that the stove is functioning properly and that it is able to produce enough heat for the space and design. Additionally only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content of the firewood should be less than 20%. If the moisture content is higher it will burn more quickly and produce a more smoky fire, with more creosote accumulation on the chimney vent pipe walls.

Another important safety issue is to ensure that the stove is operating at a high draw by monitoring the amount of air flowing through the firebox and the chimney. The owner's guide will provide detailed instructions on how to regulate air flow in the majority of modern stoves. The highest efficiency in heating can be achieved if the air controls are operated correctly.

The chimney and flue pipe must be free of all fire-prone materials, like drapes, paper or trash. The wood stove fires are usually caused by insufficient clearance between combustibles wood-burning appliances as well as combustibles.

Be sure to keep children away from wood stoves when the flame is burning or the ashes are being removed. Kids 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 childproof fence around the fireplace or install a fireplace screen. In addition, 913875 it is essential to regularly check the fireplace and wood stove for signs of wear and tear.

Finally, it is essential to ensure that your chimney and stove are professionally inspected once per year for creosote accumulation as well as bird nests and other issues that can impact 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

Wood stoves are an effective way to lower your heating expenses, but they do require a little more maintenance. If you fail to perform the necessary maintenance on your wood stove, it could result in a fire which escapes the flue, which could lead to a chimney fire, or even an unintentional house fire. In addition to cleaning the chimney and cleaning the stove, you must to sweep and clean the stove's surfaces and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand and test it regularly. Smoke detectors are an excellent idea for all rooms of the home, but they are especially useful in the area in which the stove is.

As a rule it is recommended to clean the stove and chimney at least once per year. The cleaning schedule can be altered based on how often the stove is used, and may need to be done more frequently in winter. Only use dry and seasoned wood to use in the stove. It is advised to avoid using a lot of oil or kerosene for starting the fire, as these fuels burn differently and can produce toxic gases that could be extremely dangerous to your health.

During your regular cleaning it is important to inspect the gaskets of your doors. They are typically made of a braided substance that may be damaged over time. If you find that the gasket is loosened you can purchase a new fiberglass gasket and some gasket cement to fix it. The hinges of these doors need to be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues need to be inspected to ensure they are free of creosote build-up and obstructions. During this inspection, look for cracks in the chimney liner as well as any other indications of damage. Stovepipes should be inspected as well, and any dents or gaps should be repaired.

If you have a glass door for your wood stove, it is crucial to keep it clean. It is easy to accomplish this by mixing water and ammonia. A sponge or rag should be saturated with the solution and then wiped across the surface of the glass until it is clean. For tougher staining, you can leave the solution on for a couple of minutes before wiping it off again.