EPA-Certified Wood Stoves May Not Meet Your Health and Safety Standards
(Image: https://cdn.freshstore.cloud/offer/images/646/1312/green-power-mobility-super-lightweight-electric-boot-scooter-easy-folding-usb-port-led-light-1312.jpg)Many communities have offered financial incentives to replace old wood stoves with EPA-certified models that emit less pollution. However, Undark discovered that some of these newer stoves may not be able to meet EPA standards.
In these times of high energy prices, many cities are looking for ways to reduce burning wood, particularly in areas that have poor www.913875.xyz (Https://Www.913875.xyz/) air quality. Here are 10 strategies to improve the indoor air quality and get more heat out of each log.
Efficiency
Wood stoves are one of the most efficient methods to heat your home. Modern wood stoves that are EPA-certified burn logs quickly and produce less smoke than older models. This lets you use more energy into your fire, and reduce heating expenses by up to 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves increases over the lifetime of the stove when you only use seasoned hardwood.
Older wood stoves generally have efficiency of 50 percent or less. This means that half the potential energy generated by the fire is lost because carbon monoxide and smoke are released into the atmosphere. Modern stoves boast efficiencies of up to 85 percent or more, which is similar to the efficiency of gas and oil furnaces.
The higher efficiencies of wood stoves are made by controlling the air, fuel and combustion process. Wood stoves that have controlled airflow can slow the speed at which the fire moves through the wood, allowing gas produced to stay hot and completely burn.
In addition, modern wood stoves are able to recycle the byproducts of incomplete combustion into a fresh fire that burns more efficiently. This process is referred to as reburn and can improve wood stove burning efficiency by up to 10 percent.
Wood is also carbon-neutral and carbon neutral, which is an additional benefit. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air while growing and release oxygen when they are burned. Wood is also an eco-friendly resource, particularly if it comes from local woodlands that are managed in a manner 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 aspect of keeping your home warm. A dirty stove and flue pipe can pose an ignition source and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves, flue pipes and chimneys are more efficient.
The removal of ashes is the most common task to do when cleaning your wood stove. This should be done on a day that is cool, when the stove isn't as hot, and you should wear protective gloves when handling the ashes. Select a container made of metal that can hold all the ashes and then dispose of it outside, away from anything that could burn. Alternately, you can add the ashes to your compost for a healthy addition to your garden.
When the ashes have been cleared of the stove, it is a good time to sweep the floor and vacuum up any dust that remains. It is also a good idea to leave at three feet of space between your wood stove and any combustible items like pillows, curtains or toys. This will prevent the spread of fire and 913875.xyz burning the items.
As for the inside of your stove glass doors that are clean allow you to take a look of the flames dancing and help you know when it's time to begin the fire again. Make sure to have a glass cleaner in your kitchen to get rid of any tarred or smudged areas. Newspaper dipped into water and ash can be used to cleanse the glass if it's extremely filthy. Avoid scratching the glass as this can cause it to break or break when heated.
Creosote accumulation on the inside of your flue is the primary cause of chimney fires. Creosote is highly flammable, so an accumulation of just millimeters could cause an explosion in your chimney. Clean the flue regularly, especially if you burn pine or other soft woods that create more creosote compared to other types 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 fake trash, logs or other items inside your wood stove.
Safety
Wood stoves can emit toxic gases like carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can enter your home and may have negative health consequences for older adults, children or people suffering from respiratory ailments such as asthma or COPD. As time passes exposure to wood smoke can cause heart disease and lung damage.
To avoid these risks, it is essential to follow the proper wood stove burning practices. This includes ensuring that the stove is working correctly and has the right power to heat the size and shape of the room. Only dry, well-seasoned hard woods should be burnt in the stove. The moisture content should be below 20 percent. If the moisture content of the wood is higher, the fire will burn faster and produce smoke that is smoky and has more creosote on the chimney vent pipe wall.
Another important safety issue is to ensure that the stove has a sufficient draw by observing the amount of air that flows through the firebox and the chimney. Modern stoves come with several options to adjust the air flow and the owner's guide includes the procedures. Properly operating the air controls can achieve 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.
Be sure to keep children out of wood stoves while the fire is burning or when the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious, and they might touch hot surfaces on a wood stove or place their hands in the flame. It is recommended to install a child-proof gate around the fireplace or make use of the fireplace screen. It is also important to regularly inspect the fireplace and wood stove for signs of wear.
It is also essential to ensure that your stove and chimney are professionally inspected at least every year to check for creosote buildup, bird nests and other problems which can affect the safety of your stove. This will prevent fires and health hazards and also lessen the need for CO2 or smoke remediation services.
Maintenance
Wood stoves are a great way to save the cost of heating your home, they do require some additional maintenance. If you do not take care of the required maintenance on your wood stove, it could cause a fire that escapes the flue, a risky chimney fire, or an unintentional house fire. In addition to cleaning the chimney and cleaning the stove, it is essential to sweep and clean the stove's surfaces and flue. You should also keep an extinguisher on hand and test it regularly. Smoke detectors are an excellent idea for Www.913875.Xyz all rooms of the house, 913875 but particularly in the area in which the stove is.
As a rule you should clean the 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 often in winter. Make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood to use in the stove. It is recommended to avoid using lots of kerosene or oil for starting the fire, since these fuels burn differently and generate toxic gases that can be extremely harmful to your health.
It is recommended to check your door gaskets at the time of your regular cleaning. They are usually made of braided rope-like material that can be damaged by repeated opening and closing. If you find that the gasket is not tight you can purchase a new fiberglass gasket and some gasket cement to repair it. Also, the hinges on these doors should be inspected as well.
It is essential to check chimneys and flues to ensure that they are clear of obstructions and creosote. During this inspection, you should look for cracks in the chimney liner as well as any other signs of damage. Stovepipes also need to be inspected and any dents must be repaired.
It is essential to clean the glass door of your wood stove. You can easily accomplish this by mixing water and ammonia. A sponge or rag must be soaked in the solution and wiped across the surface of the glass until it is completely clean. You can leave the solution for a few moments before wiping it off again.