• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

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 pollutant. Undark discovered that some of the latest stoves may not be up to EPA standards.

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

Efficiency

Wood stove burning is one of the most efficient methods to heat your home. Modern EPA-certified wood stoves burn logs fast and produce less smoke than older models. This lets you burn more energy in your fire, and reduce heating costs by up to 30 percent. When you only use well-seasoned wood the efficiency of wood stoves increases over the life of the stove.

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

The higher efficiency of wood stoves can be achieved by controlling the air, fuel and combustion process. Wood stoves that have controlled airflow can slow the speed at which the fire moves through wood, allowing gases produced to stay hot and completely burn.

In addition modern wood stoves are able to recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion into a new fire that produces more efficient combustion. This process is referred to as reburn and can improve wood stove burning efficiency by as much as 10 percent.

Another advantage of using wood as a source of heat is that it is carbon neutral. When trees grow they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when they are burnt. wood burning stoves near me is a sustainable resource for the environment, particularly when it is sourced from local woodlands 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 a crucial part of keeping the home warm. A filthy stove or flue pipe can cause carbon monoxide and fire dangers. Clean stoves as well as flue pipes and chimneys are 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 has cool down. Choose a container made of steel that can hold all the ashes and dump it outside away from anything that may ignite. You can also add the ashes to your compost for an organic addition to your garden.

After the ashes have been removed from the stove, sweep the floor to eliminate dust. 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 a fire from spreading and burning the items.

A clean glass door that is placed on the inside of your stove will let you see the dancing flames and it will also assist you in determining the best time to light a fire. Ensure that you have a glass cleaner on hand to get rid of any tarred or smudged areas that may be present. If the glass is extremely dirty you can make use of newspaper soaked in ash and water to clean it. Be careful not to scratch the glass because scratches can weaken the glass and cause it to shatter when it is heated.

Creosote build-up on the inside of your flue is the primary cause of chimney fires. A tiny amount of creosote could cause a fire stove to a chimney. Clean the flue regularly, especially when burning soft or pine woods create more creosote.

To avoid creosote vapors entering your home, only burn seasoned and dry wood that has been split in half or smaller. Never burn artificial garbage, logs, or other items in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves are known to produce extremely harmful gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can enter your home and could have adverse health effects on young people, older adults or people suffering from respiratory ailments such as asthma or COPD. Exposure to wood smoke in the long run can lead to heart disease and cause lung damage.

It is essential to adhere to the proper wood stove burn practices to avoid these dangers. This includes making sure that the stove is working properly and that it is able to produce enough heat for the room size and design. Only dry, well-seasoned hard woods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content should be less than 20 percent. If the moisture content is higher, it will burn faster and produce a more smoky fire with more creosote build-up on the chimney vent pipe's walls.

Another crucial safety concern is ensuring that the stove has a good draw by observing 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 heating efficiencies can be achieved when air controls are operated correctly.

The flue pipe and chimney should be free of materials that could ignite, including drapes, trash or paper. Insufficient clearance between combustibles as well as wood-burning appliances is the most common cause of house fires caused by wood stoves.

Keep children away from wood stoves while the fire is burning or when 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 flame. It is recommended to set up a child-proof gate around the fireplace or make use of a fireplace screen. In addition, it is essential to check the fireplace regularly and wood stove for signs of wear and tear.

Finally, it is essential to have your stove and chimney regularly inspected for accumulation of creosote as well as bird nests and other issues that could affect the safety of your chimney and stove. This will help avoid fires, health hazards and reduce the necessity for carbon monoxide remediation services.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are an excellent method of saving money on heating bills, they do require some additional maintenance. If you don't perform the necessary maintenance on your outdoor wood burning stove log burner (click through the following website page) stove, it can cause a fire that escapes the flue, which could lead to a chimney fire, or an unintentional house fire. It is also recommended to clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. It is also advisable to keep a fire extinguisher handy and test it regularly. Smoke detectors are also beneficial throughout the house, but especially in the area in which the stove is.

In general, you should clean your chimney and outdoor Wood Burning stove stove at least once a year. The schedule for cleaning should be adjusted based on how often the stove is being used, and it might require more frequently during winter. Use only dry and seasoned wood for burning in the stove. It is advised to avoid using lots of kerosene or oil when starting the fire, since these fuels have different burning patterns and produce toxic gases that could be very dangerous to your health.

In the course of your regular cleaning and maintenance, be sure to check the gaskets on your doors. These are often made from rope-like braids that may become degraded with repeated closing and opening. If you notice that the gasket is loose you can purchase a new fiberglass gasket and some gasket cement to repair it. The hinges of these doors must be examined as well.

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

If you have a glass door for your wood stove, it is essential to keep it clean. You can easily do this by mixing water with ammonia. A rag or sponge should be soaked with the solution and wiped across the glass's surface until it is clean. You can leave the solution for a few moments before wiping it again.