The Little-Known Benefits Of Wood Stove Burning

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. Undark discovered that some of the more recent stoves may not meet EPA standards.

In the current climate of high energy costs, many cities are trying to cut down on wood combustion, especially in areas where air quality is low. Here are 10 ways to improve indoor air quality and get more heat out of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are among the most energy efficient methods to heat your home. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs extremely quickly and produce less creosote compared to older models. This allows you to use a greater portion of the potential energy generated by your fireplace in a shorter period of time and reduce your heating bills by up to 30 percent. If you use only well-seasoned wood, the efficiency of wood stoves will increase over the life of the stove.

Older wood stoves are efficient at 50 percent or less. This means that half of the energy potential in the fire is lost because carbon monoxide and smoke are released into the air. Modern stoves have efficiency of 85 percent or more, which is comparable to the efficiency of gas and oil furnaces.

The higher efficiencies of wood stoves are achieved by controlling the air, Www.913875.Xyz fuel and 913875.xyz (Www.913875.xyz) combustion process. Wood stoves with controlled airflow can slow the speed at which the flame moves through the wood, allowing gases to stay hot and burn completely.

Modern wood stoves can also recycle the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new fire which is more efficient in burning. This process, called reburn, can increase the efficiency of wood stoves by as much as 10%.

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

Cleanliness

Cleaning and maintaining 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 flue pipe could be a fire hazard and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves, chimneys and flue pipes are also more efficient.

The removal of ashes is the most frequent task when cleaning your wood stove. Wear gloves that are protective and wait until the stove has cool down. Select a container made of metal that can accommodate all of the ashes and then dispose of it outside, away from anything that could burn. You can also incorporate the ashes into your compost for an organic addition to your garden.

Once the ashes have gone out of the stove, it's the perfect time to sweep the floor and sweep up any dust left behind. It is important to have at minimum 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any other combustible objects such as curtains, pillows or toys. This prevents the fire from growing out of control and burning these items.

A clear glass door interior of your stove will allow you to see the dancing flames, and it will also help you determine when to light a new fire. Make sure to have a glass cleaning solution available to get rid of any tarred or smudged areas. Newspaper dipped in water and ash can be used to cleanse the glass if it's extremely dirty. Avoid scratching the glass because this could cause it to weaken and break when heated.

The buildup of creosote inside your chimney flue is one the main causes of chimney fires. Creosote can be extremely flammable, and any layer of even one millimeter can trigger an explosion in your chimney. Clean the flue frequently particularly if you burn pine or other soft woods that generate more creosote than other kinds of wood.

To prevent creosote vapors from entering your home, only burn seasoned and dry wood that has been split in half or smaller. Never burn fake garbage, 913875 logs, or other items in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves are known to produce extremely toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide and particulates. These harmful gases can be found in the home and can have negative health consequences for children, elderly adults or people suffering from respiratory ailments like asthma or COPD. Over time, wood smoke exposure can cause heart disease and lung damage.

To avoid these risks to avoid these risks, it is vital to follow the proper methods for burning wood on your stove. This includes ensuring that the stove is working properly and has enough power to heat the size and layout of the room. Additionally only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods are allowed to be used in the stove. The moisture content should be below 20 percent. If the moisture content is higher it will burn more quickly and create a smokier fire that has more creosote building up on the chimney vent pipe's walls.

A good draw is another important safety element. This can be achieved by monitoring the amount of air that is circulating through the firebox as well as through the chimney. The owner's guide will provide detailed instructions on how to alter the flow of air in most modern stoves. The highest efficiency in heating can be achieved when the air controls are operated correctly.

The chimney and flue pipe should be free of materials that could ignite, including drapes, trash or paper. The wood stove fires are often caused by an inadequate clearance between combustibles wood-burning appliances as well as combustibles.

Be sure to keep children out of wood stoves when the flame is burning or the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and they might touch hot surfaces of the wood stove or put their hands in the fire. Install a child-proof fence around the fireplace or install a fireplace screen. Additionally, it is important to regularly check the fireplace and wood stove for signs of wear.

It is also important to ensure that your stove and chimney are professionally examined at least every year to check for creosote buildup, bird nests, and other problems which can affect the safety of your stove. This will reduce the risk of fires and health hazards and also reduce the necessity for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

Wood stoves can be an excellent way to cut down your heating costs, but they require some extra maintenance. If you fail to take care of the required maintenance on your wood stove, it can result in a fire that escapes the flue, which could lead to a chimney fire, or an unintentional house fire. In addition to sweeping the chimney and cleaning the stove, you must to sweep and clean the surfaces in the stove and flue. Keep an extinguisher on hand and test it frequently. It's also recommended to install smoke detectors throughout the home, especially one in the area with the stove.

In general, you should clean your chimney and stove at least once a year. Cleaning schedules should be adjusted in accordance with how frequently the stove is used. It may be necessary to clean it more frequently in winter. Only use dry and seasoned wood to use in the stove. Avoid using a lot of oil or kerosene to start the fire. These fuels can release toxic gases and be harmful to your health.

During your regular cleaning, you should examine the gaskets on your doors. They are typically made of a braided material which can be damaged over time. If you notice that the gasket is leaking and 913875 (Www.913875.Xyz) needs to be repaired, buy an alternative gasket made of fiberglass and adhesive. The hinges of these doors must be inspected as well.

It is important to inspect chimneys and flues to make sure that they are free of obstructions and creosote. During the inspection, check for cracks or other signs of damage to the chimney lining. Stovepipes should be inspected too and any dents or gaps should be repaired.

It is important to clean the glass door of your wood stove. It is easy to do this by mixing water and ammonia. A sponge or rag must be saturated with the solution and then 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 the glass again.