It Is The History Of Wood Stove Burning In 10 Milestones

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 which produce less polluting. Undark discovered that some of the latest stoves may not meet EPA standards.

In the midst of rising energy costs, cities are seeking ways to cut down on wood burning, especially in areas that have poor air quality. Here are 10 ways to improve indoor 913875 air quality, and to get more heat out of each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are among the most energy-efficient ways 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 burn more of the energy in your fire and reduce your heating costs by up to 30%. When you only use wood that has been seasoned the efficiency of wood stoves improves over the life of the stove.

Older wood stoves usually have efficiencies of 50 percent or less. This means that half of the potential energy generated by the fire is lost when smoke and carbon monoxide are released into the air. Modern stoves can boast an efficiency of 85 percent or more. This is comparable to gas and oil furnaces.

The higher efficiencies of wood stoves are made by controlling the fuel, air and combustion process. Wood stoves that have controlled airflow can slow down the speed at which the flame moves through wood, allowing gases produced to remain hot and fully burn.

Modern wood stoves can recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion to create a new fire that burns more efficiently. This process is called reburn, and can boost the efficiency of wood stoves by as much as 10 percent.

Another benefit of using wood as a source of heat is that it is carbon neutral. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while growing and release oxygen in return when they burn. Wood is a renewable resource for the environment, especially when it comes from local woodlands managed in a manner that encourages healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

With 8.8 million households using 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 lead to carbon monoxide and fire dangers. Clean stoves chimneys, flue pipes and stoves are more efficient.

The removal of ashes is the most frequent task to do when cleaning your wood stove. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove has cooled down. Select a container made of metal that can hold all the ashes and dump it outside away from anything that could ignite. Alternately, you can add the ashes to your compost pile for a healthy addition to your garden.

While the ashes have been removed from the stove, sweep the floor to remove dust. It is also a good idea to leave at least 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any combustible materials such as curtains, pillows or toys. This will stop the spread of a fire and burning the objects.

For the inside of your stove, a clean glass door allows you to see of the dancing flames and can help you tell when it is time to begin an all-new fire. Be sure to have a glass cleaning solution available to clean any tarred or smudged areas. If the glass is extremely filthy it is possible to make use of a newspaper that has been dipped in ash and water to clean it. Be careful not to scratch the glass since scratches can weaken glass and shatter when it is heated.

Creosote accumulation on the inside of your flue is a major cause of chimney fires. A few millimeters of creosote may cause a fire in a chimney. Clean the flue frequently, especially if you burn pine or other soft woods that generate more creosote than other kinds of wood.

Burn only dry, seasoned wood that is split in half or smaller. Never burn artificial trash, logs or other objects in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves can emit toxic gasses like carbon monoxide and particulates. These harmful gases can be found in the home and may have negative health effects on children, elderly adults or those with respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD. In time exposure to wood smoke may cause heart disease and lung damage.

To reduce the risk of these issues to avoid these risks, it is vital to follow proper wood stove burning practices. This includes ensuring that the stove is working properly and 913875 has enough heat output for the size and layout of the room. Only dry, well-seasoned hard woods should be burnt in the stove. The moisture content should be less than 20 percent. If the moisture content of the wood is higher, the fire will burn more quickly and create an smoky flame with more creosote on the chimney vent pipe's wall.

A well-drawn chimney is an additional important safety feature. This can be achieved by monitoring the amount of air that is circulating through the firebox and through the chimney. The majority of modern stoves offer various ways to alter the flow of air and the owner's manual contains the procedures. Properly operating the air controls will ensure the highest efficiency of heating.

The flue pipe and chimney should be free of fire-prone materials, like drapes, trash or paper. Inadequate clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is a major cause of house fires caused by wood stoves.

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 may try to touch the hot surfaces of the wood stove or even put their hands in the flame. Install a childproof fence around the fireplace, or use a fireplace screen. It is also important to inspect the wood stove and fireplace frequently for signs of wear and tear.

It is also important to ensure that your chimney and stove are professionally inspected once per year for creosote accumulation, bird nests and other issues that can impact the safety of your chimney and stove. This will help to prevent fires and health hazards, as well as reduce the need for carbon monoxide remediation.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are an effective way to lower the cost of heating, however they need some additional maintenance. If you don't perform the required maintenance on your wood stove, it could cause a dangerous fire to escape from the chimney or flue or even start a housefire. In addition to cleaning the chimney and cleaning the stove, you need to clean and sweep the surfaces in the stove and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher in hand and test it regularly. Smoke detectors are also beneficial throughout the home, but they are especially useful in the area where the stove is located.

As a rule it is recommended to clean the stove and chimney every year. Cleaning schedules should be adjusted depending on how often the stove is used. It is possible to clean it more often in winter. Use only dry and seasoned wood to burn in the stove. Avoid using a lot oil or kerosene to ignite the fire. These fuels can release toxic gasses and pose a danger to your health.

In the course of your regular cleaning it is important to examine the gaskets on your doors. These are usually made of a braided substance that may be damaged over time. If you notice that the gasket is loosened you can purchase a new gasket made of fiberglass as well as some gasket cement to repair it. The hinges of these doors must be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues should be inspected to ensure 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 be examined as well and any gaps or dents need to be filled.

If you have a glass door for your wood stove, it is crucial to keep it clean. This can be accomplished quickly by mixing a solution of water and ammonia. A sponge or rag must be soaked with the solution and wiped across the surface of the glass until it is clean. It is possible to leave the solution for a few minutes before wiping it again.