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EPA-Certified Wood Stoves May Not Meet Your Health and 913875 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 newer stoves might not meet EPA standards.

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

Efficiency

Wood stoves are among the most energy efficient methods to heat your home. Modern wood stoves certified by the EPA burn logs fast and produce less smoke than older models. This makes it possible to use a greater proportion of the energy from your fire in a shorter time and cut down on your heating bill by up to 30 percent. If you use only seasoned hardwood the efficiency of wood stoves improves over the lifetime of the stove.

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

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

Modern wood stoves can also recycle the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new fire which burns more efficiently. This process, referred to as Reburn, can improve the efficiency of wood stoves by up to 10 percent.

Wood is also carbon neutral which is a further benefit. As trees grow, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when burnt. Wood is a renewable resource for the environment, particularly when it is sourced from local woodlands, which are managed in a way that promotes 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 or flue pipe can be 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 primary task when cleaning your wood stove. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove has cooled down. Choose a container made of steel that can accommodate all of the ashes and dump it outside, away from anything that may ignite. Alternatively, you can add the ashes to your compost for an organic addition to your garden.

While the ashes have been removed from the stove, sweep the floor to eliminate any dust. It is also a good idea to put at least three feet space between your wood stove and any combustible items such as pillows or curtains. This helps to prevent the fire from getting out of control and burning these items.

Regarding the interior of your stove, glass doors that are clean allow you to see of the flames dancing and will help you determine when it's time to start the fire again. Make sure you have a glass cleaner on hand to clean any tarred or smudged areas that might be present. If the glass is extremely dirty you can make use of newspaper soaked in ash and water to clean it. Avoid scratching the glass since this could cause it to weaken and break when heated.

Creosote accumulation on the inside of your flue is a major cause of chimney fires. Creosote is extremely flammable, which is why a layer of even one millimeter can trigger the chimney to catch fire. Clean your flue often particularly if you burn pine or other soft woods that create more creosote than other types of wood.

Burn only seasoned, dry wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Do not burn artificial trash, logs or other objects in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves can release toxic gases like carbon monoxide or particulates. These toxins can make their way into the home, and have negative health effects for children, older adults, and those suffering from respiratory diseases such as COPD or asthma. Exposure to wood smoke in the long run can lead to heart disease and eventually lung damage.

It is important to follow the correct burning techniques for wood stoves in order avoid these risks. This includes ensuring that the stove is functioning correctly and is able to produce enough heat for the space and style. Only dry, well-seasoned and dry woods should be burned in the stove. The firewood's moisture content should be less than 20%. If the moisture content of the wood is higher it will burn more quickly and create an smoky flame with more creosote on the chimney vent pipe wall.

A well-drawn chimney is an additional important safety feature. This can be accomplished by monitoring how much air is flowing into the firebox as well as through the chimney. The owner's guide will provide specific instructions on how to regulate air flow in the majority of modern stoves. The best efficiency of heating can be achieved when the control of the air flow is properly used.

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

Be sure to keep children out of wood stoves when the flame is burning or when ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious, and they may touch the hot surfaces of the wood stove or put their hands in the flame. It is recommended to set up a child-proof gate around the fireplace or employ a fireplace screen. It is also crucial to examine the fireplace and wood stove regularly for signs of wear.

Lastly, it is important to ensure that your chimney and stove are professionally checked every year for accumulation of creosote and bird nests, as well as other issues that could affect the safety of your chimney and stove. This will prevent fires and health hazards and www.913875.xyz will also reduce the need for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are an excellent way to save money on home heating, they do require some additional maintenance. If you do not perform the necessary maintenance, your wood stove can cause a fire that is dangerous to escape from the chimney or flue or even start fire in your home. You should also clean the stove's surfaces and flue. You should also keep an extinguisher in your house and test it often. Smoke detectors are also an excellent idea for all rooms of the house, but especially in the area where the stove is located.

In general it is recommended to clean the stove and 913875.Xyz chimney once a year. The frequency of cleaning should be adjusted based on how much the stove is used, and it may need to be done more frequently during winter. Make sure to use only dry and 913875.xyz seasoned wood to use in the stove. It is best to avoid using lots of oil or kerosene for starting the fire, as these fuels burn differently and generate toxic gases that can be extremely harmful to your health.

You should inspect the gaskets in your door when you clean them regularly. These are often made from rope-like braids that may become degraded with repeated opening and closing. If you find that the gasket is loosened, purchase a replacement gasket made of fiberglass and some cement to repair it. The hinges of these doors need to be examined 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 or other signs of damage to the chimney lining. Stovepipes should be inspected too and any dents or gaps need to be filled.

If you have a glass door for your wood stove, it's important to keep this clean. You can accomplish this by mixing water and ammonia. A rag or sponge should be soaked with the solution, then wiped over the glass's surface until it is clean. For more difficult staining, you can leave the solution on for a few minutes before wiping it off again.