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EPA-Certified Wood Stoves May Not Meet Your Health and Safety Standards

Many communities have offered financial incentives for 913875.xyz replacing old wood stoves with EPA certified models that emit less pollution. But Undark found that some of these modern stoves may not meet EPA standards.

In the midst of rising energy prices, many cities are seeking ways to reduce burning wood, www.913875.xyz particularly in areas where air quality is poor. Here are ten things you can do to improve the quality of your indoor air and gain more heat from every log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are one of the most energy efficient methods to heat your home. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn up logs quickly and produce less creosote than older models. This allows you to burn more of the energy in your fire and reduce your heating expenses by up to 30 percent. If you use only wood that has been seasoned the efficiency of wood stoves will increase over the lifetime of the stove.

Older wood stoves have an efficiency of 50 percent or lower. This means that half the energy potential in the fire is lost when carbon monoxide and smoke are released into the atmosphere. Modern stoves boast efficiency of up to 85 percent or more, which is similar to the efficiencies of gas and 913875.xyz oil furnaces.

Wood stoves can be improved by controlling airflow as well as the fuel and combustion processes. Wood stoves with controlled airflow can slow down the speed at which the fire moves through wood, allowing gases to stay hot and burn completely.

Modern wood stoves can also recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion to create a new fire which produces more efficient combustion. This process is known as reburn and can increase wood stove burning efficiency by up to 10 percent.

Another advantage of using wood as a source for heat is that it is carbon neutral. When trees develop they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when burnt. Wood is a renewable resource for the environment, especially when it comes from local woodlands managed in a way that promotes 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 dirty flue pipe or stove could cause carbon monoxide to build up and create fire dangers. Clean stoves chimneys, flue pipes and stoves are more efficient.

Emptying the ashes is the most frequent task when cleaning your wood stove. This should be done on a cool day when the stove isn't hot anymore and you must wear gloves to protect yourself when handling the ashes. Choose a metal container that is large enough to hold all of the ashes, and dump them outdoors away from anything that might cause a fire. Alternately, you can add the ashes to your compost pile for a healthy addition to your garden.

After the ashes have been removed from the stove, sweep the floor to eliminate any dust. It is also a good idea to leave at least 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any combustible materials like pillows, curtains or toys. This prevents the fire from growing out of control and burning these things.

As for the interior of your stove, a clean glass door allows you to enjoy a view of the flames dancing and can help you tell when it's time to start a new fire. Be sure to have a glass cleaner on hand in order to get rid of any tarred or smudged areas. Newspapers dipped in ash and water can be used to cleanse the glass if it's extremely dirty. Avoid scratching the glass since this can cause it to break or break when heated.

Creosote buildup on the inside of your flue is the primary cause of chimney fires. Creosote is extremely flammable, 913875 which is why an accumulation of just millimeters could cause a chimney fire. Clean the flue often, especially in the event that burning soft or pine woods create more creosote.

To avoid creosote vapors entering your home, you should only burn seasoned and dry wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Also, don't burn artificial wood or trash in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stove burning can produce very toxic gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These harmful gases can be found in the home and may have negative health consequences for young people, older adults or people suffering from respiratory ailments like asthma or Www.913875.xyz COPD. Over time exposure to wood smoke can cause heart disease and lung damage.

It is important to adhere to the proper wood stove burn practices in order avoid these risks. This includes ensuring that the stove is operating properly and that it has sufficient heat output for the space and design. Additionally, only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods are allowed to be burned in the stove. The moisture content of the wood should not exceed 20%. If the moisture content of the wood is higher it will burn faster and produce an smoky flame with more creosote on the chimney vent pipe wall.

A well-drawn chimney is an additional important safety element. This can be achieved by monitoring how much air is circulating through the firebox as well as through the chimney. Modern stoves come with a variety of ways to regulate the flow of air and the owner's guide includes procedures. The best efficiency of heating can be achieved when the air controls are operated correctly.

The chimney and www.913875.Xyz flue pipe should be free of fire-prone materials, like drapes, paper or trash. A lack of clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is a leading cause of house fires caused by wood stoves.

It is also essential to keep children away from wood stoves when the fire is in progress or when ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and they might touch hot surfaces of the wood stove or put their hands on the fire. Install a childproof fence around the fireplace, or use a fireplace screen. It is also important to inspect the wood stove and fireplace regularly for signs of wear and tear.

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

Maintenance

Although wood stoves are an excellent way to save money on heating bills, they do require some additional maintenance. If you don't take care of the required maintenance on your wood stove, it can result in a fire that escapes the flue, a dangerous chimney fire, or an unintentional house fire. You should also clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher on the counter and test it frequently. It's also an excellent idea to place smoke detectors in the house particularly in the area with the stove.

As a rule you should clean the stove and chimney once a year. The cleaning schedule can be altered based on how much the stove is being used, and it might require more frequently during winter. It is also important to make sure you use only dry and well-seasoned wood to burn in the stove. It is best to avoid using a lot of oil or kerosene for beginning the fire, because these fuels burn differently and generate toxic gases that can be extremely detrimental to your health.

You should inspect your door gaskets during your regular cleaning. They are typically made of rope-like braids that may be damaged by repeated closing and opening. If you notice that the gasket is not tight you can purchase a new gasket made of fiberglass as well as some gasket cement to repair it. The hinges of these doors need to be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues must 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 also need to be inspected and any damage should be fixed.

It is important to clean the glass door of your wood stove. This can be accomplished easily with a mix of ammonia and water. A rag or sponge should be saturated with the solution, then wiped over the surface of the glass until it is completely clean. You can leave the solution for a few minutes before wiping it over again.