This Is The Complete Listing Of Wood Stove Burning Dos And Don'ts

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

In a time of high energy prices, many cities are seeking ways to reduce burning wood, particularly in areas with poor air quality. Here are 10 ways to improve the indoor air quality and get more heat out of each log burning stove.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are one of the most energy efficient methods to heat your house. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs extremely quickly and produce less creosote than previous models. This allows you to burn more energy into your fire, and reduce heating costs by up to 30%. If you use only wood burning stove for sale that has been seasoned, the efficiency of wood stoves increases over the lifetime of the stove.

Older wood stoves are efficient at 50 percent or lower. This means that a significant portion of the potential energy generated by the fire is lost because carbon monoxide and stoves smoke are released into the air. Modern stoves can have an efficiency of up to 85 percent or more. This is comparable to gas and oil furnaces.

The higher efficiency of wood stoves are made by controlling the air, multi fuel stove, and combustion process. Wood stoves with controlled airflow can slow the speed at which the fire moves through wood, allowing the gases produced to stay hot and completely burn.

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 boost the efficiency of wood stoves by as much as 10 percent.

Wood is also carbon neutral, which is another advantage. As trees grow they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when burned. Wood is a renewable resource for the environment, particularly when it comes 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 part of keeping the home warm. A filthy stove or flue pipe can lead to carbon monoxide and fire hazards. Clean stoves, chimneys and stoves flue pipes are also more efficient.

The most frequent task associated with cleaning your wood stove is emptying the ashes. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove is cool down. Select a metal container that is large enough to accommodate all the ashes, and dump them outdoors away from anything that could be able to ignite. Alternatively, you can add the ashes to your compost pile for an organic addition to your garden.

When the ashes have been cleared of the stove, it is an ideal time to sweep the floor and sweep up any dust left behind. It is also a good idea to put at least three feet between your wood stove, and any combustible items such as pillows or curtains. This will prevent the spread of a fire and burning the items.

A clean glass door that is placed on the inside of your stove will allow you to see the dancing flames and it can also aid you in determining when to start a fresh fire. Be sure to have a glass cleaning solution in your kitchen to remove any smudged or tarred areas. Newspaper dipped in ash and water can be used to cleanse the glass if it is extremely dirty. Avoid scratching the glass because this can cause it to break or break when heated.

The buildup of creosote inside your chimney flue is one the primary causes of chimney fires. Creosote can be extremely flammable, which is why an accumulation of just millimeters could cause an explosion in your chimney. Clean the flue frequently especially if burning soft or pine woods produce more creosote.

Burn only seasoned, dry wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Also, never burn artificial wood or trash in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves can release toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins enter the home and may have negative health effects for older adults, children or those with respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD. Smoke from wood over time can cause heart disease and lead to lung damage.

To prevent these risks, it is essential to follow the proper methods for burning wood on your stove. This includes making sure that the stove is functioning properly and that it has enough heat output to the size of the room and style. In addition only dry, well-seasoned hardwoods are allowed to be used in the stove. The moisture content should not exceed 20 percent. If the moisture content of the wood is higher it will burn more quickly and produce a smoky fire with more creosote forming on the chimney vent pipe's wall.

A good draw is another essential safety feature. This can be achieved by observing how much air is circulating through the firebox as well as through the chimney. Most modern stoves have various ways to regulate the flow of air and the owner's guide has documented procedures. Properly operating the air controls will ensure the highest efficiency of heating.

The chimney and flue pipe must be free of all materials that could ignite, including drapes, paper or trash. The fires that occur in wood stoves are usually caused by insufficient clearance between combustibles wood-burning appliances, and combustibles.

Be sure to keep children out of wood stoves when the fire is burning or the ashes are being removed. Kids are naturally curious and might try to touch the hot surfaces of a wood electric stove fire, or put their hands into the fire. It is recommended to set up a child-proof barrier around the fireplace or use the fireplace screen. It is also important to regularly inspect the fireplace and wood stove for signs of wear and tear.

It is also important to ensure that your stove and chimney are professionally inspected at least once per year to look for creosote buildup, bird nests, and other issues that may affect the safety of your stove. This will help prevent fires and health hazards, and will also lessen the need for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

Although wood stoves are a great way to save money on home heating, they do require some additional maintenance. If you don't do the necessary maintenance on your wood stove, it can result in a fire which escapes the flue, a risky chimney fire, or even an unintentional house fire. In addition to cleaning the chimney and cleaning the stove, you need to clean and sweep the surfaces in the stove and flue. You should also keep an extinguisher on hand and test it frequently. It is also recommended to install smoke detectors in the house particularly in the area with the white electric stove.

In general it is recommended to clean the chimney and stove at least once per year. Cleaning schedules should be adjusted in accordance with how frequently the stove is used. It is possible to clean it more often in winter. Use only dry and seasoned wood to use in the stove. Avoid using a lot of oil or kerosene to start the fire. These fuels can produce toxic gases and can be harmful to your health.

You should check your door gaskets at the time of your regular cleaning. These are often made from rope-like braids which can degrade with repeated closing and opening. If you find that the gasket is loosened you can purchase a new fiberglass gasket and some gasket cement to fix it. The hinges of these doors need to be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues need to be inspected to ensure that they are free of creosote accumulation and obstructions. During the inspection, look out for cracks or other signs of damage to the chimney lining. Stovepipes must be examined as well, and any gaps or dents should be repaired.

If you have a glass door for your wood stove, it's important to keep this clean. You can easily accomplish this by mixing water and ammonia. The solution is then applied to the glass using an abrasive or sponge. You can leave the solution for a couple of minutes before wiping it over again.