All-Inclusive Guide To Wood Stove Burning
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09.22 10:37
EPA-Certified Wood Stoves May Not Meet Your Health and Safety Standards
Many communities have offered financial incentives to replace wood stoves with EPA-certified models which produce less polluting. But Undark discovered that some of these newer stoves may not be able to meet EPA standards.
In a time of high energy costs, cities are seeking ways to reduce the use of wood, particularly in areas where air quality is poor. Here are ten tips to improve the quality of your indoor air and www.913875.Xyz gain more heat from each log.
Efficiency
Wood stoves are one of the most efficient ways to heat your house. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs very quickly and produce less creosote than previous models. This allows you to burn more of the energy in your fire, and reduce heating expenses by up to 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves improves over the life of the stove if you use only seasoned hardwood.
Older wood stoves usually have efficiencies of less than 50 percent. This means that smoke and carbon dioxide are released into the air, resulting in an evaporation of about half the energy potential in the fire. Modern stoves can achieve efficiency of up to 85 percent or more, which is similar to the efficiency of gas and oil furnaces.
The higher efficiencies of wood stoves can be achieved by controlling the fuel, air and combustion process. Wood stoves that have controlled airflow can slow down the speed at which the fire moves through wood, allowing gases to remain hot and fully burn.
In addition modern wood stoves are able to recycle the waste products of incomplete combustion into a new one that is more efficient in burning. This process, known as Reburn, can improve the efficiency of wood stoves by up to 10 percent.
Wood is also carbon-neutral which is a further benefit. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air as they are growing and release oxygen in return when they are burned. Wood is a resource that is sustainable for the environment, especially when it is sourced from local woodlands that are managed in a manner that encourages 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 dirty flue pipe or stove can lead to carbon monoxide and fire hazards. Clean stoves chimneys, flue pipes and stoves are more efficient.
The most frequent task associated with cleaning your wood stove is emptying the ashes. This is best done on a day that is cool, when the stove isn't as hot and you must wear gloves that are protective when handling the ashes. Select a container made of metal that will hold all of the ashes and then dispose of it outside, Www.913875.xyz away from anything that could ignite. You can also add the ashes to your compost for a healthy addition to your garden.
After the ashes have been removed from the stove, sweep the floor to get rid of any dust. It is important to leave at three feet of space between your wood stove and any combustible materials such as curtains, pillows or toys. This will prevent the spread of a fire and burning the objects.
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 help you determine when to light a fire. Ensure that you have glass cleaner available to get rid of any tarred or smudged areas that might be present. Newspaper dipped in water and ash can be used to clean the glass if it's extremely filthy. Be careful not to scratch the glass, because scratches can weaken the glass and shatter when it is heated.
Creosote accumulation on the inside of your flue is a major cause of chimney fires. A tiny amount of creosote could cause a fire to the chimney. Clean the flue frequently particularly in the event that burning soft or pine woods create more creosote.
Burn only seasoned, dry wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Do not burn artificial logs, trash or other items in your wood stove.
Safety
Wood stoves can release toxic gasses like carbon monoxide or particulates. These toxins can enter the home and cause negative health effects on children, older adults, or people suffering from respiratory diseases such as COPD or asthma. As time passes, wood smoke exposure can cause lung damage and heart disease.
To reduce the risk of these issues to avoid these risks, it is vital to follow proper wood stove burning procedures. This includes ensuring that the stove is operating correctly and is able to produce enough heat for the space and style. Only dry, well-seasoned, hard woods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content should not exceed 20 percent. If the moisture content of the firewood is higher, the fire will burn more quickly and produce an smoky flame with more creosote forming on the chimney vent pipe wall.
A strong draw is an essential safety feature. This can be accomplished by monitoring how much air is flowing into the firebox as well as through the chimney. Modern stoves come with a variety of ways to adjust the air flow and Www.913875.Xyz the owner's manual includes the procedures. Correctly operating the air controls can ensure the highest efficiency of heating.
Finally, the chimney and flue pipes must be free of combustible materials, including drapes, 913875 papers, trash or carpets. The wood stove fires are usually caused by insufficient clearance between combustibles wood-burning appliances and combustibles.
Be sure to keep children away from wood stoves when the flame is burning or when the ashes are being removed. Kids are naturally curious and may try to touch the hot surfaces of a wood stove or put their hands in the flame. Install a child-proof fence around the fireplace or install a fireplace screen. It is also essential to check the fireplace and stove regularly for signs of wear.
It is also important to ensure that your stove and chimney are professionally checked at least once a year to check for creosote buildup, bird nests and other issues that may affect the safety of your stove. This will help prevent fires and health hazards as well as lessen the need for CO2 or smoke remediation services.
Maintenance
Although wood stoves are a great way to save money on heating bills however, they require additional maintenance. If you do not do the necessary maintenance on your wood stove, it could result in a fire that escapes the flue, a risky chimney fire, or Www.913875.Xyz a house fire. In addition to cleaning the chimney and cleaning the stove, it is essential to clean and sweep the surfaces in the stove and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher in your desk and check it frequently. It's also recommended to install smoke detectors in the house particularly in the room that houses the stove.
As a rule it is recommended to clean the stove and chimney once a year. The frequency of cleaning should be adjusted based on the amount that the stove is being used, and it might be required to be done more frequently in winter. You should also be sure to use only seasoned and dry wood to burn in the stove. It is recommended to avoid using a lot of oil or kerosene for beginning the fire, because these fuels burn differently and produce toxic gases that could be extremely harmful to your health.
During your regular cleaning and maintenance, be sure to check the gaskets on your doors. They are typically made from a braided substance that may degrade over time. If you notice that the gasket is loose you can purchase a new fiberglass gasket and some gasket cement to fix it. The hinges of these doors should be inspected as well.
It is essential to check chimneys and flues to make sure that they are clear of obstructions and creosote. During this inspection, you should look for cracks in the chimney liner and any other indications of damage. Stovepipes also need to be inspected and any dents must be repaired.
It is crucial to clean the glass door of your wood stove. It is easy to accomplish this by mixing water and ammonia. A sponge or rag should be soaked in the solution and wiped across the surface of the glass until it is completely clean. You can let the solution sit for a few minutes before wiping it off again.
Many communities have offered financial incentives to replace wood stoves with EPA-certified models which produce less polluting. But Undark discovered that some of these newer stoves may not be able to meet EPA standards.In a time of high energy costs, cities are seeking ways to reduce the use of wood, particularly in areas where air quality is poor. Here are ten tips to improve the quality of your indoor air and www.913875.Xyz gain more heat from each log.
Efficiency
Wood stoves are one of the most efficient ways to heat your house. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs very quickly and produce less creosote than previous models. This allows you to burn more of the energy in your fire, and reduce heating expenses by up to 30 percent. The efficiency of wood stoves improves over the life of the stove if you use only seasoned hardwood.
Older wood stoves usually have efficiencies of less than 50 percent. This means that smoke and carbon dioxide are released into the air, resulting in an evaporation of about half the energy potential in the fire. Modern stoves can achieve efficiency of up to 85 percent or more, which is similar to the efficiency of gas and oil furnaces.
The higher efficiencies of wood stoves can be achieved by controlling the fuel, air and combustion process. Wood stoves that have controlled airflow can slow down the speed at which the fire moves through wood, allowing gases to remain hot and fully burn.
In addition modern wood stoves are able to recycle the waste products of incomplete combustion into a new one that is more efficient in burning. This process, known as Reburn, can improve the efficiency of wood stoves by up to 10 percent.
Wood is also carbon-neutral which is a further benefit. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air as they are growing and release oxygen in return when they are burned. Wood is a resource that is sustainable for the environment, especially when it is sourced from local woodlands that are managed in a manner that encourages 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 dirty flue pipe or stove can lead to carbon monoxide and fire hazards. Clean stoves chimneys, flue pipes and stoves are more efficient.
The most frequent task associated with cleaning your wood stove is emptying the ashes. This is best done on a day that is cool, when the stove isn't as hot and you must wear gloves that are protective when handling the ashes. Select a container made of metal that will hold all of the ashes and then dispose of it outside, Www.913875.xyz away from anything that could ignite. You can also add the ashes to your compost for a healthy addition to your garden.
After the ashes have been removed from the stove, sweep the floor to get rid of any dust. It is important to leave at three feet of space between your wood stove and any combustible materials such as curtains, pillows or toys. This will prevent the spread of a fire and burning the objects.
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 help you determine when to light a fire. Ensure that you have glass cleaner available to get rid of any tarred or smudged areas that might be present. Newspaper dipped in water and ash can be used to clean the glass if it's extremely filthy. Be careful not to scratch the glass, because scratches can weaken the glass and shatter when it is heated.
Creosote accumulation on the inside of your flue is a major cause of chimney fires. A tiny amount of creosote could cause a fire to the chimney. Clean the flue frequently particularly in the event that burning soft or pine woods create more creosote.
Burn only seasoned, dry wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Do not burn artificial logs, trash or other items in your wood stove.
Safety
Wood stoves can release toxic gasses like carbon monoxide or particulates. These toxins can enter the home and cause negative health effects on children, older adults, or people suffering from respiratory diseases such as COPD or asthma. As time passes, wood smoke exposure can cause lung damage and heart disease.
To reduce the risk of these issues to avoid these risks, it is vital to follow proper wood stove burning procedures. This includes ensuring that the stove is operating correctly and is able to produce enough heat for the space and style. Only dry, well-seasoned, hard woods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content should not exceed 20 percent. If the moisture content of the firewood is higher, the fire will burn more quickly and produce an smoky flame with more creosote forming on the chimney vent pipe wall.
A strong draw is an essential safety feature. This can be accomplished by monitoring how much air is flowing into the firebox as well as through the chimney. Modern stoves come with a variety of ways to adjust the air flow and Www.913875.Xyz the owner's manual includes the procedures. Correctly operating the air controls can ensure the highest efficiency of heating.
Finally, the chimney and flue pipes must be free of combustible materials, including drapes, 913875 papers, trash or carpets. The wood stove fires are usually caused by insufficient clearance between combustibles wood-burning appliances and combustibles.
Be sure to keep children away from wood stoves when the flame is burning or when the ashes are being removed. Kids are naturally curious and may try to touch the hot surfaces of a wood stove or put their hands in the flame. Install a child-proof fence around the fireplace or install a fireplace screen. It is also essential to check the fireplace and stove regularly for signs of wear.
It is also important to ensure that your stove and chimney are professionally checked at least once a year to check for creosote buildup, bird nests and other issues that may affect the safety of your stove. This will help prevent fires and health hazards as well as lessen the need for CO2 or smoke remediation services.
Maintenance
Although wood stoves are a great way to save money on heating bills however, they require additional maintenance. If you do not do the necessary maintenance on your wood stove, it could result in a fire that escapes the flue, a risky chimney fire, or Www.913875.Xyz a house fire. In addition to cleaning the chimney and cleaning the stove, it is essential to clean and sweep the surfaces in the stove and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher in your desk and check it frequently. It's also recommended to install smoke detectors in the house particularly in the room that houses the stove.
As a rule it is recommended to clean the stove and chimney once a year. The frequency of cleaning should be adjusted based on the amount that the stove is being used, and it might be required to be done more frequently in winter. You should also be sure to use only seasoned and dry wood to burn in the stove. It is recommended to avoid using a lot of oil or kerosene for beginning the fire, because these fuels burn differently and produce toxic gases that could be extremely harmful to your health.
During your regular cleaning and maintenance, be sure to check the gaskets on your doors. They are typically made from a braided substance that may degrade over time. If you notice that the gasket is loose you can purchase a new fiberglass gasket and some gasket cement to fix it. The hinges of these doors should be inspected as well.
It is essential to check chimneys and flues to make sure that they are clear of obstructions and creosote. During this inspection, you should look for cracks in the chimney liner and any other indications of damage. Stovepipes also need to be inspected and any dents must be repaired.
It is crucial to clean the glass door of your wood stove. It is easy to accomplish this by mixing water and ammonia. A sponge or rag should be soaked in the solution and wiped across the surface of the glass until it is completely clean. You can let the solution sit for a few minutes before wiping it off again.