• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

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. However, Undark found that some of these more modern stoves might not be up to EPA standards.

In a time of rising energy costs, a lot of cities are seeking to reduce wood combustion, especially in areas in which air quality is poor. Here are ten tips to improve the quality of your indoor air and gain more heat from every log.

Efficiency

Wood stove burning is one of the most efficient ways to heat your home. Modern wood stoves certified by the EPA burn logs quickly and generate less smoke than older models. This lets you use more energy in your fireplace and cut down on heating expenses by up to 30%. The efficiency of wood stoves also increases over the lifetime of the stove when you use only seasoned hardwood.

Older wood stoves have an efficiency of 50 percent or lower. This means that half the energy potential in the fire is lost because smoke and carbon monoxide 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.

Wood stoves can be more efficient by controlling the air as well as the fuel and combustion processes. Wood stoves that control the airflow are able to slow down how fast the flame moves through the wood and allow the gases produced to remain hot and combust completely.

Modern wood stoves are able to recycle the byproducts from incomplete combustion to create a new flame that produces more efficient combustion. This process is referred to as reburn and can improve wood stove burning efficiency by as much as 10 percent.

Another benefit of using wood as a source for heat is that it is carbon neutral. The trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while growing and release oxygen when they are burned. Wood is also an environmentally sustainable resource, particularly if it is obtained from local woodlands that are managed in a way that encourages the growth of healthy trees.

Cleanliness

With 8.8 million households that use wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and maintenance are an essential aspect of keeping your home warm. A dirty stove or flue pipe can pose a fire hazard and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean stoves, chimneys and flue pipes are also more efficient.

The most commonly-asked task with cleaning your wood stove is emptying the ashes. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove has cooled down. Choose a container made of metal that is that is large enough to hold all of the ashes, and then dump them in a safe place away from anything that could cause a fire. You can also add the ashes to your compost for an excellent addition to your garden.

While the ashes have been removed from the stove, sweep the floor to remove dust. It is also a great idea to put at least three feet between your wood stove, and any combustible items like pillows or curtains. This will prevent the spread of fire and burning the objects.

As for the inside of your stove, a clear glass door lets you to take a look of the dancing flames and will help you determine when it's time to light a new fire. Make sure you have glass cleaner available to remove any tarred or smudged areas that could be present. If the glass is very filthy, you can make use of a newspaper that has been dipped in water and ash to wipe it down. Be careful not to scratch the glass, www.5829186.Xyz 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. Creosote can be extremely flammable, and any layer of even one millimeter can trigger an explosion in your chimney. Clean the flue frequently particularly if you are burning pine or other soft woods that create more creosote than other kinds of wood.

To avoid creosote vapors entering your home, only burn dry and 5829186.xyz (get more info) seasoned wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Never burn fake garbage, logs, or other items inside your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stove burning can produce extremely toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins enter the home and could have adverse health consequences for 5829186 older adults, children or people suffering from respiratory ailments such as asthma or COPD. As time passes exposure to wood smoke may cause lung damage and heart disease.

To reduce the risk of these issues to avoid these risks, it is vital to follow proper methods for burning wood on your stove. This includes ensuring the stove is operating correctly and has sufficient heat output for the size and shape of the room. Only dry, well-seasoned, hard woods should be burned in the stove. The moisture content of the wood should be less than 20%. If the moisture content is higher it will burn more quickly and produce a smoky fire, with more creosote accumulation on the chimney vent pipe walls.

A strong draw is an essential safety feature. This can be achieved by monitoring how much air is flowing into the firebox and through the chimney. Most modern stoves have various ways to adjust the air flow and the owner's guide has documented procedures. Properly operating the air controls can ensure the highest heating efficiency.

The flue pipe and chimney must be free of all combustible material, such as drapes, paper or trash. Insufficient clearance between combustibles as well as wood-burning appliances is the most common reason for house fires caused by wood stoves.

Be sure to keep children away from wood stoves while the fire is burning or when the ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious and they may touch the hot surfaces on the wood stove or put their hands in the fire. It is recommended to set up a child-proof barrier around the fireplace or to use the fireplace screen. In addition, it is essential to regularly inspect the fireplace and wood stove for signs of wear.

It is also essential to have your chimney and stove professionally checked at least once a year to ensure there is no creosote buildup, bird nests, and other problems which can affect the safety of your stove. This will prevent fires and health hazards, as well as lessen the necessity for CO2 or smoke remediation services.

Maintenance

Wood stoves can be an excellent way to cut down the cost of heating, however they require some extra maintenance. If you don't take care of the required maintenance, your wood stove can cause a fire that is dangerous to escape from the chimney or flue, and even cause an explosion in your home. It is also recommended to clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. Keep an extinguisher on hand and test it regularly. It's also a good idea to put smoke detectors in the house particularly in the room that houses the stove.

As a general rule it is recommended to clean your chimney and stove at least once per year. The cleaning schedule is dependent on how much the stove is being used, and it might be required to be done more frequently in winter. It is also important to use only seasoned and dry wood to burn in the stove. It is best to avoid using a lot of oil or kerosene for starting the fire, as these fuels burn differently and produce toxic gases that could be extremely dangerous to your health.

During your regular cleaning, you should examine the gaskets on your doors. They are typically made of a braided material that can degrade over time. If you find that the gasket is not tight you can purchase a new gasket made of fiberglass and some cement to fix it. Also, the hinges on these doors should be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues should be examined to ensure that they are free of creosote accumulation and obstructions. During this inspection, you should look for cracks in the chimney liner and any other signs of damage. Stovepipes should be inspected too, and any holes or dents must be fixed.

If you have a glass door for your wood stove, it is essential to keep it clean. You can easily accomplish this by mixing water with ammonia. A sponge or rag must be saturated with the solution and wiped across the glass's surface until it is completely clean. You can leave the solution for 5829186 a few moments before wiping it over again.