• 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 for replacing old wood stoves with EPA certified models that emit less pollutants. Undark discovered that some of the newer stoves might not meet EPA standards.

In a time of high energy prices, many 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 gain more heat from each log.

Efficiency

Wood stoves are among the most energy-efficient ways to heat your house. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs extremely quickly and produce less creosote than older models. This lets you use more energy into your fire, and reduce heating costs 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 are efficient at 50 percent or lower. This means that half the potential energy generated by the fire is lost when carbon monoxide and smoke are released into the air. Modern stoves boast efficiencies of up to 85 percent or greater, which is comparable to the efficiency of gas and oil furnaces.

Wood stoves can be made more efficient by controlling the air as well as the fuel and combustion processes. Wood stoves with controlled airflow can slow the speed at which the fire moves through wood, allowing the gases produced to stay hot and 5829186 burn completely.

In addition modern wood stoves can recycle the waste products of incomplete combustion into a new one that burns more efficiently. This process is known as reburn, and can boost wood stove burning efficiency by as much as 10 percent.

Wood is also carbon neutral, which is another advantage. As trees develop they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when burnt. Wood is also an environmentally sustainable resource, particularly if it comes from woodlands in the local area that are managed in a manner that encourages the growth of healthy trees.

Cleanliness

With 8.8 million households that use wood stoves in the United States, cleaning and 5829186 maintenance are an essential part of keeping the home warm. A dirty flue pipe or stove can cause carbon monoxide and fire hazards. Clean stoves, flue pipes and chimneys are more efficient.

The most commonly-asked task with cleaning your wood stove is to empty the ashes. This should be done on a cool day when the stove is no longer hot and you must wear gloves that are protective when handling the ashes. Select a metal container that is large enough to hold all of the ashes, and then dump them outdoors away from anything that might cause a fire. You can also add the ashes to your compost pile for an excellent addition to your garden.

When the ashes have been cleared of the stove, it is a good time to sweep the floor and vacuum up any dust left behind. It is important to have at least 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any other combustible objects like curtains, pillows or toys. This will prevent the spread of fire and burning the objects.

A clear glass door inside of your stove will allow you to see the dancing flames and can assist you in determining the best time to light a fire. Make sure you have glass cleaner in your kitchen to remove any tarred or smudged areas that could be present. Newspaper dipped into water and ash can be used to cleanse the glass if it is extremely dirty. Avoid scratching the glass because this can cause it to weaken and break when heated.

Creosote buildup on the inside of your flue is the primary cause of chimney fires. A few millimeters of creosote may cause a fire in a chimney. Clean the flue often particularly when burning soft or pine woods create more creosote.

To prevent creosote vapors from entering your home, only burn seasoned and dry wood that has been split in half or smaller. Also, never burn artificial garbage or logs in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stove burning can produce extremely harmful gases, including carbon monoxide and particulates. These harmful gases can be absorbed into the home and cause negative health effects for children, elderly adults, or those with respiratory illnesses such as COPD or asthma. Over time exposure to wood smoke may cause heart disease and lung damage.

To prevent these risks to avoid these risks, it is vital to follow the proper wood stove burning procedures. This includes ensuring that the stove is working properly and 5829186.Xyz that it is able to produce enough heat to the size of the room and design. Additionally only dry, well-seasoned woods should be used in the stove. The moisture content should be less than 20%. If the moisture content of the firewood is higher it will burn more quickly and produce a smoky fire 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 circulating through the firebox as well as through the chimney. Modern stoves come with various ways to alter the flow of air and the owner's guide contains the procedures. The highest efficiency in heating can be achieved when control of the air flow is properly used.

Finally, the chimney and flue pipes must be free of fire-prone materials, such as drapes, paper, trash or rugs. The fires that occur in wood stoves are often caused by an inadequate 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 may try to touch the hot surfaces of a wood stove, or put their hands into the flame. It is recommended to put up a child-proof gate around the fireplace or employ the fireplace screen. It is also important to check the fireplace and Www.5829186.xyz wood stove often for signs of wear and tear.

Finally, it is essential to have your stove and chimney professionally inspected once per 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 help to prevent fires and health hazards as well as reducing the need for smoke or carbon monoxide remediation.

Maintenance

Wood stoves are an excellent way to cut down your heating costs, but they require some extra maintenance. If you do not perform the required maintenance the wood stove could cause a fire that is dangerous to escape from the chimney or flue and could even trigger fire in your home. It is important to clean the stove's surfaces and flue. You should also keep a fire extinguisher handy and test it frequently. It's also a good idea to put smoke detectors around the house, especially one in the room with the stove.

In general cleaning your stove and chimney at least once per year. The cleaning schedule is dependent on the amount that the stove is used, and may be required to be done more frequently during winter. Make sure to use only dry and seasoned wood to use in the stove. Avoid using a lot oil or kerosene to start the fire. These fuels can release toxic gases and be harmful to your health.

When you clean your house regularly it is important to examine the gaskets on your doors. These are often made from rope-like braids which can become degraded with repeated opening and closing. If you notice that the gasket is not sealing properly and requires to be repaired, buy a replacement gasket made of fiberglass and adhesive. The hinges of these doors should be examined as well.

Chimneys and flues should be inspected to ensure that they are free of creosote accumulation and obstructions. During the inspection, look for cracks in the chimney liner and any other indications 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's essential to keep it clean. You can accomplish this by mixing water with ammonia. The solution should be applied to the glass with either a sponge or rag. It is possible to leave the solution for a couple of minutes before wiping it again.