What You Should Be Focusing On Improving Wood Burning Stove

Wood Burning Stoves Near Me

Wood stoves are a non-carbon renewable source of heat that can help you save money on your energy bills. They also aid in active woodland management, which is beneficial to wildlife.

If they aren't properly maintained and installed they could release carbon monoxide, which can pose health risks to the family. To avoid this, look for an EPA-certified wood stove with modern technology to ensure safety.

Catalytic Stoves

A catalytic stove is equipped with a special honeycomb-like catalyst which converts the smoke from wood into carbon dioxide and water. This is an excellent option for anyone looking to reduce the air pollution in their homes while saving money. They consume less fuel, burn faster and produce less creosote. However, they can be more expensive to operate than non-catalytic models, and require regular maintenance of the combustion chamber.

Wood Stoves that are EPA-Certified

The EPA requires wood stoves to be constructed in accordance with certain guidelines that limit their emissions. These guidelines state that a catalytic wood stove should test at least 7.5 grams of smoke per hour. This is in contrast to 4.1 grams per hour for an uncatalytic stove. However, it's important to note that lower emissions ratings do not translate into better heating efficiency.

Sizing and Selection

It is important that your wood stove is sized appropriately for the space in which it will be placed. A stove that is not properly sized won't perform as it should and may even overheat. A properly sized stove improves heat output and reduces emissions. The brochure: Buying an EPA-Certified wood stove (PDF 530K), provides a convenient way to size and select a new wooden stove.

Non-Catalytical and Catalytic stoves

The first type of wood stove that was produced was the non-catalytic stove. These stoves are also called traditional wood-burning stoves, or open fire stoves. The non-catalytic stove is advantageous in that it does not require an additional combustion to reduce emissions. Smoke is the primary source of energy waste. The smoke produced by non-catalytic stoves contains a toxic substance known as creosote. The catalytic small wood burning stoves heater has helped to alleviate the risks. The catalytic stove uses catalysts that burn the gases in the smoke to remove the toxic creosote.

The catalytic wood burning stove fan burning device was created to minimize toxic emissions. However, it is less effective than the secondary combustion system that is used in the non-catalytic model. The catalyst produces toxic fumes due to the fact that it doesn't fully burn the byproducts from burning wood. The honeycomb structure could degrade over time. This could result in a decrease in performance and the need for replacement.

Maintaining the Combustion Chamber Clean

A catalytic combustor working properly will appear as a grayish powder. It must be free of ash, soot, or tatty materials which could block the cells and decrease the surface area of catalytic reactions. The combustor must not be exposed to flame impingement. This can happen when a powerful, fast draft forces flames into a catalytic converter. This could also happen when the firebox's or ash pan's door is left open.

It is important to check the catalytic combustor to determine whether it has physical damage and the need to be replaced. If the catalytic combustor has become damaged or needs to be replaced, it must be done as soon as is possible to ensure optimal performance.