Operation and Installation of Wood Stoves
The use of wood as a residential heating fuel contributes up to 50% of the polynuclear organic material air pollutants, estimates the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During winter months, in areas where wood is the principal heating fuel, woodstoves produce as much as 80% of these type pollutants, which contain numerous carcinogenic compounds.

A recently completed EPA summary study of previous wood stove tests conducted since 1985 show that Phase I stoves (EPA certified 1988) and Phase II stoves (EPA certified 1990) are not performing as well in homes as in the laboratory. Robert McCrillis of the EPA says "Stoves tested in a lab operate under ideal conditions. In the field it's the installation and how the stove is operated that has the largest effect on how it performs. Public education on the correct use of a wood burning stove is part of the current regulations."

Included in the study is a 1989-90 test conducted in Klamath Falls, OR sponsored by the Wood Heating Alliance which tested Phase II catalytic and noncatalytic stoves of the latest technology. These stoves were carefully installed and the owner was given instruction on the proper operation of the stove. The reduction in particulate emissions from these stoves was much closer, and in some cases, better than EPA standards.

John Crouch of the Wood Heating Alliance says, "Anyone with a new technology stove (Phase II) should step outside and look at their chimney. If it's smoking, they are not operating their stove properly, and I urge them to contact their dealer for further instruction. To get the most from Phase II it must be operated according to the manufacturer's directions. You just can't load her up and slam the door.

"Even older stoves will smoke less if they are carefully installed, maintained, and operated properly. In the Klamath Falls, test we found the particulate emissions between conventional stoves we tested before they were replaced to vary by over 100%. That is, some stoves emitted twice the particulate matter than others," says Crouch.

To meet federal clean air standards, many areas are regulating the use of wood stoves and banning fireplaces in new construction. In order to curb smoke pollution, most communities are enacting legislation allowing only installation of EPA-approved Phase II stoves. In addition some communities are passing ordinances restricting wood stove use to only Phase II types and banning all fireplace use at times of high air pollution during the winter. Western communities where smoke pollution is the worst are attempting to reduce the source of pollution by banning smoking chimneys, whatever the cause. A smoking chimney could earn a citation from the "Smoke Cop."

The same advanced wood stove technology used in Phase II stoves is being applied to manufactured fireplaces. Using noncatalytic technologies new fireplaces featuring a secondary burn chamber to consume the smoke are in development and expected to be available from most major manufacturers within a year.


Written by the editors of HouseNet.

Copyright HouseNet, Inc.

Back to Home Improvement Preview Lawn And Garden Preview Home Decorating Shopping Center