EPA-Certified Woodburning
Interested in burning wood for heat? Wood offers many benefits, but its important to look for wood burning solutions that help protect the local environment. One option is to install a wood heater that has been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These approved appliances, whether freestanding stoves, fireplace inserts or actual built-in fireplaces, are the cleanest burning way to enjoy the benefits of a wood fire, while protecting neighborhood air quality.
CERTIFIED WOODBURNING BENEFITS Soothing, radiant heat
Substantially less smoke
Less money and time spent on firewood
Control home heating bills
Heat when the power goes out
Energy independence
Renewable fuel source
TYPES OF CERTIFIED APPLIANCESThere are two types of certified wood stoves and fireplace inserts non-catalytic and catalytic. Currently, the most common stoves on the market are non-catalytic, but there are benefits to both.
Catalytic stoves employ a catalytic converter which works as an afterburner to reduce wood smoke. The converter is a cast ceramic honeycomb coated with either platinum or palladium. Once the converter is pre-heated to light-off temperature (500600 degrees Fahrenheit), the smoke is routed through the catalyst which burns the tars, vapors and other organic compounds that make up wood smoke.
Non-catalytic stoves attain two, three or even four stages of combustion by guiding the smoke coming off the burning wood to targeted zones in the firebox where it is mixed with pre-heated oxygen. With temperatures in excess of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the stove burns complete combustion.
Information provided by HPBA
