How Wood-Burning Affects Indoor Air Quality

Wood burning for indoor heating has sure gotten a bad rap these last few years, and no wonder. Wood smoke is full of particulates that adversely affect the indoor air quality of a home, and that aggravate all kinds of respiratory problems, from allergies to bronchitis and asthma. It can even aggravate conditions leading to heart and lung failure.What's more, wood smoke is full of the carbon emissions that are contributing to the greenhouse effect; plus it creates a layer of smoke that can hover over cities in the winter time. Some municipalities have even had to ban the burning of wood to diminish the haze.Still, some people are mighty partial to having some kind of heating option in addition to their central HVAC system. Let's look at some choices that might not have as many potential problems as a wood-burning fireplace.

Other Heating Options

The majority of wood stoves sold have some of the same issues as wood-burning fireplaces. They give off carbon emissions and particulates that foul your IAQ, and are inefficient to use. However, a new generation of so-called catalytic stoves are a much better option. These stoves have a catalytic combustor that traps smoke and other combustion byproducts. A chemical coating in the combustor interacts with the smoke, igniting it at a much lower temperature than the 1100 degrees F that is normally required for wood stoves.The fact the ignition occurs at low temperature means the stove is more efficient, and that the amount of emissions given off is reduced. Wood also lasts much longer. These stoves do require maintenance to keep them clean so they continue to burn efficiently. Also, the parts can be expected to wear out within a decade or so.Non-catalytic stoves are easier to maintain, but release more emissions and have a higher burning rate so are less efficient.Pellet stoves are another option. They burn cleaner than non-catalytic wood stoves and fire places, but require some electricity to ignite the pellets.

For more on fire places and indoor air quality, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Do Fireplaces Efficiently Warm Your Home?

Fireplaces are much beloved for the coziness they bring to a room on a blustery winter night. However, they are also much reviled on several fronts. Fireplaces are inefficient, allowing most of the energy they produce to go up the chimney. Fireplaces can be unsafe, leading to fires in the chimney or from smoldering embers. Wood burning gives off smoke, and with it, unhealthful particles that can compromise your indoor air quality. Wood burning gives off massive amounts of carbon emissions, and is actually banned in some cities.Add to the list of disadvantages the fact you've got to store firewood, which can harbor rodents and termites.So should you buy a house with a fireplace? If you have a fireplace in your home, should you stop using it and replace it with a more efficient type of heating?Our best answer: It depends on how much any of the above disadvantages bother you. Read on for further considerations on fireplace warmth.

Fireplaces as Backup, and Other Options

One of the best reasons to have a fireplace is it can be a backup source of heating in an all-electric house when the power goes out and your furnace won't come on. The fireplace will keep you from freezing, albeit inefficiently.Why else have a wood-burning fireplace? They're great for roasting marshmallows.Seriously, you may want to look into using that fireplace space for a catalytic wood stove. These stoves trap smoke and other combustion byproducts. A chemical coating on the catalyst interacts with smoke and ignites it at a lower temperature than the 1100-degree F temperature normally required, thus making it burn more efficiently. These wood stoves also release fewer carbon emissions and burn wood slower than non-catalytic models. The downside is they are more expensive than non-catalytic types, and the catalysts generally break down after 10 years or so.You might also look into a pellet stove. These are more efficient than a traditional wood stove or fireplace.

For more on fireplace warmth, and whether it's worth the trouble, contact Air Assurance of Broken Arrow.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.

Why Your Spring Cleaning List Should Include Your Fireplace

An annual spring cleaning ideally involves a complete sweep of the entire house from top to bottom, inside and out. However, in reality, there are certain things that usually get overlooked on the chore list. Yet these things which are often out of view can be among the most mandatory to maintain and should not be neglected.This rule especially applies to your fireplace, as it's a prime hiding spot for dirt to accumulate in the form of soot, tucked away where nobody can see it, covering the walls of the chimney chute. Because the buildup of these deposits can be a potential fire and health hazard, a yearly inspection and fireplace cleaning is not only crucial for optimal functionality, but more importantly for the well-being of your house and your family. Regardless of how frequently you enjoy your fireplace, it's recommended to have this repeated on a regular basis.For an extensive fireplace cleaning such as a sweep, it's best to call in an expert. Although, for a temporary tidying up, all you'll need is some old clothing that you don't mind ruining and a few relatively inexpensive items from the hardware store, including rubber gloves, goggles, a brush and something to remove the stains like a specialty cleaner or soot eraser. In addition, a bucket, some newspaper and a trash bag will come in handy.Perform your fireplace cleaning by following these steps:

• Begin by carefully removing the grate and scooping the ground ashes into the bag.

• Lay down newspaper on the inside and a few inches up the walls to better catch the falling debris.

• Fill the bucket with warm water plus cleaner and set it inside the fireplace.

• Proceed to put on your gloves and goggles.

• Scrub the inside walls with the brush, going as high up as you can.

• Finally, clean out the newspaper and your fireplace is ready.

If you need help with your heating and cooling systems, contact the trained technicians at Air Assurance in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. We can answer all of your questions and are always available to take care of your residential and commercial HVAC needs by offering practical advice and professional service.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our websiteto see our current promotionsand get started today!     Home heating image via Shutterstock