For More Information
For additional copies of this brochure; a copy of
the brochure Noncatalytic Woodstoves: Installation,
Operation, and Maintenance; or a copy of the
brochure Buying an EPA-Certified Woodstove,
write to:
Public Information Center (PM-211B)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20460
For a current list of EPA-certified woodstoves or
for more information about wood burning and
EPA's regulations, write or call:
Wood Heater Program (EN-341W)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20460
(703)308-8688
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA-22A-4001
March 1992
Air And Radiation
dEPA Catalytic
Woodstoves
i Installation,
I Operation,
and
Maintenance
USB
%«****
\
a
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Printed on Recycled Paper
-------
This brochure was prepared by EPA and Radian Corporation under
EPA Contract No. 68-02-4464, Work Assignment No. 139.
-------
Why You Should Read This Brochure
A
s an owner of a catalytic woodstove,
the way you use your stove can pay
dividends for your family's and neigh-
bors' health and your pocketbook. This EPA
brochure presents important tips you can
easily use with most catalytic woodstoves, and
will supplement the model-specific instruc-
tions found in your owner's manual. In all
cases, follow the instructions that come with
your stove. Along with your owner's manual,
this brochure can help you with installation,
and help you operate and maintain your stove
to keep the air you breathe cleaner, reduce
your fuel and maintenance costs, and make
your home safer.
There are several steps to getting the
fullest benefit from your stove, such as sizing
and selection, installation, operation, and
maintenance. A companion brochure, Buying
an EPA-Certified Woodstove, provides a con-
venient method for determining what size
stove is best for your heating needs. It's
available either from your woodstove dealer
or by writing or calling EPA at one of the
addresses listed on the back of this brochure.
The advice in this brochure applies only
to catalytic woodstoves. If you aren't sure if
your woodstove is catalytic, contact the
manufacturer or a local woodstove retailer.
-------
Installing Your
Catalytic Woodstove
Improper installation of
your woodstove can result in a
house fire and cause greater pollution. If a
stove isn't installed properly, it can also affect
the draft of the stove (i.e., ability to draw com-
bustion air and expel exhaust). Proper draft
is critical to reducing pollution and maintain-
ing high efficiency. Before having your stove
installed, be sure to check with local authori-
ties regarding building codes and permits,
and notify your fire insurance company. The
following tips discuss the importance of
proper installation.
What You Should DO
Q DO have your woodstove professionally
installed by a certified installer.
BECAUSE: A certified installer can determine the
proper draft for your stove, make sure all the
seals are tight, and ensure that your stove is
installed with all safety measures in mind.
Q DO consult a certified installer about the need
for a flue liner in your masonry chimney.
BECAUSE: Lining the chimney can help main-
tain proper draft and prevent icing, which can
block your chimney.
| DO use the manufacturer's recommended flue
diameter.
BECAUSE: An improperly sized flue will not pro-
vide the draft needed to operate the stove. Also,
smoke may leak into your house through the air
inlets without proper draft.
Q DO make certain that all seals connecting the
stove to the flue, and within the flue, are as
tight as possible.
BECAUSE: Tight seals will prevent smoke from
leaking into your house and contribute to good
draft.
•
Operating Your Catalytic Woodstove
Follow the procedures below to operate your
stove for maximum efficiency and minimum
pollution. The catalyst plays an important
part in how well your stove does its job. The
catalyst in your stove, similar to the catalytic
converter in your car, burns the unburned
fuel (smoke) from the fire before it exits
through the flue. A catalyst will start burn-
ing the smoke coming from the fire when it
has reached a temperature of between 350°
and 600°F. At this point, the catalyst is said
to "light-off." In some models, the catalyst
will begin to glow when the temperature
rises above 1000°F.
What You Should DO
Q DO burn only dry,
well-seasoned wood,
not wet or freshly cut
wood. Season wood at
least six months; store outdoors,
loosely covered, to allow air to circulate freely
through the pile.
BECAUSE: "Green" or wet wood releases less
heat because energy from the fire must first
evaporate the moisture before producing useful
heat.
Q DO build and maintain moderately hot fires
quickly after loading the wood.
BECAUSE: A hot initial fire will help your
catalyst light-off faster. However, once lit, the
catalyst will stay lit even if the fire burns
lower. Catalyst temperatures of 1000 °F or
more are typical in normal operation. Once a
catalyst lights-off, it will stay lit at tempera-
tures of about 500° F.
-------
DO burn moderate to full loads of wood that
will provide several hours of uninterrupted
burning and minimize door openings.
BECAUSE: Minimizing door openings keeps the
temperatures high, which reduces pollution.
Frequent door openings increase pollution both
inside and outside your home.
DO operate your stove in the bypass mode
initially (i.e., smoke bypasses the catalyst).
Wait until the stove is hot enough before
engaging the catalyst, but be careful not to
overheat the stove.
BECAUSE: To some extent, the catalyst may
reduce the draft. With poor draft, the fire will
take longer to develop and the catalyst will take
longer to light-off.
DO operate the stove's internal fans (if your
stove has them) in strict accordance with the
operating instructions. Some manufacturers
recommend leaving the fans turned off for
30 minutes after start-up and refueling, and
setting them on low for small fires.
BECAUSE: Fans remove heat from the fire;
cooler fires result in more pollution.
DO buy a catalyst temperature monitor (if
your stove doesn't come with one). Monitor
catalytic temperature to determine when the
catalyst lights-off.
BECAUSE: If you engage the catalyst before
light-off, it will reduce the draft in your stove
without reducing the pollution. If you engage
the catalyst too late after light-off, you won't be
benefiting from its operation.
What You Should NOT DO
| DO NOT burn trash, treated wood, particle
board, plywood, or other fuels (such as coal,
kerosene, or lighter fluid) unless they are
listed on your stove's permanent label.
BECAUSE: Trash produces fly ash. Treated
wood, particle board, and plywood contain
chemicals that, when burned and inhaled, are
hazardous. Burning other fuels may poison
your catalyst or damage your stove. Cardboard,
foil, and plastic may block exhaust flow
through the catalyst, causing smoke to spill
into your mom.
n DO NOT operate your stove in the catalyst
bypass mode after the catalyst has reached
the recommended temperature (350° to
600°F).
BECAUSE: At this point, your catalyst should be
working for you (to produce more heat using
less firewood) and for the environment (destroy-
ing smoke and the cancer-causing pollution in
the smoke).
] DO NOT overfire your stove, especially when
the catalyst is engaged. Avoid catalyst
temperatures near or above 1600°F. This is
another reason to use a catalyst temperature
monitor.
BECAUSE: Catalysts can be damaged or
destroyed by prolonged high heat. If
temperatures are above 1600 °F, switch to
bypass mode and allow the catalyst to cool
down to about 1000 °F before resuming nor-
mal catalytic operation.
Q DO NOT open the ash pan while catalyst is
engaged.
BECAUSE: This will lead to overheating.
-------
Maintaining Your Catalytic Woodstove
Follow the procedures below to maintain your
stove.
What You Should DO
Q DO check the catalyst
when the stove is cool
by shining a bright flashlight
(where possible) onto the catalyst's surface
from above and viewing from inside the stove;
look for gaps between the catalyst and the
gasket. Replace gasket if necessary.
BECAUSE: The amount of light you can see com-
ing through the gaps in the catalyst's surface is
a good indication of how clean the catalyst is.
Creosote buildup will block much of the light.
Gaps between the catalyst and gasket can allow
smoke to bypass the catalyst.
Q DO check the catalyst for crumbling, peeling,
or other signs of physical damage and for
buildup of ash or creosote that can plug up
the catalyst. Buildup can be burned off by
building a hot fire and partially engaging the
catalyst (i.e., open catalyst bypass halfway, if
possible). When catalyst is cool, brush with a
soft brush or vacuum the catalyst face
carefully. Replace catalyst if necessary.
BECAUSE: Buildup can occur on the catalyst and
interfere with its proper operation. This will
diminish the catalyst's efficiency and increase
pollution.
Q DO replace the catalyst if it's damaged, if
large parts are missing, or it's obvious that
the catalyst has deteriorated (i.e., fails to
light-off when it should). Follow your owner's
manual for replacement instructions. Be sure
there are no leaks around the catalyst
gaskets.
BECAUSE: When a catalyst fails to operate
because of either physical or chemical deteriora-
tion, you will lose the benefits of reduced pollu-
tion and improved efficiency. It's a violation of
federal law to operate your stove if the catalyst is
deactivated or removed.
DO check for catalyst deterioration by either
of these two methods: 1) observe the chim-
ney, both before and after the catalyst has
engaged, to determine if the catalyst has
reduced the amount of smoke, or 2) inspect
the inside of the chimney for creosote
buildup.
BECAUSE: Although there will still be some
pollution and creosote buildup from operating
catalytic stoves properly, the rates of pollution
and buildup should be much lower than in con-
ventional stoves. If the sky provides a solid light
background, you should be able to see a difference
between the pollution from a stove before and
after the catalyst is engaged.
DO remove the catalyst at
least every two years
and soak it in diluted
(50/50) vinegar for
30 minutes, followed
by two 15-minute rinses
in boiling water (unless speci-
fied otherwise by the manufacturer).
Replace the gasket after this cleaning opera-
tion. Check with your catalyst manufacturer
for more details.
BECAUSE: Vinegar will dissolve the residual
impurities that aren 't removed by dusting and
other routine maintenance.
DO use your catalyst warranty if your catalyst
fails within the first two years or crumbles
within three years of purchase.
BECAUSE: You 've paid for the right to a properly
working catalyst in your purchase price.
-------
DO check all gasket material, the bypass
damper, and on cast iron stoves, the seams,
once a year; replace frayed or worn material.
Re-cement the seams as necessary. Check
the catalyst gaskets and the gasket that
seals the bypass mechanism (if your stove
has one). Hint: One way
to test the tightness of a
gasket seal is to close the
door on a dollar bill. Pull
gently on the dollar bill.
If it pulls easily out of place, the seal isn't
tight and the gasket should be replaced.
Repeat this test in several locations to check
the seal all around the door.
BECAUSE: Gaskets in good condition will pro-
vide an airtight seal. A poor seal around a
catalyst bypass allows smoke to pass through
unburned, thereby increasing pollution. Like
gaskets, the bypass damper and seams are
areas where leaks can develop.
DO check the wood-loading door and the ash
drawer for tightness.
BECAUSE: These two areas are subject to warp
or worn gaskets. Poor fit may result in over-
heating or may allow smoke to escape into the
room.
DO make sure the thermostat (if your stove
is equipped with one) is working properly;
replace as necessary. Refer to parts list in
your owner's manual.
BECAUSE: A broken thermostat can prevent air
inlets and dampers from opening and closing
properly.
DO check the flue twice a month and have it
cleaned at least once a year. After cleaning,
check the seals and retighten joints in the
flue and to the stove.
BECAUSE: Buildup of creosote on the flue walls
can re-ignite and cause fires. Tight seals and
joints prevent leaks.
-------
Q DO replace firebrick and other insulating
materials when you see crumbling or if
pieces are missing.
BECAUSE: These insulating materials are
critical to your stove's heating efficiency and
pollution-reduction properties.
What You Should NOT DO
J DO NOT remove or tamper with the preset
operating or temperature controls.
BECAUSE: It's against the law, it will void your
stove's warranty, and it will create a safety
hazard. The stove will be less efficient and
more expensive to operate. Thermostats control
either primary or secondary air, or both.
Tampering may ruin the precisely designed
secondary combustion capabilities, resulting in
lower efficiencies, higher operating costs, and
greater pollution.
Q DO NOT abuse your catalyst. Don't drop or
scrape the catalyst, remove the metal band
(if your model has one), or use high-pressure
air to clean. Don't clean the catalyst with
water when it is hot and in the stove.
BECAUSE: Catalysts can be damaged, thereby
reducing their effectiveness.
------- |