New Wood Burning Stoves Burn Clean

From an article in the U.S.


Manufacturers of wood stoves and fireplace inserts, prodded by strict government standards, have produced some of the cleanest wood-burning devices ever to hit the market.
“If you haven’t shopped for stoves in the last 15 years,” said Steve Pettit, manager of Swim World, a Wenatchee spa and stove dealership, “then you’re going to be amazed. This is a different breed of stove using a different breed of technology.”
Years ago, after federal guidelines for wood-burning devices were revised, stove manufacturers began creating devices to recirculate smoke and gases for additional burning. The first effective device was an in-stove catalytic converter, similar in design and performance to the mechanism found on automobiles. It worked moderately well, said Pettit, but had to be replaced every three to five years.
It didn’t take long for manufacturers to invent a better pollution-reducing gadget. Borrowing technology from commercial furnaces, stove makers soon began offering home wood-burning devices with secondary burn tubes, a type of air-fed pipe that produces intense flame and heat that vaporizes particulates and breaks down many toxins. Most secondary burn tubes need no replacement and last for the life of the stove.
Modern stoves with secondary burn tubes dramatically reduce smoke and gas emissions, said Pettit.
For instance, an old-fashioned fireplace — where smoke just shoots up the chimney — produces about 70 to 90 grams of smoke particulates per hour. But newer stoves, tested and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, produce 2 to 5 grams of smoke particulates per hour.
Even better, Pettit noted, some EPA-approved pellet stoves — devices that burn pressed-wood beads or pellets — can reduce smoke particulates to 0.7 grams per hour.
“It’s really an astounding reduction (in pollution) that’s good for the homeowner and the environment,” Pettit said. “It makes new stoves incredibly efficient.”
Of course, these stoves come with a fairly hefty price tag — anywhere from $1,100 to $2,500 or more, depending on size and extras. Ornate cast iron stoves, often the choice of traditionalists, are a bit pricier than the standard steel stoves because of add-ons that might include top-loading access, fancy handles and hardware and tempered glass doors.
Homeowners pricing a stove should also remember to figure in installation costs — stove pipe, brackets, carpentry, insulation and labor.
“You need to think long term when it comes to a wood stove or insert,” said Pettit. “These are durable appliances that, when properly cared for, can warm your home for many, many years.”