Wood Heat Thread ~ post pics

http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/05/epa-wood-stooves/

A little something anyone who burns wood for heat may find interesting.

 

That's a good law

 

It could be, if implimented right, consciously, and fairly. Non of which is our gov of late. Concidering how the US is going they will outright ban wood heat lol.

 

They are only proposing upgraded specs for new model stoves correct ?

 

I dont know if they are proposing a "forced" upgrade of existing stoves or just requiring new stoves to be made to a higher standard. A new standard to new stoves is fine. Banning old stoves isn't going to go well.

 

Seriously? I assumed you guys were being sarcastic. I know these forums try to avoid politics but I didnt bring it up so...This article gives very few details of significance and I do not know what the EPA is actually proposing, but why is this law needed? If wood stove consumers are not willing to pay for the stoves the EPA is mandating, then why are they mandating them? If consumers are willing to pay for the EPA compliant stove then the law is irrelevant. Why would anyone want someone else forcing them to choose a stove with certain qualifications? Why not let each consumer decide what features they want and are willing to pay for to best suit their individual needs? 300 plus pages of law is fraught with unintended consequences. It would also seem that any health benefit claims would be dubious at best.

 

That link is intensely annoying -all ads and popups and other crap. Then they sensationalize the crap out of the content. Why can't they just report the news.

Existing wood stoves and heaters are not covered by the proposed rules. They're aimed at new devices only. But in typical bureaucratese they do say "While the proposed rule does not cover existing heaters, state or local governments may wish to address them through local measures." That's code to the other bureaucrats further down the line. So if you live in Californistan or New Jersey or Massachusetts or some other state with overbearing nanny beauracracies at all levels, you might want to keep an ear to the ground. (Or move.)

The EPA site has an overview. It seems pretty clear that the main target is particulate emissions. They want to go from 4.5g/hr (1988 regs) to 1.3g/hr over the course of 5 years. The 1988 law (which my current stove was designed to meet) does not include single burn rate stoves, pellet stoves, or hydronic heaters at all. The new regs will include them. I can certainly understand updating the regs to encompass those stoves.

I would bet that the noise is all coming from the manufacturers, upset about the prospect of having to do all the additional testing to obtain certification. Mind you, some of them are already doing it; heck, my 25 year old wood stove has a catalytic converter because of the 1988 law, and I get more heat in my house because of it. My recent shopping experiences have shown me that all kinds of stoves carry certifications these days. But all those makers of pellet stoves and the like will now have to submit to testing as well, which will not make them happy.

And yes it will probably raise the cost of a new wood burning heating appliance. I guess those soapstone stoves will go from being ridiculously expensive to being outrageously expensive.

 

Its just a read. Take it for what it's worth. A little information. Not political.

 

I don't think they would be able to force people to upgrade existing stoves , just put new requirements on new models

 

Everybody calm your tits

 

That is correct just new manufacture. The stove people have a good argument "what happens after we sell it?" the cats etc. will require maintenance to meet the standards are the owners going to do that? There are a few outdoor boiler co’s. that are trying like hell to get rid of the old smokes before the law takes effect. The old outdoor ones are mostly the target and rightfully so, they are drafted so low when the demand is low the smoke ¼ mile away will choke you.

 

Yep , a cold night with low hanging smoke everywhere from the assholes who burn wet wood with the damper all the way down I can do without , plus cleaner burning appliances is more likely to allow wood heat to remain an option rather than the other way around

 

The local township has banned outdoor wood burners in city limits. (Smoke concerns) Another reason I live in the country. Fewer "nanny laws".

 

X2

 

That aspect of it I agree with. I have a Tarm, and live in a town. It was grandfathered in before they passed an ordinance a few years back. As long as I burn good wood, the only smoke you see is a vapor cloud on the coldest of days.

 

The rules are written for the average dumbass though

 

Yes OZ unfortunately a great deal people fit that category. The newer stoves all seem to have a draft above the fire now it lights off the wood smoke, makes more heat and cleaner air. Newer cleaner stoves use less wood and make more heat what’s not to like?

 

Kinda like a rocket mass heater. Very efficient.

 

Anyone else out there running a Woodstock Soapstone stove? Here's a pic of my Fireview model. We built a new home recently, so this has been my first winter with it and absolutely love it. I heat 3000 sq.ft. and even on the coldest of winter days here in WI, my furnace doesn't run.