Wood Stove Information
Bringing You Home
As in years passed, wood stoves prevail as cozy centerpieces around which families gather. Those magical flames warm our hearts and slowly melt into dreams of adventures yet to come. In keeping with the advancements in wood burning technology, today’s wood stoves and inserts not only meet, but exceed EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) standards, assuring an environmentally-friendly, highly-efficient heating source. These new wood stoves qualify as zone heating units.
Outstanding Performance and Safe, Clean Wood Burning
Safety, quality and clean burning heating performance are what you can expect. Wood stoves and inserts are designed to provide you not only with outstanding heating qualities and high-tech efficiency but with low emissions as well. For exceptional heating efficiency, dynamic engineering expertise and exquisite, refined design, join the thousands of satisfied wood stove owners and years from now, you'll still be smiling.
Catalytic vs. Non Catalytic
Catalytic wood stoves and fireplace inserts have ceramic honeycombed chambers coated with a metal catalyst (usually platinum or palladium) that works to increase the rate of combustion. The catalytic combustor burns away gases and particulates (smoke) that would normally be emitted into the air. Catalytic wood stoves allow a longer, lower temperature, more controlled burn. Maintenance involves a gentle brushing of the face of the combustor, but never clean the internal honeycombed chamber. It should simply be replaced after about 2-3 years of normal use. Watch for creosote build-up and excessive smoke coming out of the chimney to alert you for replacement.
With Non-Catalytic (recirculating) wood stoves, combustion occurs in the heavily insulated firebox. These stoves are generally less expensive than catalytic wood stoves and require less maintenance. For instance, Earth Stove makes a 28" Freestanding Wood Burning unit that uses the HT (high-tech) system relying on high firebox temperatures and metered oxygen flow to get the maximum fuel value from each piece of wood. Smoke is literally burned by the heat of the fire itself - within the woodstove's carefully engineered environment. The non-catalytic models are simple to operate and provide the beautiful, dramatic flames that serious fire watchers demand. While these require a bit more tending, for some people that's half the fun!
Before installation of these systems, we recommend you consult your local building official. If you use an approved protected wall system, some US building codes allow for reduced wall clearances.
Non-Catalytic System
- The primary air control draws air into a preheating system to promote fast, clean startups and to facilitate clean combustion. (This preheated air draws downward across the glass to keep the window clean for clear viewing).
- Some models use supplemental startup air.
- Primary combustion takes place within the fuel load.
- Above the primary fire, preheated air draws through a series of metered holes under the baffle to complete the combustion of unburned gases.
- All non-catalytic units, like their catalytic cousins, give you a certified "smoke-free" burn and more heat for your home.
Catalytic System
- As air enters the unit through the draft control, it's preheated to assure effective combustion.
- A full-tunnel baffle forces smoke back through the fire to promote secondary combustion.
- Air enters through a metered system that provides oxygen to help the catalytic combustor complete its job.
- Finally, the flow restrictor slows gasses and houses a catalytic combustor to assure a certified clean burn.
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