How To Improve Indoor Air Quality

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How To Improve Indoor Air Quality

So how is the air quality in your home?

What you can do:

Improving Indoor Air Quality

Canadians spend much of their time inside their homes. Good air quality is your home can help prevent breathing problems and other health concerns:

Second-hand smoke is especially dangerous to children because their lungs are still growing and developing. Second-hand smoke can even pass through a pregnant woman’s placenta. Infants and children exposed to second-hand some are more likely to suffer from Asthma and other Respiratory problems such as coughs, Pneumonia, Bronchitis and Croup, as well as Ear Infections. Babies who breathe in second-hand smoke have higher risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or crib death.

1. Avoid Second Hand Smoke. 

Make your home and car smoke-free by smoking outside, or not smoking at all. Second-hand smoke spreads from one room to another even if the door of the smoking area is closed. In addition, potentially harmful chemicals can cling to rugs, curtains, clothes, food, furniture, toys, and pretty much other materials and can remain in a room or car long after someone has smoked.

  • What are the health effects?

Second-hand smoke hurts everyone and contains the same 4,000+ chemicals that are inhaled by a smoker. At least 50 of the chemicals found in second-hand smoke are known to cause cancer. these chemicals contribute directly to diseases like Asthma, Heart Disease and Emphysema – for smokers and non-smokers alike.

  • How do I know if I have a problem?

If anyone is smoking in your car or home, you and your family are being exposed to second-hand smoke.

What can I do?

Protect your family from the health effects of second-hand some by making your home and car 100% smoke-free.

  • No level of ventilation will eliminate the harmful effect of second-hand smoke. Opening a car or room window may cause the smoke to be blown directly back inside.
  • Air fresheners only do not reduce the harm in any way. Even air filters (air purifiers)cannot remove all of the cancer-causing agents.

Health Canada advised against using air purifiers that intentionally release ozone to clean the air. Ozone is a gas that can irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs and is itself a major air pollutant known to cause cancer in the long term.

2. Keep Carbon Monoxide out of your home

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a harmful gas that has no colour, smell or taste. CO forms whenever you burn fuel such as propane, natural gas, gasoline, oil, coal and wood. It is also contained in second-hand smoke. If Furnaces, Fireplaces, Gas Stoves, or Water Heaters are improperly installed, or if they malfunction, they can release CO into your home.
  • What are the health effects?
CO can cause health problems before people even notice that it is present.
When you breath in CO, it reduces your body’s ability to carry oxygen in the blood. Even at low levels of exposure, CO can cause headaches and make you feel tired. The health effects at higher levels can be much serious and can even lead to death.
  • How do I know if I have a problem?
Maintenance is the key!
 – There is no substitute for good maintenance of fuel-burning appliances because CO detectors may be faulty without you noticing it, or depending on the CO detector it may not detect low levels of Carbon Monoxide leaks.
 – Make sure appliances such as Furnaces, Fireplaces, Gas Stoves and Water Heaters are well maintained and inspected by a professional licensed gas technician at least once a year.

3. Test your home for radon

Radon is a gas that produced naturally by breakdown of uranium in the ground and can get into your home undetected. It is odourless, tasteless and undetectable with naked eyes. If left undetected, radon can build up to high levels and over time become health risk.
  • What are the health effects?
Radon exposure increases your risk of developing lung cancer. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. The risk of cancer depends on the level of radon in your home.
  • How do I know if I have a problem?
The ONLY way to know if you have radon in your home is to test for it. It is a simple inexpensive test that you can do that yourself. Health Canada recommends using a long-term test devise for a minimum of three months, and the best time to start your test is between September and April when windows are closed. You can get the radon test devises from some home improvement retailers.
What can I do?
If the radon level is above the Canadian guideline of 200 Becquerel / Meter3, you need to fix it. The higher the radon level in your home, the sooner it needs to be fixed.
Here are some ways to reduce the level of radon:
 – Increase the ventilation to allow an exchange of air.
 – Seal the cracks and openings in the foundation walls and floors and around pipes and drains.
 – Renovate existing basement floors, particularly earth floors.
Radon test devises can be purchased on-line or performed by a trained service provider.

How To Choose Wood Burning Stove

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How To Choose Wood Burning Stove

F5100 Catalytic Wood Stove

How To Choose Wood Burning Stove

Aesthetics & Materials of Wood Burning Stoves

The two main options are cast iron wood stoves or welded steel stoves. When choosing a wood stove from welded steel material, the best wood burning stoves offer quality welded steel gauges making them more durable. Graceful curves and artistic patterns make cast iron stove or fireplace pleasing to the eye, rather like fine furniture for home heating with a premium price. Welded steel stoves are plainer, but cost less. There is no heating performance difference between them so the decision has to do with aesthetics and price.

Latest Wood Burning Technology

Today’s wood stove models feature improved safety and efficiency with almost no smoke, minimal ash, and require less firewood. While older uncertified stoves release 15 to 30 grams of smoke per hour; new EPA-certified stoves cannot emit more than 4.5 grams of smoke per hour. Be sure to look for the EPA certification label on the back of the stove.

The two general wood burning technology to meeting the EPA smoke emission limits are non-catalytic and catalytic combustion. There are performance differences between the two types however both effective. Although most of the stoves on the market are non-catalytic, some of the more popular high-end stoves use catalytic combustion. Due to catalytic technology being slightly more complicated to operate, catalytic stoves are suited to people who like technology and are prepared to maintain the stove properly so it continues to operate at peak performance.

Here are some real facts on how to choose wood burning stove,

between the Hybrid Catalytic Wood Stove vs Non Catalytic.

How Does a Catalytic Wood Stove Work? 

Catalytic stoves rely on a catalyst to help burn smoke before it leaves the woodburing stove or fireplace. The catalyst in a wood-burning appliance is a coated ceramic honeycomb-shaped device through which the exhaust gas is routed. The catalytic coating lowers the ignition temperature of the combustion gases as they pass through it.

This allows catalytic appliances to burn cleanly at low heat output settings. Because the catalyst restricts gas flow through the appliance, catalytic stoves always include a bypass damper into the flue. The damper is opened when fuel is loaded and is closed when you get a hot fire. This forces the gases through the catalyst for an extended, cleaner burn.

Catalytic Wood Stove

Catalytic Wood Stove

How Does a Non-Catalytic Wood Stove Work?

Non-catalytic stoves do not use a catalyst, but have three major components that create a good environment for complete combustion. These are firebox insulation, a large baffle to produce a longer, hotter gas flow path, and pre-heated combustion air let through the air tubes in the firebox. The baffle, the bricks and some other internal parts may require replacement from time to time as they deteriorate with the high heat of efficient combustion.

The Catalytic Wood Stove Efficiency Ratings versus Non-Catalytic

Catalytic Wood Burning Stoves Efficiency Ratings around 87%

versus

Non-catalytic Wood Stoves Efficiency Ratings around 60% – 70%

catalytic wood stoves are ideal for those who wish to replace a major portion of their heating needs with their wood stove. Note: A catalyst needs to be cleaned and maintained and generally needs to be replaced every 5 years or so.

Higher efficiency lowers hydro and/or gas costs to heat your home.

Longer, more even heat output with thermostatic air control

Reduced particulates for a cleaner, more eco-friendly burn

The Catalytic Wood Stove Emissions versus Non-Catalytic

Catalytic Wood Stoves generally produce 1.2 g/hr. emissions with less smoke, less chimney maintenance costs and better for the environment.

versus

Non-Catalytic Wood Burning Stoves produce approximately 5-7 g/hr. emissions with more smoke pollutions. Easer to use and maintain non-catalytic combustor with a hassle free operation. The traditional wood stoves are generally less expensive and have a lively flame picture. The traditional non-catalytic wood burning stoves are recommended for those with less heating demands.

Catalytic Wood Stove Burn Time Comparison

How long will a given catalytic stove burn on a single load of wood? The only reasonable answer is: It depends. Some Manufacturer’s of wood burning stoves claim 3o hour or more of burn time depending on the size of the wood stove. Burn time generally depends on wood species and moisture content, and on how much heat is needed during the burn. Out of experience you need to choose the right type of fire wood to burn inside the catalytic wood stoves. For example, you can not through in a treated wood type such as skids in the their as you will damage the catalyst. Between medium or large stove may give a reliable overnight burn with enough coals remaining to kindle a fire in the morning. However stoves in the small category may or may not give an overnight burn, but they tend not to be practical for whole-house primary heating.

The disadvantage of these long burn times is that the door glass tends to get dirty at very low firing rates. In other words, a stove that has a claimed burn time of ten hours may not be better or more convenient to use than one that delivers an eight hour burn.

Both options (Catalytic Versus Non-Catalytic) have their benefits and limitations, as well as legions of loyal users who swear that their (cat or non-cat) is far better than those silly (cats or non-cats). And both burn up to 90 percent cleaner than older conventional stoves.

TIPS 

When you are shopping around for a wood burning stove or wood burning fireplace, the majority of information which you gather is through the brochure and mostly from the dealer which you visit at different fireplace stores. Beware of dealers who don’t heat their own houses with wood and don’t have wood stoves in their showrooms – their advice is not worth much and may be worse than nothing. Hint: the staff of big box stores don’t usually know much about wood heating products, so be skeptical of any advice  you receive from them. The best is to visit our showroom and see the wood burning stoves and fireplaces while getting time worthy advise from real professionals at Impressive Climate Control.

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How To Choose Gas Fireplace

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Choose Gas Fireplace

How To Choose Gas Fireplace For Your Home?

How To Choose Gas Fireplace

Choose Gas Fireplace

How to choose the right gas fireplace for your home?

Many home owners wonder how to shop for a gas fireplace, as we have encountered many customers who have visited our fireplace store and were not sure how to start looking for the right gas fireplace. How to choose gas fireplace, first you need to begin with understanding some basic knowledge about the type of gas fireplaces, performances, efficiency, design ideas, the place where the fireplace will be installed before you even consider doing a remodeling in your home.

Questions and Answers About Gas Fireplaces

The best way to start shopping for a gas fireplace is to gather as much information as possible such as:

What is the main source of your home heating?

Approximate square footage of the room where the gas fireplace will be installed

About the place where it will be installed (size of wall in height and width, any bulkhead on the way)

The size of opening (height, width, depth, and the rear width, in case shopping for inserts)

Where the gas meter is placed in your house

How far approximately your furnace room will be from the installation site

If there are any windows close to where the fireplace will be installed

Of course some photos of your fireplace design ideas or your existing fireplace is ideal to have on you when you visit a fireplace store.

Are gas fireplaces safe to use?

All gas fireplaces from brands that are sold in Canada are certified to safety standards and regulations set out by the American National Standards Institute and the Canadian Standards Association. Every fireplace is put through a sequence of safety checks and quality assurance tests to ensure your the fireplace is safe and reliable.

The safety standing pilot feature on gas fireplaces ensures no gas flows to the unit when it is not being used. This is a newer technology called electronic ignition pilot vs standing pilot where the pilot light is on all the times even when the fireplace is not burning.

Many gas fireplaces, inserts and stoves are equipped with safety features such as a 100% fail-safe shut-off valve. If the pilot flame goes out, the gas flow will automatically turn off. In addition, all models must meet strict safety certification requirements.

Gas fireplace insert vs direct vent gas fireplace

The two main options are gas fireplace inserts and direct vent gas fireplaces.

What is a gas insert fireplace?

A gas insert fireplace fits into an existing brick or stone fireplace, or even a factory-built fireplace, which you want to convert it to gas, which is the most cost effective solution. A gas insert uses the existing chimney for venting pipes and of course you are mostly limited to the firebox opening size. Therefore it is always recommended to have your measurements on you when you are visiting our fireplace showroom.

What is a direct vent fireplace?

A direct vent gas fireplace is for those houses that never had a built-in structure and is widely used for remodelling projects. As the name explains, direct vent gas fireplace is vented directly to the outdoor wall versus gas inserts using a chimney flue to vent outside. The beauty of DV fireplace is you can install it on any wall with proximity to an outdoor wall for venting, plus you are most often not limited to size.

From traditional fireplaces to contemporary fireplace designs are very much pleasing to the eye, rather like fine appliances for home heating.

Depending on what heating performance your home requires the options on each fireplace and the fireplace brand, your decision has to do with aesthetics and the gas fireplace cost. Direct Vent Fireplace

Can I Install a TV Above Gas Fireplace?

Gas fireplace clearance requirements to combustibles around and above fireplaces is not the same as clearances to TV’s and other electronic appliances. Televisions and electronics in general are manufactured and assembled using many variations of materials and are subject to damage from far lower temperatures. You should determine the required clearances from the manufacturer or distributor of the TV or electronic device.

What you need to know about venting a gas fireplace

Gas inserts use the existing wood-burning chimney to vent the pipes, using flexible chimney pipes for air intakes and combustion. The two flexible pipes are placed within each other and are sealed between the gas insert and chimney flue. Depending on the gas insert it may take different size of flexible pipes.

The beauty of Direct Vent technology is that you do not necessarily need to go up through your roof to terminate the venting. All you need is proximity to an outside wall depending on the fireplace model you choose while keeping the installation costs down. From the outside of your house, all you would see is an sleek and attractive patented AstroCap horizontal termination cap which you can paint to match & blend in with the outside of your home using the right type of coating material.

What is a B-Vent or Natural draft gas fireplace?

A B-Vent fireplace draws air necessary for combustion air from inside air of your home. The combustion by-products or flue gases are hot and naturally rise up through the vent which provides a route for these hot gases to escape from the house.

What is a Vent Free gas fireplace?Vent_Free_Fireplaces

A ventless or vent-free gas fireplace uses room air from the home for combustion and it also releases the combusted exhaust (carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide) back into the home. Most vent free gas fireplaces are prohibited in Canada. Ventless fireplaces will likely cause poor indoor air quality and moisture issues in your home. Other examples of vent free fireplaces are ethanol fireplaces which were widely used, however they also cause poor indoor air quality.

TIPS 

Last but not the least, how to choose gas fireplace also depends on the fireplace contractor you are dealing with as well. When you are shopping around for a gas fireplace, the majority of information which you gather on how to choose a fireplace is through the brochure and mostly from the dealer. Beware of dealers who don’t have a fireplace showroom – their advice is not worth much and may be worse than nothing. Hint: the staff of big box stores don’t usually know much about their heating products, so be skeptical of any advice  you receive from them. The best is to visit our showroom and see the fireplaces while getting time worthy advice from real professionals at Impressive Climate Control.

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