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ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings
ENGINEERED WOOD Flooring
ENGINEERED WOOD Products

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY

AIR CLEANER PURIFIER TYPES
AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS
AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR
ALLERGEN TESTS for buildings
ALLERGENS in buildings, RECOGNIZING
ALLERGY TESTS for PEOPLE
ALLERGY TEST ACCURACY
ANIMAL ALLERGENS / PET DANDER
ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings
ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings
ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings

BASEMENT MOLD
BATHROOM MOLD
BIBLIOGAPHY for ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MOLD, IAQ
BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS
BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES
BLUERAY Recall
BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE
BUILDING SETTLEMENT

CARBON MONOXIDE - CO
CARBON MONOXIDE WARNING
CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS
CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY
CARPETING, SELECTION & INSTALLATION
CAT DANDER in buildings
Cell phone Radiation Hazards
CHAIN OF CUSTODY - TEST SAMPLE
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
CHIMNEYS & Flues - Asbestos Transite Pipe
CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS

DRYER VENTING
DRYWALL INSTALLATION Best Practices
DRYWALL MOLD
DRYWALL MOLD RESISTANT
EMF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS & HUMAN EXPOSURE

ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings
  AFUE DEFINITION, RATINGS
  AIR BYPASS LEAKS
  AIR CHANGE RATE ACH HEAT SAVINGS
  AIR CONDITIONING HEAT PUMP SAVINGS
  AIR LEAK SEALING PROCEDURE
  APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
  ATTIC LEAKS, CONDENSATION & ATTIC MOLD
  COOLING LOAD REDUCTION by ROOF VENTS
  ENERGY AUDIT - How to Use a Free One
  ENERGY SAVINGS MAXIMIZE RETURNS ON
  ENERGY SAVINGS PRIORITIES
  ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY
  ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT LEAK SEALING GUIDE
  ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT OPTIONS
  ENERGY STAR PROGRAM
  ENERGY USE MONITORING
  GLASS vs HEAT MIRROR SOLAR GAIN/Loss
  HEAT LOSS in buildings
  HEATING COST SAVINGS METHODS
  HIGH MASS TRADEOFFS, HEATING vs COOLING
  HOUSE DOCTOR, how-to be
  INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT
  INSULATION LOCATION - WHERE TO PUT IT
  RADIANT BARRIERS
  REFLECTIVE INSULATION
  ROOF COLOR RECOMMENDATIONS
  Skylight Energy Efficiency
  SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
  THERMAL MASS in buildings
  TIMERS for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS
  VENTILATION, BALANCED HEAT COST SAVINGS
  WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS
  WINDOW EFFICIENCY Features & Ratings
  WOOD, COAL STOVES & FIREPLACES

FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP

FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE
HIDDEN MOLD, HOW TO FIND
HUMIDITY CONTROL TO PREVENT MOLD

INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS
INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
  Air Pollutants, Health Effects
  Air Pollutants, Common Indoor
  CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS
CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY
  CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS
  INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, KEY STEPS
  VENTILATION, WHOLE HOUSE STRATEGIES
  VENTILATION, EXHAUST ONLY
  VENTILATION, SUPPLY-ONLY
  VENTILATION, BALANCED
  VENTILATION, BALANCED HEAT COST SAVINGS
  Air Filtering Strategies
  Particles in Indoor Air - Chart
  GAS EXPOSURE EFFECTS
  Gas Toxicity Levels
  Gases, Quick Guide to Indoor
  AIR CLEANER PURIFIER TYPES
  Air Filter Effectiveness
  Real-World Effectiveness of Air Cleaners
  Air Pollutants, Finding & Reducing
  Radon Hazards
  Formaldehyde Hazards
  BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS
  BUY PRODUCTS for MOLD & ALLERGY CONTROL
  Volatile Organic Compounds VOCs
  Pesticide Exposure Hazards
  Lead Exposure Hazards
  Asbestos Hazards
  CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS
CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY
  Combustion Appliance Contaminants
  Backdrafting Appliances
  Fireplace & Woodstove Contaminants
  INDOOR AIR HAZARDS TABLE
  INDOOR COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ
  ODORS, Smells, Gases in buildings
INDOOR AIR QUALITY METHODS COMPARED

LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION
LEED Building Designation & IAQ

MILDEW in buildings ?
MILDEW ERRORS - MOLD PHOTOS
MILDEW REMOVAL & PREVENTION
MOISTURE CONTROL in buildings

MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE to TEST CLEAN PREVENT
MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD
MOLD ACTIVITY in buildings
MOLD AGE - Old is the Mold?
MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE
MOLD APPEARANCE - STUFF THAT IS NOT MOLD
MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX
MOLD BY MICROSCOPE
MOLD in the PETRI DISH, PHOTOS
Mold on Books, Book Conservation
MOLD CLASSES, HAZARD LEVELS
MOLD CLEANERS - WHAT TO USE
MOLD CLEANUP COMPANIES
MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD
MOLD CLEARANCE INSPECTIONS
MOLD CLINICAL REFERENCE TEXTS
MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE
MOLD DOCTORS - ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE
MOLD EXPOSURE, FOOD HAZARDS
MOLD EXPOSURE RISK LEVELS
MOLD EXPOSURE STANDARDS
MOLD FAQ's
MOLD FREQUENCY in buildings
MOLD GROWTH on SURFACES
MOLD INSPECTORS & MOLD TESTERS
MOLD KILLING GUIDE
MOLD LEVEL REPORTS
MOLD LEVELS IN buildings
MOLD BY MICROSCOPE
MOLD in the PETRI DISH, PHOTOS
MOLD ODORS, MUSTY SMELLS
MOLD PREVENTION GUIDE
MOLD RELATED ILLNESS GUIDE
MOLD RELATED ILLNESS SYMPTOMS
MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS
MOLD STANDARDS

MOLD TEST KITS
MOLD TEST KITS for DIY MOLD TESTS
MOLD TEST PROCEDURES
MOLD TEST REASONS
MOLD TESTING METHOD VALIDITY
MOLD TESTING SERVICES
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets
MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS
MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE

Nanomaterials Hazards
NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE

ODORS, Smells, Gases in buildings-Diagnosis & Cure

RENTERS & TENANTS GUIDE TO MOLD

SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE
SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
SICK HOUSE IAQ QUESTIONNAIRE
SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP
STAIN DIAGNOSIS

TECHNICAL & LAB PROCEDURES
THERMAL TRACKING
TRAPPED MOLD BETWEEN WOOD SURFACES

VENTILATION in buildings
  Air Bypass Leaks, Thermal Tracking
  AIR CHANGE RATE ACH HEAT SAVINGS
  ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE
  BALANCED VENTILATION, HEAT COST SAVINGS
  BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE
  BATHROOM VENTILATION
  BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION
  BLOWN-IN INSULATION
  BRICK or BLOCK WALL CAVITY INSULATION
  BRICK VENEER WALL INSULATION
  CATHEDRAL CEILING INSULATION
  CATHEDRAL CEILING VENTILATION
  HOT ROOF DESIGNS: Un-Vented Roof Solutions
  CRAWL SPACE VENTING & Dryout Procedures
  HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
  HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
  ICE DAM PREVENTION
  MOISTURE CONTROL in buildings
  MOISTURE CALCULATIONS
  MOISTURE METER STUDY
  MOISTURE PROBLEMS: CAUSE & CURE
  ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS
  Roof Venting: Eaves Intake if no Overhang
  Roof Venting: Soffit Intake Vent-Continuous
  Roof Venting: Un-Vented Hot Roof Solutions
  ROOF VENTING ENERGY SAVING DETAILS
  ROOF VENTING NEEDED?
  VENTILATION DESIGN PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS
  VENTILATION, WHOLE HOUSE STRATEGIES

VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in buildings
VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO

WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES
WALL FINISHES INTERIOR

WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING
WATER ENTRY in buildings
WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE

More Information

Airborne debris indoors (C) Daniel Friedman Fireplace & Woodstove Indoor Air Quality Improvement Guide
InspectAPedia®  -    

  • INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, KEY STEPS
  • Removing or keeping out indoor contaminants
  • Home ventilation strategies
  • Best methods for cleaning & filtering indoor air
InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.

This article explains the impact of fireplaces or woodstoves on indoor air quality in homes. This article includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons. See ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY for our full list of environmental hazard identification and remedy related to buildings

© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, Daniel Friedman, Steve Bliss, Wiley & Sons, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

Guide to Fireplaces & Woodstoves as Sources of Indoor Air Pollutants

According to Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction:

Traditional open fireplaces and older leaky woodstoves burn very inefficiently and produce hundreds of chemical compounds, including carbon monoxide, organic gases, particulates, and some of the same cancer-causing agents found in tobacco smoke. Minor spillage of these pollutants occurs regularly, primarily when starting or stoking the fire. However, the larger concern is when the fire smolders late at night, producing high levels of CO and a weak draft. Backdrafting at this time can be dangerous or even fatal.

Another problem, particularly with fireplaces, is created when the fire is roaring and drawing up to 400 cfm of combustion air. At this point, its voracious appetite for air can cause backdrafting in other combustion appliances such as a gas water heater. Also, the need to reheat all the makeup air drags down the fireplace’s heating efficiency to less than 15% and, if the fireplace is allowed to smolder all night, it becomes a net heat loser.

Woodstove efficiency has improved dramatically in response to EPA emissions standards (begun in 1988 and updated in 1990), which apply to most freestanding wood stoves and to fireplace inserts with air-supply controls and tight-fitting doors. To meet these standards, manufacturers use either a catalytic converter, similar to the ones used in cars, or a reengineered firebox. The new fireboxes have primary and secondary combustion zones capable of reaching system efficiencies of 60% or more and reducing combustion air intake to as little as 10 cfm. If installed with an outdoor air supply, these can be successfully de- coupled from household air pressures.

While many fireplaces are fitted with glass doors, and some have outside air intakes, nearly all of the glass doors leak air. Even with low levels of depressurization, these fireplaces can still backdraft, and the fireplace’s outdoor air supply might become the makeup air for the kitchen range hood or other exhaust fans, drawing fireplace fumes along with it. The best solution is an airtight fireplace insert.

To minimize pollution, indoors and outside, from wood-burning appliances

  • Choose a properly sized stove or insert certified as meeting EPA emissions standards.
  • Make sure the door gaskets are in good shape, the doors fit tightly, and the stove is free of air leaks.
  • Make sure the flue is the correct diameter and height, and have it inspected and cleaned annually.
  • Use wood that has been split and dried for at least six months. Try to use small pieces, and do not overload the firebox. Leave enough room for air to circulate freely around the wood.
  • For safety purposes, install a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector in the same room as the woodstove or fireplace.

-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.

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Technical Reviewers & References

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  • InspectAPedia.com® - Daniel Friedman - Publisher & Editor.
  • Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
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  • Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY

AIR CLEANER PURIFIER TYPES
AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS
AIR POLLUTANTS, COMMON INDOOR
ALLERGEN TESTS for buildings
ALLERGENS in buildings, RECOGNIZING
ALLERGY TESTS for PEOPLE
ALLERGY TEST ACCURACY
ANIMAL ALLERGENS / PET DANDER
ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings
ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings
ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings

BASEMENT MOLD
BATHROOM MOLD
BIBLIOGAPHY for ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MOLD, IAQ
BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS
BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES
BLUERAY Recall
BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE
BUILDING SETTLEMENT

CARBON MONOXIDE - CO
CARBON MONOXIDE WARNING
CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS
CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY
CARPETING, SELECTION & INSTALLATION
CAT DANDER in buildings
Cell phone Radiation Hazards
CHAIN OF CUSTODY - TEST SAMPLE
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
CHIMNEYS & Flues - Asbestos Transite Pipe
CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS

DRYER VENTING
DRYWALL INSTALLATION Best Practices
DRYWALL MOLD
DRYWALL MOLD RESISTANT
ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings
ENGINEERED WOOD Flooring
ENGINEERED WOOD Products

FIRE DAMAGE vs MOLD DAMAGE
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO MOLD

ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDOOR MOLD
INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS
INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
  Air Pollutants, Health Effects
  Air Pollutants, Common Indoor
  CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS
CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY
  CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS
  INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, KEY STEPS
  VENTILATION, WHOLE HOUSE STRATEGIES
  VENTILATION, EXHAUST ONLY
  VENTILATION, SUPPLY-ONLY
  VENTILATION, BALANCED
  VENTILATION, BALANCED HEAT COST SAVINGS
  Air Filtering Strategies
  Particles in Indoor Air - Chart
  GAS EXPOSURE EFFECTS
  Gas Toxicity Levels
  Gases, Quick Guide to Indoor
  AIR CLEANER PURIFIER TYPES
  Air Filter Effectiveness
  Real-World Effectiveness of Air Cleaners
  Air Pollutants, Finding & Reducing
  Radon Hazards
  Formaldehyde Hazards
  BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS
  BUY PRODUCTS for MOLD & ALLERGY CONTROL
  Volatile Organic Compounds VOCs
  Pesticide Exposure Hazards
  Lead Exposure Hazards
  Asbestos Hazards
  CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS
CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY
  Combustion Appliance Contaminants
  Backdrafting Appliances
  Fireplace & Woodstove Contaminants
  INDOOR AIR HAZARDS TABLE
  INDOOR COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ
  ODORS, Smells, Gases in buildings
INDOOR AIR QUALITY METHODS COMPARED

LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION
LEED Building Designation & IAQ

MILDEW in buildings ?
MILDEW ERRORS - MOLD PHOTOS
MILDEW REMOVAL & PREVENTION
MOISTURE CONTROL in buildings

MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE to TEST CLEAN PREVENT
MOLD ACTION GUIDE - WHAT TO DO ABOUT MOLD
MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX
MOLD BY MICROSCOPE
MOLD in the PETRI DISH, PHOTOS
Mold on Books, Book Conservation
MOLD CLASSES, HAZARD LEVELS
MOLD CLEANERS - WHAT TO USE
MOLD CLEANUP COMPANIES
MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD
MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE
ODORS, Smells, Gases in buildings-Diagnosis & Cure
RENTERS & TENANTS GUIDE TO MOLD
SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE
SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
SICK HOUSE IAQ QUESTIONNAIRE
SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP
STAIN DIAGNOSIS

TECHNICAL & LAB PROCEDURES
THERMAL TRACKING

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
  • Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
  • Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
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