mitch95100
Saw Nut
I heard something the other day about the EPA or some government thing banned the use of wood furnaces is this true or a another manure pit i happened to fall into??
Let me know what you think.
Let me know what you think.
Woodfurnaces banned???
- Thread starter mitch95100
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Carl Anderson
ArboristSite Operative
I had heard that many towns in CT were banning them unless your chimney, smoke stack, whatever was higher than the highest peak of any house within a certain radius or some such foolishness like that. So if my neighbor across the street wanted one they would have to have some ridiculous smoke stack because my house sits about 20 feet higher than theirs, plus my house is two stories so it would need to be like a 50' monstrosity. Some may have banned them completely.
fdoberman
ArboristSite Operative
New York has banned outdoor wood burners for years, with existing burners grandfathered. I know of a number of people who ignore the ban.
Many municipalities in NY have Banned the use of both liquid and solid fueled heating systems via Building Codes, and are enforcing that ban fairly effectively.
Many municipalities in NY have Banned the use of both liquid and solid fueled heating systems via Building Codes, and are enforcing that ban fairly effectively.
jhoff310
ArboristSite Guru
it all boils down to too much gubbermint. I am afraid to ask what's next
Jeff
Jeff
mitch95100
Saw Nut
I agree its getting to be way to strict of EPA regulations.
A good point i think of is we as wood burners use (for example) 30,000 cubic feet of air space per year for our smoke to go. Now lets say that 1,000 years ago their was a forest fire that produced 200,000 cubic feet of air space for smoke every day. And note that their was no fire departments to stop it. so this could go on for so say 2 months before it bunt its self out. And our mother earth may have been affected by it but recovered. Smoke is a naturally occuring thing that god has created the earth to deal with and it hasnt had a problem so far. Its all of the fumes we pump into the air from transportation and stuff that we should worry more about than smoke from a wood burner
laynes69
Addicted to ArboristSite
Last night, we went through a small town. I thought there had been a house fire, the smoke was so thick you couldn't see the road ahead and houses disappeared. When we turned at the intersection I looked over and it was coming from a OWB. I know they can burn clean at times when used correctly, but also can cause huge plumes of smoke. It's not fair for those people around him to deal with that. I have a buddy and he burns 3xs more wood than we do. I don't have a problem with someone trying to reduce fuel usage and saving money with wood. The problem I have is the terrible efficiencies with most units. When people burn tires, carcasses, railroad ties, garbage, etc. that's when enforcements are needed. It's the few that can ruin it for everyone else. Also the companies that were manufacturing Owb's didn't worry about emissions and efficiency. There's been plenty of time to produce a better cleaner product, but that involves time and money.
Moss Man
Addicted to ArboristSite
I live in a very rural area of Maine and my neighbor has an outside furnace of some type in a building a short distance from his house, he burns some very questionable things in there. When the wind is right the smoke drifts right to my house and we're 300 yards apart from each other. I'm not saying they should be banned, but that there are some negatives to be considered.
Not true. EPA will introduce new legislation for biomass central heating likely in a couple of month. What this means is they will now have standards for OWB & furnaces. MFG will have to test for emissions, efficiencies, BTU etc...
What this means for the consumer is they will now have a baseline standards to shop around and get a high-efficiency clean burning unit.
There a whole thread about EPA furnaces (Keith don't start again... :msp_mad
you may want to read where pretty much everything that needed to be said, was said about this topic. http://www.arboristsite.com/firewood-heating-wood-burning-equipment/182165.htm
What brings about bans, is the morons who blithely burn tires and railroad ties, neither knowing nor caring that they're marinating their neighbors downwind in a carcinogenic soup.
That is one of the things gummint is for- protection of life. Would you prefer that the injured party inflict a little frontier justice on the perp?
Looking for scapegoats? See "morons" above.
Carl Anderson
ArboristSite Operative
I think that was the point behind CT towns wanting the high chimney, thinking it would keep smoke from choking out neighbors. It makes some sense but I think the better way is to make sure the furnaces are efficient and clean running like Fryebug said. There's no accounting for idiots who burn their trash and old tires in them but idiots are a part of life with anything unfortunately. Too much government isn't the answer, gotta find that happy medium of common sense and courtesy towards others.
Not true. EPA will introduce new legislation for biomass central heating likely in a couple of month. What this means is they will now have standards for OWB & furnaces. MFG will have to test for emissions, efficiencies, BTU etc...
What this means for the consumer is they will now have a baseline standards to shop around and get a high-efficiency clean burning unit.
There a whole thread about EPA furnaces (Keith don't start again... :msp_mad
http://www.arboristsite.com/firewood-heating-wood-burning-equipment/182165.htm
As I have mentioned on previous occasions with Kieths full agreement;
The only way to solve this problem for ever is to have a massive amount of
fire brick in a smaller fire box and water-2,000 gallons or more to create a heat sink and high
efficiency method of heat transference where in the over sized firebox is filled half full
of firebrick or greater with an afterburner of firebrick to burn ALL the smoke before it
exits and the majority of the heat is adsorbed by the fire brick mass and the afterburner
made of firebrick.
The use of shaker grates would allow the burning of anthracite coal as an option for the
end user.
The above is not hard to do and the accomplishment will be well recieved by the end user
and his or her neighbors.
mama
ArboristSite Operative
Where I'm at in northern Calif there are no restrictions yet. Just 30 miles down the hill you can only burn wood if it is your only heat source.
laynes69
Addicted to ArboristSite
Ive had the upper portion of my left lobe of lung removed. I'm prone to pneumonia and I've outgrown asthma. I'm not an environmentalist, but appreciate clean air. I understand the concept and see the pros of a OWB, but I wouldn't go out and buy a 40% efficient gas furnace.
It would suck to invest 10,000+ dollars to have someone come and tell me to remove it, but that's the only way things will be changed. Like Fyrebug said, it's not just Owb's but will soon be other units like stoves, furnaces, etc. Just like I have found by upgrading, others will see it also. I'm a penny pincher, and if I can save wood and get the other benefits of a cleaner unit I'm all for it. It costs a little more upfront, but saves in the end.
It would suck to invest 10,000+ dollars to have someone come and tell me to remove it, but that's the only way things will be changed. Like Fyrebug said, it's not just Owb's but will soon be other units like stoves, furnaces, etc. Just like I have found by upgrading, others will see it also. I'm a penny pincher, and if I can save wood and get the other benefits of a cleaner unit I'm all for it. It costs a little more upfront, but saves in the end.
Rergardless of the vessel one burns in / with, seasoned, dry, wood should be the norm. I do not belive there are many if any people burning tires, ties, or carcasses in their burners. I do believe there are a good few that choose to burn green wood whether out of lack of knowledge, care for others, or because they can.
laynes69
Addicted to ArboristSite
Fire away, I cleared some of my inbox.
As already mentioned, they are banned in NY. Cant say Im too dissapointed. Both of my neighbors have them and both are smelly smog factories. The one neighbor is way worse as he burns his in the summer and we have to go inside from the pool, close all windows, etc.
William Balaska
Addicted to ArboristSite
I have a CB 6048 the thing hardly smokes with good seasoned wood. Only when the damper opens after an idle period does it mildly wmoke for a few minutes until hot. Nothing wrong with it if used appropriately. My understanding of NY state is only gassifiers can be used I have not heard of a ban, I think we need to get the facts straight.
sixmilessouth
New Member
it's not just woodfurnaces thats are the culprits
On my way to work I drive by a house that in winter months always has a plume of thick smoke coming from their chimney. It's so bad sometimes that you have to slow down because you're blinded by it drifting across the road. I often wonder what they're burning in their and if it's burning so poorly, what's it like inside that house? There is a stack of wood in their driveway, so it's either green or just a decoy to throw people off the trail that they're running a crematorium in a residential neighborhood.:smile2:
On my way to work I drive by a house that in winter months always has a plume of thick smoke coming from their chimney. It's so bad sometimes that you have to slow down because you're blinded by it drifting across the road. I often wonder what they're burning in their and if it's burning so poorly, what's it like inside that house? There is a stack of wood in their driveway, so it's either green or just a decoy to throw people off the trail that they're running a crematorium in a residential neighborhood.:smile2:
fdoberman
ArboristSite Operative
I'll start granting credibility to EPA and the rest of the Government employers of politician's gestated demon spawn when they FORCE California and Arizona to install proper smoke abatement and filtering for those wildfires they enjoy having so much.
Stupid politicians kids can't do a damn thing beyond collect a paycheck!
Stupid politicians kids can't do a damn thing beyond collect a paycheck!
