Resolved EPA to ban ALL wood stoves?

[logger]

Tell me this isn't true. I heard that the EPA wants to ban all stoves in the near future, new epa approved ones included. All exisiting owners' stoves would be grandfathered in. To me, this sounds like complete bs and Im hoping its false, but who knows. Figured hearth.com would give me an answer to this. Anyone else hear this or have info on the subject? Thanks in advance.

 

[Todd]

Where did you hear this? I guess I could see Obama's cronies pushing for this if he gets another 4 years. Maybe we can convert our stoves to run on algae.

 

[mellow]

Typical gossip if you ask me, till I see it in writing.

 

[MishMouse]

I have heard of certain communities banning outdoor wood boilers but I haven't heard of wood stoves being banned. Though some areas may have restrictions on air quality that could affect when you can burn.

 

[begreen]

A: missing referring doc
B: let's keep political opinion out of this
C: I heard the Supreme court wants to ban beans to control methane. Pass it on.

 

[logger]

Just asking because someone mentioned this to me. It actually came from a conversation over wood boilers.

BeGreen,
Im not a complete idiot and obviously dont have any documentation or I would not have asked the question in the first place... come on now.

I do live within the Pinelands Reserve, so perhaps the gentleman I spoke to was misinformed and meant just this area, but thats not what he said. I thought it was false info too, but thought this would be a good place to ask.

 

[begreen]

logger, no offense intended. There's a world of difference between wood boilers and all wood stoves. So I will put an end to this rumor right here. OWBs? Maybe, or with stricter regulation. Wood stoves? It isn't happening.

 

[webbie]

Not true.

These regs do not occur in a vacuum.

EPA has been in touch with our industry for decades and new regs take years to work out IN CONCERT WITH US. That is, they don't pretend to know the best ways to clean up - they sit down with expert panels from the manufacturers and labs and together we determine how to best get to the goal (cleaner air).

The industry is, in general, ahead of the curve in that stoves are already as clean or cleaner than some of the tighter regs which may eventually occur.

 

[webbie]

Oh, the EPA actually promotes our industry and even Hearth.com

http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/

 

[Flatbedford]

Maybe your buddy heard that in a GOP stump speech, or on Fox news? Sounds like some thing out of either's playbook.

 

[logger]

Thanks all. I thought it didnt sound right.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Since the average EPA woodstove burns MUCH cleaner than a forest fire and the fuel is completely renewable if find that very hard to believe.
I think they would ban Coal stoves before wood stoves.

 

[webbie]

Since the average EPA woodstove burns MUCH cleaner than a forest fire and the fuel is completely renewable if find that very hard to believe.
I think they would ban Coal stoves before wood stoves.

The EPA reacts to real total pollution.
Since hardly anyone uses coal stoves (and hard coal burns extremely clean), they don't even consider it...it would not be worth the effort.

They are a Big Picture agency - not down on wood stoves, just more accurately trying to clean the air for all of us. It just so happens that wood stoves are one of many sources which put out excess particles.

 

[Todd]

But isn't the EPA trying to regulate co2? It's not only about clean air anymore.

 

[webbie]

But isn't the EPA trying to regulate co2? It's not only about clean air anymore.

I don't follow that end of things...I don't think CO2 is in the woodstove regs, although CO has always been considered a pollutant.

Lots of things are pollutants in other than the normal sense of causing cancer, etc.
Freon didn't cause us to cough, but it sure put a hole in the atmosphere. EPA is charged with a bigger picture, based on existing science.

I'm sure they are not perfect, but rather work with industry and scientists in attempt to form a consensus. As I said, I met and talked to the top dogs in the woodstove end of things and they were very much into promoting our industry.

 

[Gary_602z]

Maybe your buddy heard that in a GOP stump speech, or on Fox news? Sounds like some thing out of either's playbook.

Doesn't this fall under BeGreens B: ?

 

[James02]

Says don't burn moldy wood....My wood has mold on it....I'll throw it away tonight!!

• Never burn wet, rotted, diseased, or moldy wood.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

banning? heck no, but...

expectations are that a new round of emmissions tightening is in the works. this will effect the industry more than the end consumer early on, kind of like "CAFE" standards with cars. most manufacturers are working to factor in these potential lowerings of PM limits into new products (we are)

one of the things i think that will come to pass will be banning of "epa exempt" units though this is just my opinion, i do not know if it will happen, add on wood furnaces would be the biggest category to be affected by this IMHO as the "exempt" freestanding woodstove seems to be losing steam in sales across the board, we've quit buildingthem with the exception of the furnace. im hoping we will work on designing an epa certified furnace but the furnace doesnt currently have its own standard for emmissions so the "stove" standard is all there is to work with now, we'll probably wait on that one until we find out what the standard will be

 

[Armoured]

I think this rumour is spreading because of a few local initiatives to restrict in places with bad pollution. I've run across a few sites blathering about this as evidence of a big crackdown coming, EPA overreach, etc., even though its local measures.

 

[MasterMech]

FWIW I've heard OWB's referred to as "Wood Stoves" before.

 

[fireview2788]

With the continued push for use of alternative to fossil fuels there is no way either side would push for this ban. Wood is a renewable resource and as we all know can be gotten without taking down a live/healthy tree, there's no way the EPA would try it.

fv

 

[laynes69]

I think furnaces are one of the few things that are left that are exempt. There are a few manufacturers on the market that have produced EPA certified furnaces, even though there's no set test as of yet. From what I have read is if a furnace meets the emission requirements it can be tested for certification, but it's very difficult to do so. I don't know the exact details, but I've read the EPA is looking to adapt some of the rules based off of Canada's b415 standards and within a couple years all central heaters (furnaces) will be mandated to be certified. I think many people don't buy furnaces because of their bad reps, but things have improved greatly and eventually all manufacturers will be required to produce cleaner burning units. I don't think woodburners will be banned, but those that are exempt are next in line for change.

 

[tjnamtiw]

Typical gossip if you ask me, till I see it in writing.

When you see it in writing (as law), it's too late. The Big O's EPA is capable of anything to push us toward using solar and wind generated electricity. "Your energy costs will necessarily skyrocket" was a phrase I seem to remember. CHANGE IT BACK is a better saying for November.

 

[tjnamtiw]

I think furnaces are one of the few things that are left that are exempt. There are a few manufacturers on the market that have produced EPA certified furnaces, even though there's no set test as of yet. From what I have read is if a furnace meets the emission requirements it can be tested for certification, but it's very difficult to do so. I don't know the exact details, but I've read the EPA is looking to adapt some of the rules based off of Canada's b415 standards and within a couple years all central heaters (furnaces) will be mandated to be certified. I think many people don't buy furnaces because of their bad reps, but things have improved greatly and eventually all manufacturers will be required to produce cleaner burning units. I don't think woodburners will be banned, but those that are exempt are next in line for change.

Wood/coal burning cook stoves are also exempt. www dot sopkainc dot com

 

[BrotherBart]

Asked and answered.