EPA ratings

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dvto2

Member
Nov 14, 2011
79
Northern CT
How reliable do people regard epa ratings as compared to company ratings? For example, hearthstone rates the manchester at 77000 while epa rates then at 34000.
 
The EPA BTU results are the result of measured loads burned in compliance with the stove operating instructions. The manufacturer ratings are from feeding/stoking the thing like a steam locomotive boiler.

I would go with the EPA test results every day of the week. I don't stay up all night shoving wood in a stove.
 
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I would also take a look at those articles: https://chimneysweeponline.com/hobtucmp.htm and https://chimneysweeponline.com/wscomp8.htm
I agree with the conclusion: Neither is really all that helpful. In the end it all comes down to this:
"BTU content in wood" times "stove efficiency" divided by "burn time" will give you the actual average heat output. Play with fuel load and burn time (through air control) to adjust the heat output.
 
I think the EPA tests use a lower quality wood as the manufacturer uses wood with best BTU rating.

The idea was to use wood that was more of a challenge to meet emissions.

Now they are going towards using cord wood more of a real world test.
 
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Some companies have accurate information listed, others do not. The epa numbers are from an actual test following specific standards and procedures. Therefor i would be more inclined to believe the epa numbers
 
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