Is it legal to put a used wood stove in my house ?

[paulmlemay]

I live in California. I have a fireplace. I think a decent wood stove burning compressed wood cubes would be much more green than burning wood in my fireplace. My neighbor is selling an older Jotul F8. Of course I'd need to have a flexible stainless stove pipe installed up through my chimney and a cap on top. Does anyone know if this would be legal?

 

[DAKSY]

It is legal if you meet all the clearances to combustibles, & your insurance company,
along with the building inspector sign off on it. Then again, that's the way it works
in NY,. Not sure about California.

 

[snaple4]

I live in California. I have a fireplace. I think a decent wood stove burning compressed wood cubes would be much more green than burning wood in my fireplace. My neighbor is selling an older Jotul F8. Of course I'd need to have a flexible stainless stove pipe installed up through my chimney and a cap on top. Does anyone know if this would be legal?

I hear in California you have to to governments approval to sneeze, walk down the road, buy a weapon to protect yourself.... Who knows what California says about putting in a more efficient way to heat your house. Really the best thing is to call a local install company and your local inspector. They can let you know if they have outlawed putting in a “non-compliant” stove. Compliant stove could be whatever they say it is by the way.

let us know what they say. Hopefully you can use the beautiful stove.

 

[begreen]

The old Jotuls were ok heaters, but not nearly as clean-burning or efficient as their modern stoves. Check with the local inspecting authority to see what is permitted in your area. The closer you live to an urban area the more likely there will be restrictions.

 

[coaly]

That model is not shown on the EPA Certified stove list. That is the first criteria it must meet for CA, WA and OR.

Woodstove Database | Burnwise | US EPA

 

[begreen]

That model is not shown on the EPA Certified stove list. That is the first criteria it must meet for CA, WA and OR.

This is definitely a pre-EPA phase 1 stove. I knew it was not allowed in WA or OR but didn't know if CA had the same restriction.

 

[coaly]

Yes, those 3 states.
California has required EPA Phase II since 1992.

California's Green Building Standards Code: 4.503.1 Fireplaces

The purpose of the California Green Buildings Standard Code (known as CalGreen) was created to improve public health, safety and general welfare by enhancing the design and construction of buildings through the use of building concepts that reduce negative impact or positive environmental impact...

westfirefireplaces.com

The California Green Building Standards called CalGreen was adopted Jan 1, 2011.

CLC Newsletter - page 10

Some areas such as the Bay Area only allow commercial made pellet use. New construction does not allow any solid fuel burning since 2016; including pellet stoves.

Ordinances and Regulations for Wood-Burning Appliances | US EPA

Laws and regulations for wood burning appliances.

www.epa.gov

I'm amazed searching counties in CA how many older stoves are still for sale on craigslist. Most are 1980's relics and antiques that can't be sold legally in the state! Little to no enforcement?

Here's an example of a clean burning fireplace insert in the strictest area (SF Bay Area) of the strictest state in the US;


Viewing this image has been known to cause cancer in the state of California.