Here at Black Goose we sell wood stoves, perform pre-installation inspections, install them, and maintain them (and their attached chimneys). We are here to help if you’re considering installing a new stove and chimney, or are considering replacing your old stove. It’s very important to have a certified chimney sweep ensure the stove is installed to manufacturer specifications. Improper installation can result in many problems such as smoke flowing into the house, poor draft (which causes inefficient operation), and even chimney fires.
Several years ago the EPA changed the regulations governing woodburning stoves in an effort to reduce the number of older/poor quality stoves that release high levels of particulate into the air. Stoves that meet the new EPA requirements are approximately 30% more efficient, meaning you’ll burn less wood and need to fill the stove less frequently-which saves both time and money. Plus, they release significantly less particulate material into your home, which reduces potential health problems and the need for constant dusting while the stove is running. However many of the stoves that are sold in the United States are NOT EPA approved. We here at Black Goose strongly recommend that if you’re going to the expense of installing a stove, chose one that’s EPA approved. You can see a list of EPA approved stoves here. While most cheap stoves are not EPA approved, even some of the pricier stoves available from big box stores aren’t approved, while a stove of the same price from a specialty store may be approved.