Your Old 

Wood Stove’s

Little

Secrets

Partners in Replacement

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association

Chimney Safety Institute of America

American Lung Association

National Fireplace Institute

Steel Recycling Institute

U.S. Department of Energy

www.epa.gov/woodstoves or

www.woodstovechangeout.org

 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

Take a look Second Look 

at Your Stove 

Check how well your wood stove is doing:

q We smell smoke in the house.

q We notice a lot of smoke coming 

from the chimney.

q We see more dust around the house 

when we use the wood stove.

q Our family experiences more watery 

eyes and stuffy noses after we use 

the wood stove.

q We are constantly feeding the stove 

with wood.

If you have checked any of these items, 

consider replacing your old wood stove.

A U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PARTNERSHIP
Retailers Can help Help You

A hearth retailer can guide you through 

the wood stove removal and replacement 

process. With hundreds of stoves to choose 

from, the variety and cost ranges are wide 

– from $1,000 to $3,000 before installation. 

Some local governments and agencies offer 

incentives for replacement.

Professional Installation Matters

Improperly installed stoves or chimneys 

might cause a house fire or spill smoke back 

into a house. A hearth specialty retailer can 

arrange professional installation by a trained 

technician or one certified by the National 

Fireplace Institute®

. 

Stoves and chimneys should be inspected by 

a certified chimney sweep once a year to 

prevent chimney fires. 

~Chimney Safety Institute of America

Replace with 

New Technology

new

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA) recommends replacing old wood stoves 

with modern heating appliances. This can 

reduce smoke and dust, as well as cut heating expenses. Making the switch can also 

help make your home healthier and safer. 

There are many cleaner burning options, 

ranging from gas to high-tech wood stoves 

certified by the EPA.

old

REPLACE YOUR OLD WOOD STOVE ! www.epa.gov/woodstoves

Old Wood Stoves 

are Dusty, Smoky and Inefficient

Old wood stoves manufactured before 1992 

are inefficient. They waste firewood, pollute 

the air in your neighborhood and create dust 

inside your home. This is especially harmful for 

the more than 20 million people – including 6 

million children – with asthma in the U.S. 

Smoky Stoves Affect Your Health 

Small particles and pollutants in wood smoke 

are unhealthy for you and your family. Even 

occasional exposure to wood smoke can create 

problems such as watery eyes, stuffy noses, and 

chest tightness. Everyone may experience one 

or more of these symptoms, but children and 

older adults, and people with asthma or heart 

disease, are especially vulnerable. Particles can 

trigger asthma attacks and have been linked 

to heart attacks in people with heart disease.

Is your stove old? Stoves with solid doors are generally 

older and should be replaced and disposed of properly. 

New stoves are 

available in 

many sizes and 

colors. Look for 

the EPA label on 

the back that 

indicates 

it is certified.

CLEAN UP the Neighborhood

•	Decrease pollution by 70%.

•	Improve the community’s air.

PROTECT Your Health 

•	Decrease harmful particles inside

	 your home by 70%.

•	Reduce your exposure to toxic pollutants

linked to serious health problems.

SAVE Money

•	50% more efficient than older models.

•	Use less fuel for the same amount of heat.

INCREASE Safety

•	Decrease creosote buildup in your chimney.

•	Reduce the risk of a home fire.

Benefits of New Stoves