Your fireplace should be safe, warm, and saving you money. If your fireplace is old and outdated, 2020 is the perfect time to replace it. In May, stronger EPA standards for wood burning heaters go into effect. These new standards mean that any wood stove you buy now will be more efficient than ever. Not only that, but modern, efficient stoves are eligible for a tax credit!
At Mountain Hearth & Patio, we’ve been putting modern and efficient fireplaces, stoves, and inserts in homes in the Denver Metro for years. We supply many stoves that comply with the updated standards and our certified professionals can help you find the perfect appliance for your space.
What are the New Source Performance Standards?
The New Source Performance Standards for Residential Heaters, or NSPS, went into effect in 1988. These standards were set to regulate the amount of particulate emissions allowable from wood stoves, fireplaces, inserts, and other residential wood heaters. At the time, these appliances were far less efficient and a major source of air pollution.
Modern wood fireplaces, such as this Fireplace Xtrodinair 44 Elite in Conifer, aren’t just efficient heaters, they’re also beautiful, customizable features for your space.
Over the years, the EPA has updated the standards to require higher efficiency. The most recent update, in 2015, tightened the particulate emissions standard for wood heaters to less than 4g/hr. This May, the EPA will be updating the standard again, tightening the efficiency requirements for these appliances further.
What is the 2020 EPA standard?
On May 15, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency will roll out their updated standards for wood burning residential heaters. Where the old standard required that stoves emit less than 4 g/hr of particulate emissions, the new standard will require emissions of less than 2.5 g/hr when burning cord wood.
A wood insert and new finish are great ways to update your existing fireplace. Our NFI-Certified technicians installed this FireplaceX wood insert in Evergreen.
These tighter standards are great for air quality. They also come with the added bonus of burning less wood for more heat due to the overall increased efficiency. Modern wood stoves, inserts, and fireplaces achieve this efficiency in several ways. Catalytic stoves use a catalytic combustor to re-burn the byproducts of combustion and increase burn efficiency and heat output. Non-catalytic stoves use baffles to create a longer, hotter path for gases, they also allow more combustion air to flow into the firebox.
Which appliances meet the EPA Standard?
At Mountain Hearth & Patio, our wood burning fireplaces, stoves, and inserts are 2020 ready. We have many high-quality, high-efficiency hearth appliances from Fireplace Xtrordinair, Hearthstone, Lopi, and more that meet or exceed the new emissions standards.
These fireplaces aren’t just efficient. They’re beautiful, customizable features for your living space. Modern wood fireplaces, stoves, and inserts allow you to choose from design options such as doors, surrounds, and more to match your style. Whether you’re looking for traditional ambiance or contemporary elegance there’s an EPA 2020 compliant stove for you.
Wood stoves are powerful heaters with a classic attitude. We installed this Hearthstone Manchester in Evergreen, CO.
What is the Biomass Energy Tax Credit?
When you install a modern, efficient wood hearth appliance, you’re also eligible for a tax credit! As long as you update to a fireplace, stove, or insert that burns wood with 75% efficiency or more. This tax credit can be another way to find savings on your new appliance and installation. If you have an efficient wood burner installed before December 31, 2020, you can take advantage of these savings.
If you plan to take advantage of this tax credit, make sure to save the documentation of your purchase and your stoves efficiency. Then, it’s as simple as filling out the IRS Form 5695 and filing with your 2020 taxes.*
You can burn wood in Denver and the Metro as long as you burn in an EPA-Certified appliance. Our technicians installed this Vermont Castings Montpelier in Lakewood, Colorado.
Get in touch to start your wood fireplace project!
If you’re a wood burning purist looking for a modern source of heat, Mountain Hearth & Patio can help. Our NFI-Certified sales and installation staff can help you select the perfect fireplace, stove, or insert for your home that meets the latest efficiency standards. Come in to our showroom or check out our product pages to see our wood burning fireplaces, stoves, and inserts.
We also provide high-quality service and repairs. If you’re happy with your fireplace and need repairs or annual maintenance, our CSIA and NFI-Certified technicians will put their experience to work for you.
Contact us on our website, by phone at (303) 679-1601, or by email at Office@MtnHP.com to start your fireplace project. From service and repairs to sales and installation we have the experience and expertise to do it all.
Mountain Hearth & Patio has over two decades of experience with the sales, service, and installation of fireplaces, stoves, and inserts. We work in the Foothills communities, Lakewood, Littleton, Denver, and everywhere in between!
*Mountain Hearth & Patio are not financial advisors or tax preparation professionals. This article should not be considered legal or financial advice. To learn more about this tax credit and to discuss whether it’s right for you, consult with your accountant, attorney, or other tax preparation professional.
