Department of
Environmental Quality

For hundreds of years, home wood heating technology changed very little. Then in the 1980s, severe air pollution problems across the country were linked to smoke from wood stoves. Soon, wood stove manufacturers were required to design cleaner stoves.

New wood stove designs focus on achieving higher-efficiency combustion, more complete burning of combustion waste gases, and better heating efficiency. Two different designs-"catalytic" and "noncatalytic" stoves-meet wood stove pollution standards.

• Catalytic stoves use a ceramic catalyst inside the firebox to assist with the burning of waste gases (smoke). 
• Noncatalytic stoves use a combination of sophisticated baffles and air supply designs to burn the gases.

In general, catalytic stoves are a little more efficient initially than noncatalytic stoves, but catalysts deteriorate over time and need to be replaced every two to four years to ensure good performance.

EPA-Certified Wood Stoves

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires manufacturers of wood stoves to produce clean-burning wood stoves. New wood stoves (those built after July 1, 1988) cannot produce smoke-related pollutants beyond certain limits. Learn more.

Wood Stove Replacements and Tax Deductions

The state of Idaho offers taxpayers who buy new wood stoves, pellet stoves, or natural gas or propane heating units for their residences a tax deduction to replace old, uncertified wood stoves. Learn more.

Burn Better

Wood stove operators can dramatically improve a stove's performance by learning to use the stove properly and burning correct fuels. Learn more.