Wood Burning Stove

3/8/2018 (Permalink)

One of the best ways to heat your home during the cold months is a wood burning stove. In this blog we will go over some safety tips to ensure that the use of your wood burning stove never leads to a fire in your home.

Installation:

When you install a wood burning stove be sure that there is a 36 in clearance of combustible materials around the entire perimeter of the stove. Insufficient clearance could result in the heat produced by the stove penetrating nearby combustibles ultimately causing a serious fire. You should make sure to install a heat shield along the combustible wall as well.

Chimney:

The chimney for a wood burning stove should be masonry. Never should an unlined, single brick chimney be used for a wood stove. This is due to the fact that single brick chimneys are prone to deterioration, which could potentially allow for dangerous situations to develop. If you have a double brick chimney check for cracked mortar or missing bring. Metal chimneys must never be used with a coal stove as the corrosive flue gases produced by a coal fire will cause rapid deterioration of the chimney.

Ventilation:

Venting the stove is the most important aspect of using a wood burning system. 90% of all stove related fires originate within the venting system. A venting system is not the chimney itself!!! The venting system is insulated stovepipe which connects the stove to the appropriate chimney type. Keep the vent as short as possible. Stovepipe clearance is important as well. It must never pass through an interior wall, floor, or ceiling.

Maintenance:

For proper maintenance make sure you always use the proper fuel such as hardwoods, regular cleaning is of upmost importance using a wire brush. It’s good to clean the stovepipe at least once per year. Avoid creosote buildup which is a highly combustible fuel that burns intensely.