Wood Burning Stoves: Safety Info

 

 

Wood burning stoves are a great source of heat for your home. It is important to have wood burning stoves installed by a certified professional. In addition, by following manufacturer and building requirements for wood burning stoves they can function safely and efficiently without hazards.

 

Types of Stoves

• Freestanding wood burning stoves
• Fireplace inserts

Freestanding wood burning stoves can sit in front of a fireplace or in another part of a room. Ventilation for freestanding wood burning stoves is through the chimney or stovepipe. Fireplace inserts are placed inside the existing fire box and vented through the chimney.

 

Danger

Smoke from an inefficient wood burning stove can cause air pollution both inside and outside your home. Another danger is creosote which is formed from wood gases that are not completely burned. This combustible residue sticks to the inside chimney and if not removed periodically can lead to a chimney fire.

 

Requiements for Wood Burning Stoves

• Correct assembly of wood burning stoves and the venting components are needed for safe operation.
• Wood burning stoves should sit on a hearth floor made of heat resistant bricks, stone or tile.
• Appropriate space between wood burning stoves, venting systems, and combustible materials is necessary.

 

Adquate Drafting for Chimneys

• Correct size of the flue is important especially with a fireplace insert. Oversized flues can cerate drafting problems.
• Height of the chimney should meet the minimum code requirements or stand higher.
• Avoid excessive turns in the configuration of the venting system for freestanding wood burning stoves.

 

Efficiently Working Venting Systems

• Reduces wood consumption which means less acquiring and splitting of wood.
• The wood burning stove emits more heat.
• Less maintenance is needed for wood burning stoves.

 

Using the Right Wood

Seasoned wood that is dried out for six months before burning is recommended. Store and neatly stack wood outside. Keep the wood off of the ground and covered.

 

Wood Fires

Use newspaper or dry kindling to start a fire. Fires should burn hot and bright. Allow fire to burn down to coals. Rake coals toward the door of the wood burning stove into a mound. Never leave coals flat on the bottom of the stove. When adding more wood in the stove place behind the mound of coals.

 

Cleaning Out Ashes

Accumulated ashes from wood burning stoves are removed and placed into a metal container with a lid. Always store the container with ashes outside.

 

Annual Maintenance

Hire a certified professional to inspect and clean wood burning stoves, chimneys, and vents.

 

For more information about wood burning stoves got to www.nfircertified.org or www.csia.org.