Posts Tagged ‘selecting a wood burner’
Wood Stove Installation
It is possible to save a great deal of money on utility bills by simply installing a wood stove. Not only that, but wood burning is known to be more environmentally friendly than burning fossil fuels. Traditional oil, gas and coal cannot be replaced once burned but tree can be endlessly replaced by planting new ones. So let’s look at how to actually install one of these beasts.
Before you proceed be aware that a wood burning stove is little different to a small furnace so check with your household insurer that they are happy for you to install one. Usually they are ok with the idea if you can show evidence that the installation was done by a certified professional – A DIY installation is more likely to result in a house fire.
Next you should work out exactly what size of wood burning stove you will need. The best approach is to consult someone who works in a hearth shop. Have this person visit your property and he or she will help you decide on the best wood burner for the size and space you have laid out.
As well as the stove itself, the flue is a critical part of the overall installation. Wood burners require a flue lined with material specifically designed for burning wood. If you have an existing chimney then one option is to fit this with a liner suitable for wood burning, otherwise you will have to have a purpose made flue pipe installed.
Once you have had the wood stove installed you need to ensure that there a no flammable objects or materials anywhere within a safe distance. What precisely constitutes a safe distance should be documented in the manual for the stove. Also make sure that any children are also instructed to keep to a safe distance – in fact if you small children or pets you may want to fit a fireguard as a precaution.
After you start to actually use your wood stove you will need to schedule cleaning and maintenance. This is not dissimilar to the process for cleaning a regular chimney. The reasons you need to remove creosote and other deposits from the stove and flue are twofold. One, an accumulation of creosote will eventually rot the flue pipe and impair the burner. Two, when not in use during the summer, the creosote will start to smell quite unpleasantly.
In general though a thorough clean and sweep at least once a year should keep repairs at bay. You might also want to consider things like chimney cleaning logs, which while no substitute for proper physical cleaning, can help reduce the build up of deposits.
To conclude, your best course of action when installing a wood burner is to get professional help on board from the outset. A professionally installed wood stove is both environmentally friendly and a big money saver too.
Check out these additional articles to find out much more about log burners installation and how to choose a wood stove.
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