Did you know that you can save a fortune in energy costs with a wood burning stove and that research shows that it is considerably less harmful to the environment than conventional oil or gas heating? In addition, gas and oil are not renewable sources, whereas more trees are being planted all the time to replace those felled. So how do you install one of these in your house or apartment?
First check that your insurance company is comfortable about you installing what amounts to an indoor furnace. Generally speaking they are fairly amenable to the installation of wood stoves so long as you can assure them that the installation will be carried out by an accredited professional since it is all to easy otherwise to create conditions that might result in a serious 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.
During normal operation wood stoves need to be regularly cleaned and maintained in good working order. If you are familiar with cleaning a normal fireplace chimney this will be quite familiar. It is important to remove the build up of creosote especially since it can reduce the efficiency of the system and eventually damage the flue (it also smells somewhat if left un-cleaned).
An annual major clean carried out by a chimney sweep should alleviate the need to repair your stove. Some products such as the well known Creosote Sweeping Log can help the cause but are ultimately no substitute for having your wood burning stove properly cleaned annually.
To sum up then, bringing in professional help from the beginning will give you wood burning stove installation the best chance of success. This is a long term investment that should pay for itself many times over in the years ahead as well making a small contribution towards reducing the impact on the environment.
Check out these additional articles to find out much more about selecting a log burner and grants for wood burning stoves.