Wood Burning Stove Tips

Get The Tips You Need To Use Your Wood Burning Stove Safely


Are you preparing to buy a wood burning stove, and want the most efficient heating, or have concerns about using your stove?  I have a few wood burning stove tips to share with you, that may ease your mind, installation, and use.

The most important of the wood burning stove tips for a new buyer is follow the plans outlined by your dealer.  Make sure you clearly understand the requirements for your chimney, the plans for installation of your wood burning stove, and instructions for using your new stove.  Your wood burning stove dealers will be able to explain all the necessities of proper installation.  And if you are constructing a wood stove of your own, make sure you follow those plans to the letter.

Safety of your home and family requires that you also include both smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide detectors as part of your installation, and maintenance plans.  The dealers will often carry a selection of alarms.  Make sure you purchase good quality alarms, and that your plans include regular testing and battery replacement for your alarms.  While wood burning stoves are extremely safe, you need to exercise proper safety measures.  

One of the most important wood burning stove tips is about the wood you choose.  I'm sure your wood burning stove dealers discussed this with you, but a reminder never hurts.

 

Check The Dryness of Your Wood Supply

When you buy wood for your stove, make sure it is seasoned wood, that has dried for months, the drier the wood, the better your fire.  Make sure your wood has been split into proper sizes.  Split wood starts easier, and burns more efficiently.  Your wood should be stored neatly stacked preferably slightly off the ground, and with a cover over the top.  You need to keep your wood dry.  Using 3 or more logs for you fire will give you a hotter and brighter fire, which produces heat at the greatest efficiency, with the least amount of smoke.  When the logs burn down to coals, do not spread them, arrange the coals into a pile so they continue to burn hot and finish consuming their fuel.

Yearly maintenance of your wood burning stove is a necessity.  You need to have the stove inspected, and replace any parts that are recommended.  Also, make sure to have the chimney swept by a professional chimney sweep.  Not only do they clean the chimney, but they do a thorough inspection of your chimney system, and will recommend any repairs or replacement parts needed.

For both the safety of your family and home, always follow the recommendations of the inspection by your dealers, and the chimney sweep.  Newer technology wood burning stoves are highly efficient, with low amounts of smoke, but this only remains true with proper maintenance.

While this short list of wood burning stove tips is all about the basics, it is amazing how often we forget those little details.  If you are a new purchaser, by following these few simple words of advice, the advice from your stove dealers, or the details outlined in your wood stove plans, you will have a clean burning, efficient and safe wood burning stove.