Installing
Small Woodburners Safely
Whether you live in an apartment or a cabin, a small woodburner can add a cosy feel to your living space. There are some rules you need to follow to put your stove in the right place.
These rules require certain distances between the stove and any combustible materials. This guide is here to help.
Room Size
Woodburners can be found in a wide variety of outputs and it is crucial to consider the size of your space when choosing the right stove. Many people make the error of buying a wood burner that is too large for their home, and this can negatively impact the performance and efficiency of the stove. It is essential to visit the showroom to determine the size of the woodburner that will work most suitable for your home and use a stove-sizing calculator to determine how much heat it will generate.
Multiply the length, width, and the height of a room in meters. Divide the result by 14 and you will get an approximate estimate of the amount of heat needed. This is however only a rough estimate and factors such as the insulation quality in the home, whether there are any external walls or how big the windows are in the room can impact on the actual heat output required.
It is important to remember that any stove with an output of greater than 5kW will require adequate ventilation and ventillation equipment or an air brick will be required. This will ensure that the
corner wood burner is burned efficiently and the stove doesn't get too hot. This can reduce the efficiency of the stove and cause excessive soot to accumulate on the glass and inside the chimney.
It is important to remember that your small woodburner should be placed at a specific distance from both combustibles and non-combustible surfaces. The distance is determined by the manufacturer. The manual for the manufacturer will outline these specifications, so be sure you refer to it when installing your stove. Making sure your stove is free of combustible and non-combustible materials will help you to avoid any fire safety issues and ensure safety of your log burner.
Flue System
The flue system is a passageway that lets the exhaust gases from your wood-burning stove to be vented outdoors. This ensures the air quality inside by stopping the accumulation of harmful odours and pollutants. The flue prevents heat from being transferred to combustible materials within your home. This lowers the risk of fire or smoke damage.
It's important to maintain your flue, which is an integral component of any stove or fireplace. You can accomplish this by regularly cleaning the flue and ensuring that it has adequate ventilation. It is possible to engage a professional to inspect and clean your chimney if it's blocked. The flammable byproducts from burning wood in your stove may cause creosote accumulation in the flue. If it builds up to an excessive amount it could ignite and cause chimney fires and other issues.
There are several different types of flues you can use for your woodburning stove or fireplace including masonry chimneys as well as double-wall flue systems. Double-wall flues are made from stainless steel chimney liners. Masonry chimneys are, on the other hand are typically constructed using mortar and bricks. Masonry chimneys can be installed with virtually any fireplace but you should be inspected by an Gas Safe registered engineer with a flue gas analyser in order to make sure the lining is in good condition and that the chimney is operating properly.
You can use flexible liner in the event that you have an old chimney made of masonry in need of being relined. This will provide a smooth surface from the fireplace all the way to the outlet. The liners are available in a variety of diameters and can be installed either internally or externally depending on the arrangement of your fireplace. These liners are also insulated, which keeps the flue gases warmer and improves performance.
Twin wall flue systems are a popular option for homes that do not have traditional chimneys. They are easy to install and feature a double-skinned stainless steel that is smooth inside and corrugated on the exterior, which is ideal for high temperatures. They can be installed with double-wall chimneys or masonry. However they can only be permitted to be installed in homes that comply with strict building codes.
Distances from Combustible Surfaces
The amount of space you need to keep around your stove is one of the most important factors when deciding on a woodburner. You shouldn't want your small woodburner to be too close to any combustible material since they can get extremely hot and create the risk of a fire.
The instruction manual of most woodburners will contain guidelines for how far you should keep the stove away from flammable materials. These guidelines are usually defined in terms of distances between the front, back and sides. However, these guidelines could differ depending on the type of wood burner and the heat output they offer.
We strongly recommend that you always follow the directions that are provided by the manufacturer of your woodburner in order to stay clear of any potential dangers. Regular inspections and maintenance by a professional is also important to ensure your woodburner remains in good condition.
During these inspections the woodburner technician will look for any safety or potential issues concerns and ensure that you are following the correct guidelines to protect your family and home. Install carbon monoxide alarms near your woodburner, and be sure they are in good working order.
Some woodburners require a
very small wood burner large gap to be maintained from combustible materials to minimize the chance of the ignition point reaching. The manufacturer usually specifies this in the manual for the stove, which you can download from their website.
To preserve this space, you could utilize a wall shield to decrease the minimum clearances for your stove. They are subjected to rigorous tests and are certified by the manufacturers to be capable of safely reducing the required clearances.
A wall shield consists of a thin, metal frame that is placed over the back of your stove, covering the flue system. It acts as a barrier to stop the walls from heating up and sparking any combustible material behind them. This is a great option particularly for newly constructed homes where the construction is often made of sheetrock (gypsum) or brick veneers, which do not offer much protection from high temperatures generated by woodburners.
Shielding Combustible Surfaces
Woodburning stoves generate a great deal of heat, and this means that there is a danger of causing damage to walls around the stove and in the surrounding. The best way to prevent this is to put up an exterior wall shield that will cut down on the heat produced by the stove and help protect the wall itself. These wall protectors come in many styles, from simple heat shields, to more sophisticated built-in models. The
best wood burning stove wall protections mix brick and metal to block the heat from the stove from transferring to the walls, while also reflecting it back.
The kind of
cast iron wood burner that is used in the stove must also be considered. Certain types of wood have a tendency to produce creosote that can block the chimney and increase the risk of sparks. It is recommended to select only hardwoods that are well-seasoned for the stove. This will ensure that the fire is hot enough to burn off any moisture, and also reduce the buildup of creosote.
Some examples of suitable seasoned hardwoods include Ash, Elm, and Beech. Pine is a poor choice because it is known to produce a lot of smoke and has an oily appearance, which could lead to creosote that looks like tar in the flue system.