Installing Small Woodburners Safely

If you reside in a small home or cabin, a woodburner in a small space can add a cosy feel to your living space. There are some rules you need to follow to set up your stove in a safe manner.

These rules require certain distances between the stove and combustible material. To help you, we've put together this guide.

Room Size

Woodburners are available in a wide variety of outputs. It is important to consider the size of your room when selecting the stove. Many people make the error of buying a woodburner that is too big for their house. This can negatively impact the efficiency and performance. It is essential to visit the showroom in order to determine the size of the woodburner that will work most suitable for your home and to use a stove-sizing calculator calculate how much heat it will generate.

A good guideline is to take the length, width and height of the room in metres and then multiply them. Then, divide this number by 14 to determine the approximate amount of heat required. This is however only a rough guide and other factors such as the quality of insulation in the property as well as whether there are external walls or how big the windows are in the room will impact on the actual heat output required.

A ventillation kit, also known as a basic air brick, is essential for any stove that produces more than 5kW. This is to ensure that combustion of the wood is carried out efficiently and that the stove doesn't get too hot, which can make it less efficient and cause excessive soot to build up on the glass of the stove and inside the chimney.

It is essential to keep in mind that your small woodburner should be installed at a certain distance from both combustibles and non-combustible surfaces. The distance is established. The manufacturer's manual will detail these values, so make sure to reference it when installing your stove. Keep your stove free of non-combustible or combustible materials will help you to avoid any fire hazards and ensure safe operation of your log burner.

Flue System

The flue system is a passageway that allows the exhaust gases of your woodburning stove to vent outside. This ensures clean indoor air quality and prevents the accumulation of harmful pollutants and odours. The flue blocks heat from being transferred to combustible material within your home. This reduces the risk of smoke or fire damage.

It's important to maintain your flue which is an integral part of any fireplace or stove. You can clean it regularly by cleaning the flue and ensuring it is properly ventilated. If your chimney is blocked, you may need to contact a professional to check and clean. The flammable byproducts of 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, among other problems.

There are many different types of flues you can choose from for your fireplace or woodburning appliance, including masonry flues and double-wall systems. Double-wall flues are made from stainless steel chimney liners. Masonry chimneys are, however, are usually built with mortar and bricks. Masonry chimneys can be used with most fireplaces, but they must be checked by an engineer registered with Gas Safe with a flue-gas analyzer to ensure that the lining and chimney are working properly.

If you have an older chimney made of masonry that requires relining, you can use a flexible chimney liner to ensure that the surface is smooth and unbroken from the fireplace to the outlet. These liners are available in various sizes and can be used either externally or internally depending on the configuration of your fireplace. These liners can also be made of insulation, which keeps the flue gas warmer and improves performance.

The twin wall flue system is a popular option for homes without chimneys. They are simple to install, and have a double-skinned Stainless steel that is smooth inside and corrugated outside. This is perfect for high temperatures. They can be used with double-wall chimneys as well as masonry chimneys however, they are only installed in homes that comply with strict building regulations.

Distances from Combustible Surfaces

The amount of space you need to maintain around the stove is one of the most important factors when choosing the right woodburner. You shouldn't want your small woodburner to be too close to any combustible material because they could get very hot and pose the risk of a fire.

The majority of woodburners have guidelines on how far away from surfaces that are flammable you should keep them. This information can be found in the stove's instruction manual and is usually stated in terms of distances to the rear, front and sides. These guidelines can vary depending on the type of wood burner and the heat output of the wood burner.

We strongly suggest to adhere to the guidelines given by the manufacturer of your woodburner in order to be safe from any dangers that could arise. Regular inspections and maintenance by a professional is also vital to ensure that your woodburner is in good condition.

During these inspections, your woodburner technician will check for any potential problems or safety issues and ensure you're following the right guidelines to safeguard your family and home. It is also recommended to install carbon monoxide detectors close to your woodburner, and keep them in working order.

To reduce the risk that combustibles reach their ignition point, certain woodburners require a vast distance between them and combustibles. This is usually specified by the manufacturer in the instruction manual, which is available to be downloaded from their website.

As an alternative to maintaining the space, you could use a wall shield to decrease the minimum clearances needed for your stove. They are subjected to rigorous tests, and are certified by the manufacturers to be capable of safely reducing the necessary clearances.

A wall shield is a thin, metal frame that protects the flue system at the back of the stove. This type of barrier stops the walls from heating and burning combustible material behind them. This is a great option particularly for newly constructed homes that are often made of sheetrock (gypsum), or brick veneers, which don't provide much protection from the high temperatures caused by a woodburner.

Shielding Combustible Surfaces

Woodburning stoves can be extremely hot, which means they can damage walls that surround them. Installing a wall shield can reduce the heat generated by the stove while also protecting the wall. These wall protectors come in a variety of styles, from simple heat shields, to more sophisticated built-in models. The Best wood burning stoves wall protections mix brick and metal to block the heat from the stove from transferring to the walls, and reflecting it back.

The type of wood burning stoves for sale that is burned in the stove must also be considered. Certain kinds of freestanding wood burning stove tend to produce creosote, which can block the fireplace and increase danger of fire. It is best to use only seasoned hardwoods for stoves. This will ensure that the fire is sufficiently hot to eliminate any moisture and limit the buildup of creosote.

Ash, Elm and Beech are examples of hardwoods that have been processed and seasoned. Pine is not a great choice as it produces lots of smoke and can cause creosote-like deposits within the flue system. Larch is another timber which should not be used since it is prone to Phytophthora Ramorum disease and can pose health hazards when transported away from its natural habitat.

There is a woodburner that will suit every budget and space. Selecting the right type of woodburner is crucial to maximize efficiency and comfort. You can cut down on fuel costs by staying clear of larger and more costly stoves.