Installing Small Woodburners Safely
Whether you live in a small home or cabin, a woodburner in a small space can add a cosy feel to your living space. However, there are certain guidelines you must adhere to in order to ensure that your stove is installed safely.
These guidelines include ensuring certain distances between your stove and any combustible material. To help you, we've created this guide.
Room Size
Woodburners are available in a wide variety of outputs. It's crucial to consider the size of your space when selecting the right stove. Many people make the error of purchasing a woodburner that is too big for their home. This could negatively impact the efficiency and performance. This is why it is important to visit a showroom in order to find out what the ideal size of a woodburner would be for your household and also to use an appliance sizing calculator to determine how much heat your stove can generate.
Multiply the length, width, and height of a room in meters. Then divide the result by 14 to determine the approximate amount of heat required. This is a rough guide. Other factors, such as the amount of insulation in a property, the number of external walls or the size of windows in a space, can influence the actual heat output needed.
A ventillation kit, also known as a basic air brick, is essential for any stove that produces more than 5kW. This will ensure that the second hand wood burning stoves is burnt efficiently and the stove isn't too hot. This could reduce the efficiency of the stove, and cause excessive soot to build up on the glass and inside the chimney.
It is crucial to remember that your small woodburner must be installed at a specified distance from both combustibles and non-combustible surfaces. The distance is predetermined. The manual of the manufacturer will explain these parameters, so be sure to refer to it when installing your stove. Keep your stove free of combustibles as well as non-combustibles, to avoid fire safety concerns and ensure the safe operation of your wood burner.
Flue System
The flue system is a passageway that allows the exhaust gases from your woodburning stove to vent outdoors. This helps maintain clean indoor air quality by preventing the accumulation of harmful pollutants and odours. The flue stops heat from being transferred to combustible materials within your home. This reduces the risk of smoke damage or fire.
The flue is a vital element of your fireplace or stove and it is essential to take care of it. You can accomplish this by regularly cleaning the flue, and ensuring it is properly ventilated. You may have to hire an expert to inspect and clean your chimney if it is blocked. Creosote may build up in the flue as a result of the flammable substances of burning conservatory wood burner. If it builds to a high level it could cause a fire, causing chimney fires and other problems.
There are a variety 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, however are constructed with bricks and mortar. Masonry chimneys are compatible with all fireplaces, however they must be checked by an engineer registered with Gas Safe with a flue-gas analyser to make sure the chimney lining and chimney are working correctly.
You can use a flexible liner if you have an old masonry chimney that is in need of relining. This will provide an even surface from the fireplace all the way to the outlet. These liners are available in different dimensions and can be put in either externally or internally depending on the layout of your fireplace. They also have insulation, which keeps the flue gas warmer and improves performance.
Twin wall flue systems are a popular option for homes with no traditional chimneys. They are simple to set up and come with a double-skinned stainless steel that is smooth inside and textured on the outside, which is perfect for high temperatures. They can be used in conjunction with double-wall chimneys and masonry chimneys, but they can only be placed in houses that are compliant with strict building regulations.
Distances from Combustible Surfaces
When you are choosing a woodburner the amount of space around your stove will be the most important aspect. You don't want your brand new small woodburner to be close to any combustible material as they can become very hot and cause the risk of a fire.
Most woodburners will have guidelines for 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 front, rear and sides. These guidelines may vary based on the type of wood burner and the heat output of the wood stove.
We strongly recommend 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 performed by a professional is also essential to keep your woodburner in good working order.
During these inspections your woodburner technician can check for any potential problems or safety issues and ensure you're following the right guidelines to protect your home and family. It is also recommended to install carbon monoxide detectors around your woodburner and ensure they are in good condition.
Some woodburners require a very large space to be protected from combustible materials to decrease the chance of them reaching their ignition point. The manufacturer will usually specify this in the manual for the stove that you can download from their website.
If you want to preserve this space, you could use a wall shield to decrease the minimum clearances needed for your stove. They have been tested and approved by the manufacturer to reduce the clearances in a safe manner.
A wall shield consists of a thin, metal frame which is positioned on the back of your stove and covers the flue system. This acts as a barrier to prevent the walls from heating up and sparking any combustible material behind them. This is an especially good option for new build homes, where the construction is usually made up of sheetrock (gypsum) or brick veneer, which does not provide much protection from high temperatures from a woodburner.
Shielding Combustible Surfaces
Woodburning stoves are extremely hot, and this means they can cause damage to walls in the area around them. The best way to avoid this is to put up an exterior wall shield that will reduce the heat emitted by the stove and help to shield the wall. Wall protectors are available in many forms, from simple heat shields, to more sophisticated built-in models. The most effective wall protections blend brick and metal to block heat from the stove transferring to the walls and reflecting it back.
The kind of wood that is used in the stove should be taken into consideration. Certain types of cast iron wood burner tend to create creosote deposits which can block the chimney and increase the danger of an explosion. To prevent this from happening risk, it's recommended to use wood that is seasoned to burn in the stove. This will help to ensure that the fire is burned at a temperature that is sufficient to burn off any moisture that remains, thereby reducing the build-up of creosote deposits.
Some examples of suitable seasoned hardwoods include Ash, Elm, and Beech. Pine is not a good option as it creates lots of smoke and may cause creosote-like deposits in the flue system. Larch is another timber which should not be used, because it is susceptible to Phytophthora Ramorum disease and may cause health risks when it is transported from its natural habitat.
There is a woodburner to meet the needs of every budget and space. It is important to choose the right woodburner in order to maximize efficiency and comfort. You can save money on fuel by avoiding larger and more expensive stoves.