Installing Small Woodburners Safely
No matter if you have an apartment or a cabin, a woodburner in a small space can add a cosy feel to your living space. There are some rules you must follow in order to install your stove safely.
These rules include maintaining certain distances between the stove and combustible material. To assist you, we've created this guide.
Room Size
Woodburners are available in a wide variety of outputs. It is important to take into consideration the size of your home when choosing a stove. Many people make the mistake of purchasing a wood burner that is too big for their home and this could affect the performance and efficiency of the stove. 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 make use of a stove-sizing calculator in order to calculate how much heat it can generate.
Multiply the length, width, and height of a room in metres. Then divide this number by 14 to calculate the approximate heat requirement. This is a rough guide. Other elements, such as the amount of insulation within a home or the number of exterior walls, or the size of the windows in a room could affect the actual output required.
Ventillation kits, or basic air brick, is necessary for any stove that produces more than 5kW. This is to ensure that combustion of the wood is done efficiently and the stove does not become too hot, which could decrease its efficiency and create excessive soot deposits on the glass of the stove as well as in the chimney.
It is essential to keep in mind that your small woodburner needs to be placed at a specific distance from both combustibles and non-combustibles surfaces. This distance will be determined by the manufacturer. The manufacturer's manual will detail these specifications, so be sure to reference it when installing your stove. Make sure your stove is free of non-combustibles and combustibles in order to avoid fire safety concerns and ensure the safety of your wood burner.
Flue System
The flue system is the channel through which exhaust gases created by your woodburning stove pass through to be vented outside. This helps to maintain the cleanliness of indoor air by preventing the accumulation of harmful pollutants and odours. The flue blocks heat from being transferred to combustible materials within your home. This lowers the risk of smoke or fire damage.
Your flue is a crucial element of your stove or fireplace It is crucial to maintain it. You can do this by regularly cleaning the flue, and ensuring that it has adequate ventilation. If your chimney is clogged it is possible to contact a professional for inspection and cleaning. Creosote can build up in the flue due to the flammable substances of burning wood. If it builds up to an excessive level it could cause chimney fires to, among other problems.
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 constructed from stainless steel chimney liners. Masonry chimneys are, however, are usually built with mortar and bricks. Masonry chimneys can be used with almost any fireplace, however, it is recommended to be inspected by a Gas Safe registered engineer with a flue gas analyser in order to ensure the lining is intact and that the chimney is working correctly.
You can use a flexible liner if you have an old masonry chimney in need of being relined. This will ensure an even surface from the fireplace up to the outlet. They are available in a variety of sizes and can be installed either internally or externally, depending on your fireplace layout. These liners are also insulated, which keeps the flue gases warmer and improves performance.
The twin wall flue system is a popular choice for homes that do not have chimneys. They are simple to install, and have a double-skinned Stainless steel that is smooth inside and corrugated outside. This is ideal for high temperatures. They can be used with double-wall chimneys as well as masonry chimneys however they can only be installed in homes that comply with strict building regulations.
Distances from Combustible Surfaces
When selecting a woodburner the space around your stove is an important factor. You don't need to place your small woodburner close to combustibles since they can quickly get extremely hot and cause a fire.
The majority of woodburners have guidelines for how far away from combustible surfaces you should keep them, this information can be found in the instruction manual of the stove and is typically stated in terms of distances from the front, rear and sides. However, these guidelines could differ depending on the type of wood burner and the heat output they generate.
We strongly suggest that you adhere to the guidelines given by the manufacturer of your woodburner to be safe from any dangers that could arise. Also, more.. and maintenance performed by professionals are crucial to ensure your woodburner is safe.
During these inspections, your woodburner technician can check for any safety issues and make sure you're following the correct guidelines to safeguard your home and family. It is also recommended to install carbon monoxide detectors around your woodburner and ensure they are in working order.
To decrease the risk that combustibles can reach their ignition point, certain woodburners require an extremely long distance between them and combustibles. The manufacturer usually specifies this in the manual for the stove that you can download from their website.
You can use wall protectors to decrease the minimum clearances for your stove as an alternative to keep that space. They have been tested and approved by the manufacturer to reduce the clearances in a safe manner.
A wall shield is a thin steel frame that protects the flue system on the back of the stove. This is a barrier that keeps the walls from heating and igniting combustible material behind them. This is a good option particularly for newly constructed homes where the construction is often made of sheetrock (gypsum), or brick veneers, which do not offer much protection against the high temperatures generated by woodburners.
Shielding Combustible Surfaces
Woodburning stoves generate a great deal of heat, which means that there is a risk of damage to walls around the stove as well as 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 to protect the wall. These wall protectors come in many forms, from simple heat shields to more complex built-in models. The best wall protections mix metal and brick to prevent heat from the stove transferring to the walls, while also reflecting it back.
The type of wood that is used to cook in the stove is also an important factor to consider. Some types of wood tend to produce creosote that can cause obstruction to the fireplace and increase the danger of fire. To prevent this from happening issue, it is a good idea to only use wood that is seasoned for stove use. This will ensure that the fire burns hot enough to burn off any moisture and limit the accumulation of creosote.
Ash, Elm and Beech are examples of hardwoods that have been processed and seasoned. Pine is not a great option as it creates lots of smoke and may cause creosote-like deposits within the flue system. The Larch wood is also not recommended because it is susceptible to Phytophthora the ramorum disease. It also poses health hazards when taken out of its natural habitat.
There is a woodburner to fit any budget and living space. It is important to choose the correct woodburner to maximize energy efficiency and comfort. You can save money on fuel by staying clear of larger and more costly stoves.