Installing Small Woodburners Safely
If you reside in small homes or cabins, a woodburner in a small space can add a cosy feel to your living space. However, there are certain guidelines you must adhere to to ensure your stove is installed safely.
wood burning fireplace Fireplaces And Stoves include ensuring certain distances between the stove and combustible material. To assist you, we've prepared this guide.
Room Size
Woodburners come in a range of outputs, and it's crucial to take into account the size of your room when selecting the right stove. Many people make the mistake of purchasing a wood burner that is too large for their home and this can affect the performance and efficiency of the stove. This is why it's crucial to visit a showroom to find out what the ideal woodburner size would be for your household and make use of a stove sizing calculator to figure out the amount of heat the stove will produce.
Multiply the length, width and height of a room in metres. Then divide this number by 14 to calculate the approximate heat requirement. But, this is only a rough guide and other factors such as the quality of insulation in the property as well as whether there are exterior walls or how big the windows are in the room can impact on the actual heat output needed.
It is also worth noting that any stove that has an output of more than 5kW needs adequate ventilation and a ventillation kit or basic air brick will be necessary. This is to ensure that combustion of the wood is carried out efficiently and that the stove does not become too hot, which could make it less efficient and cause excessive soot accumulations on the glass of the stove as well as in the chimney.
It is also important to know that the small woodburner will need to be installed at a specified distance from both non-combustible and combustible surfaces that have a specified value. These specifications will be provided in the handbook of the manufacturer so be sure to adhere to these when installing your stove and adhere to these guidelines. Keep your stove free of combustible and non-combustible materials will help you avoid any fire safety issues and will ensure the safe operation of your log burner.
Flue System
The flue system is a passageway that lets the exhaust gases from your woodburning stove to vent outdoors. This helps maintain clean indoor air quality by preventing the accumulation of harmful odours and pollutants. The flue prevents heat from being transferred to combustible materials within your home. This reduces the risk of fire or smoke damage.
The flue is a vital element of your stove or fireplace, and it's important to maintain it. This can be accomplished by cleaning your flue regularly and ensuring it has adequate ventilation. If your chimney is clogged you might need to contact a professional to check and clean. Creosote can build up in the flue due to the flammable wood products that are burned. If it builds up to an excessive level it could ignite, causing chimney fires and other issues.
There are many different types of flues for your fireplace or woodburning appliance, including double-wall flues and masonry systems. Double-wall flues are constructed from stainless steel chimney liners. Masonry chimneys are, on the other hand are constructed with bricks and mortar. Masonry chimneys can be used with virtually any fireplace however, it is recommended to have them inspected by an Gas Safe registered engineer with a flue gas analyser in order to ensure that the lining is not damaged and that the chimney is operating properly.
If you have an older chimney made of masonry that requires relining, then you can make use of a flexible chimney liner to provide that the surface is smooth and unbroken from the fireplace to the outlet. These liners are available in various diameters and can be installed either internally or externally depending on the layout of your fireplace. These liners are also lined with insulation, which helps keep the flue gas warmer and improves performance.
The twin wall flue system is a popular choice for homes that do not have chimneys. They are simple to set up and feature a double-skinned stainless steel that is smooth on the inside and corrugated on the exterior, which is ideal for achieving high temperatures. They can be used with masonry and double-wall chimneys, however, they are only placed in houses that are compliant with strict building regulations.
Distances from combustible Surfaces
When you are choosing a woodburner the space around your stove is the most important aspect. It is not necessary to put your woodburner in close proximity to combustibles as they can become extremely hot and cause a fire.
The majority of woodburners have guidelines regarding how far away from combustible surfaces you should keep them, this information is available in the stove's instruction manual and is usually stated in terms of distances from the rear, front and sides. These guidelines can vary depending on the type and heat output of the wood stove.
We strongly suggest that you adhere to the guidelines that are provided by the manufacturer of your woodburner in order to stay clear of any potential dangers. Regular inspections and maintenance carried out by a professional is also essential to keep your woodburner in good working order.
During these inspections, your woodburner technician will check for any safety issues. Ensure that you're following the right guidelines to safeguard your home and family. Install carbon monoxide alarms close to your woodburner and ensure that they are in good working condition.
Certain woodburners require a large space to be protected from combustible materials to decrease the chance of the ignition point reaching. The manufacturer will usually specify this in the stove's manual which you can download from their website.
You can use a wall protector to reduce the clearances required for your stove as an alternative to keep that space. They are subjected to rigorous tests, and are deemed by the manufacturers to be safe to reduce the required clearances.
A wall shield is a thin metal frame that is positioned over the back of your stove and covers the flue system. It acts as a barrier to prevent the walls from heating up and sparking any combustible material behind them. This is a good choice particularly for newly constructed homes, where the construction is typically made of sheetrock (gypsum), or brick veneers, which do not offer much protection against the high temperatures caused by woodburners.
Shielding Combustible Surfaces
Woodburning stoves can be extremely hot, and this means they could damage walls around them. Installing a wall protection will reduce the heat from the stove while protecting the wall. These wall protectors come in a variety of styles, from simple heat shields to complex built-in models. The best wall protections mix brick and metal to block the heat from the stove from transferring to the walls, and reflecting it away.
The type of wood used in the stove should also be considered. Certain kinds of wood tend to produce creosote that can block the chimney and increase the chance of a fire. It is recommended to use only seasoned hardwoods for your stove. This will help to ensure that the fire burns at a high enough temperature to burn off any moisture that remains, thereby reducing the build-up of creosote deposits.
Ash, Elm and Beech are examples of hardwoods that have been processed and seasoned. Pine is not a good option as it creates lots of smoke and can cause creosote-like deposits to the flue system. The Larch wood is also not recommended because it is susceptible to Phytophthora ramorum disease. It also poses health hazards when taken out of its natural habitat.
There's a woodburner to suit every budget and space. It is crucial to select the right woodburner in order to maximize efficiency and comfort. You can save money on fuel expenses by not using larger and more expensive stoves.