Installing Small Woodburners Safely
No matter if you have small homes or cabins, a woodburner in a small space can bring warmth to your living space. However, there are certain rules you must adhere to to ensure your stove is set up in a safe manner.
These rules include keeping certain distances between your stove and any combustible material. This guide will help.
Room Size
Woodburners can be found in a wide variety of outputs. It's important to consider the size of your room when selecting a stove. Many people make the error of purchasing a woodburner that is too large for their home. This could negatively impact the efficiency and performance of the stove. Fireplaces & Stoves is crucial to visit the showroom to determine the size of the woodburner which is most suitable for your home and make use of a stove-sizing calculator in order to determine the amount of heat it will generate.
A good rule of thumb is to calculate the length the width and height of the room in meters and then multiply them. Divide the result by 14 and you will get an approximate estimation of the amount of heat needed. This is an approximate guide. Other elements, such as the amount of insulation present in a property, the number of exterior walls, or the size of windows in a space, can influence the actual heat output required.
A ventillation kit, also known as a basic air brick, is necessary for any stove that produces more than 5kW. This is to ensure that the combustion of the wood is completed efficiently and that the stove doesn't become too hot, which can decrease its efficiency and create excessive soot to build up on the glass of the stove and in the chimney.
It is also important to remember that your small woodburner must be installed at a specific distance from non-combustible and combustible surfaces with a certain value. These specifications will be provided in the manufacturer's handbook so make sure you refer to this when installing your stove and adhere to these guidelines. Keep your stove free of combustibles and non-combustibles to avoid fire safety issues and ensure safe operation of your wood burner.
Flue System
The flue system is the passageway through which the exhaust gases generated by your woodburning stove travel to be emitted outside. This helps maintain the cleanliness of indoor air by preventing the accumulation of harmful odours and pollutants. The flue blocks heat from being transferred to combustible materials in your home. This decreases the chance of smoke damage or fire.
The flue is an essential element of your fireplace or stove, and it's important to maintain it. You can clean it regularly by cleaning the flue and ensuring that it has adequate ventilation. If your chimney is blocked it is possible to get a professional to inspect and clean. The flammable byproducts from burning wood in your stove could cause creosote accumulation in the flue. If it builds up to an excessive amount it could ignite and cause chimney fires as well as other issues.
There are many different kinds of flues you can use for your woodburning stove or fireplace, including masonry chimneys and double-wall flue systems. Masonry chimneys are constructed using mortar and bricks double-wall flue systems comprise a chimney liners made of stainless steel. Masonry chimneys are compatible with all fireplaces, however they should be inspected by an engineer registered with Gas Safe with a flue-gas analyser to make sure the lining and chimney are operating properly.
If you have an older masonry chimney that requires relining, you can make use of a flexible chimney liner to ensure an unbroken and smooth surface from the fireplace to the outlet. These liners are available in different dimensions and can be put in either externally or internally depending on the configuration of your fireplace. They also have insulation that keeps the flue gas warmer and enhances performance.
The twin wall flue system is a popular choice for homes that do not have chimneys. They are simple to install and come with a double-skinned stainless steel that is smooth inside and curly on the exterior, which 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 houses that meet strict building regulations.
Distances from combustible Surfaces
When selecting a woodburner the amount of space around your stove will be a major factor. You shouldn't want your small woodburner to be too close to any combustible material as they can become very hot and cause danger of fire.
The instruction manuals of the majority of woodburners will include guidelines on how far you need to keep the stove away from flammable materials. These guidelines are typically expressed in terms of distances between the front side, back and sides. However, these guidelines could differ depending on the kind of wood burner and the amount of heat they generate.
To prevent any potential hazards from occurring, we strongly advise you to adhere to the guidelines set by the manufacturer for your woodburner. Regular inspections and maintenance performed by a professional is also vital to ensure that your woodburner is in good working order.
During these inspections your woodburner technician can check for any potential problems or safety issues and make sure you're following the right guidelines to protect your home and family. It's also advisable to install carbon monoxide detectors around your woodburner and ensure they are in good condition.
Certain woodburners require a large gap to be maintained from combustible materials in order to decrease the chance of the ignition point reaching. The manufacturer usually specifies this in the manual for the stove that you can download from their website.
You can install a wall protector to reduce the clearances that are required for your stove as an alternative to keep that space. They have been tested and certified by the manufacturer to be able reduce the clearances in a safe manner.
A wall shield is a thin, metal frame that is placed over the stove's back and covers the flue system. It serves as a barrier that prevents the walls from heating up and sparking any combustible materials behind them. This is a great choice for new homes, where the construction is often composed of a sheetrock (gypsum) or brick veneer, which do not offer a lot of protection against the high temperatures generated by woodburners.
Shielding Combustible Surfaces
Woodburning stoves are extremely hot, which means they can cause damage to walls in the area around them. The best method to avoid this is to put up walls with a shield that reduces the heat generated by the stove and protect the wall itself. Wall protections are available in a variety of styles including simple heat shields to more complex built-in models. The best wall protectors combine brick with metal to reflect heat away from the stove and prevent it from getting transferred to the walls.
The type of wood that is burned in the stove should also be considered. Certain kinds of wood tend to create creosote deposits which can block the chimney and increase the risk of a fire. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to make use of seasoned wood for burning in the stove. This will ensure that the fire burns at a high enough temperature to burn off any remaining moisture, which will reduce the formation of creosote deposits.
Ash, Elm and Beech are examples of hardwoods that have been seasoned. Pine is not a great choice as it produces lots of smoke and may cause creosote-like deposits to the flue system. Larch is another timber which should not be used, as it is prone to Phytophthora Ramorum disease and can pose health hazards when transported from its natural habitat.
There is a woodburner that will fit any budget and living space. Choosing the right woodburner is essential to maximise energy efficiency and comfort. By staying clear of bigger stoves that are more expensive you can save on running expenses while enjoying the warm ambience that comes with a traditional woodburner.