Wood Stove Installation

Improper wood stove installation can lead to devastating effects. Home fires and health hazards that include smoke suffocation and respiratory disorders are among the common household mishaps and difficulties. The NFPA is one of the government agencies in the lead to protect homes and establishments from improper use of heating, cooking and similarly devised home appliances. Stringent codes and regulations are imposed in wood stove installation to save energy, homes and lives.

Prior to preliminary wood stove installation process, coordinate with your stove agent or dealers. This is to ensure that you have met the minimum requirements before your set up your stove. It is also advised that you contact your insurance company to seek consultation in matters like coverage of insurance benefits in case of fire. This may be a bit too soon but it is as important as ever to discuss such predicament before any worst thing happens.

Allowance or distance of the wood stove from the ceiling and the wall is stated in the codes of the National Fire Protection Association. This has been the basis in many cases of installation of wood stove. This standard includes the specification of 36-inch distance of the stove from the wall, the ceiling or any combustible material that are near to it. If the ceiling is uninsulated or unprotected, the stove pipe must not be closer with a distance of preferred 18 inches to prevent the ceiling from catching fire during accumulation of heat radiated by the stove pipe. To double check this clearance, place your hand in between the stove pipe and the ceiling. If your hand feel hot spots or become uneasy, this may signal a very poor clearance between the stove and the ceiling.

In this case, one can remedy this by mounting a panel or board that absorbs excess heat and will transfer it to the wall or ceiling. Many have found a panel made of asbestos to be their top choice. To be specific, asbestos millboard is widely used. This must not be confused with asbestos cement.

Another material that is considered for protective panel is brick. Brick however is a heat conductor and so it is suggested that this must be placed an inch away from the wall to be effective.

Wood stove installation must also include protection for the flooring. Even if the floor is made of concrete, excessive heat may result to cracking. Choose a metal sheet with enough size and contains asbestos coating to drive the heat upwards and away from the ground level. Other government approved materials or protective panels that will be placed below the stove are ceramic tiles, or slates and marbles, concrete slabs that have bricks or tiles on top or commercial pre-fabricated stove mattresses.

But no matter how stringent you are in protecting your floors, beware of substandard stoves that may only cause you more damage. These low quality products may result in floor overheating and short distance of the legs from the floor may increase the chance of damaging your floor.

Inappropriate wood stove pipe installation is considered to be one of the major causes of accidental fire. Leaks in pipes are very dangerous that is why thorough care is needed in setting up. The stove pipe must have a thick metal composition usually between 6-9 inches in length. Fix in connector pipe that has sufficient length but does not extend more than three quarters the height of the chimney. Installation of wood stove metal chimney is better than retrofitting your stove pipe with an existing fireplace chimney.

Today’s stiff competition in the wood stove industry has heightened the government’s regulations on wood stove installation. Despite your strict and complete compliance to these safety measures, in the end it is your choice of quality stoves that will spell safety and protection in your home. Remember that safe and proper wood stove installation will not only give you effective use but it will also safeguard your family.