Here you will find great wood burning stove tips for the house that will cover everything from the purchase down to the enjoyment. Wood Burning Stove popularity is on the rise again. Let's get to it!

Wood Burning Stove Tips #1: Things to check on.

Check with your local government to see what the ordinances are for having a wood burning stove for your house. Some cities and towns ban them altogether and others may require that you buy a very efficient EPA approved stove.

You also want to check with your insurance company because some companies do not cover damages caused by a stove if not properly installed by a professional.

Start looking for a reputable professional wood stove installation company or person. Ask around for a referral and check local listings. You want a person that has a lot of experience installing all types of stoves in different types of houses.

Wood Burning Stove Tips #2: The Pros and Cons

Wood Burning Stoves are more eco friendly than using the non renewable fossil fuels like oil and gas. The fuel (wood) is renewable, sustainable, and can be carbon neutral if burned correctly in an efficient stove.

Stoves can make a great ambiance in your home and be a welcome stylish design addition to your house.

The fuel is cheap or free! Wood pellets are approximately $190 a ton which will last you a long time. You can get free wood from cutting down trees yourself. There are managed forests in almost all areas that replant every tree that’s felled. You need to get a permit from the forest service first. To get a better idea of the energy/fuel value visit the Heating Fuel Comparison Calculator site here: Heating Fuel Comparison Calculator

Remember though if you cut it down yourself the cost is nothing.

You can heat both your house and water with wood burning stoves.

Watch for the thermostats. You may get hotter readings in the room that your stove is in keeping the heater off but the other rooms are cold. You will need to figure out the thermostat workings of your house.

Wood Burning Stoves are work and constantly need to be tended to. There is no "ON" button or switch like other oil and gas heating systems. You will be getting wood, piling wood, carrying wood, lighting the wood, tending to the fire, and cleaning the stove out as you use it. Tips on all that good stuff is coming below!

Wood does not burn as "cleanly" as gas and oil. Not is a sense for the environment but in the in-door air quality sense. If anyone in the house has respiratory problems this is something to consider.

Wood Burning Stove Tips #3: Considerations before you go shopping.

There are many different types and models of stoves to pick from. Consider the below to make your decision.

Consider where you are going to put the wood burning stove in your house. How much of the house do you want the stove to warm? Is there enough room for it? Do you want an outdoor stove? Do you plan to heat the water in your house with it? Do you plan to cook on it? Answer these questions for yourself before shopping for one.

When choosing the location for the stove one simple thing to keep in mind is that you will be carrying wood to and from that location.

If your going to be getting a new chimney installed, Pumice stone is a good material to use although there are many materials in use out there. Pumice stone is lightweight, does not expand or contract with temperature change, and is a natural insulator.

When talking to the sales professional ask about the flue size. A 150mm diameter is a good size but this too can vary.

Wood Burning Stove Tips #4: Making a choice.

We recommend buying an EPA certified wood burning stove. They are much more efficient, use less wood, and release 60-80% less smoke up the chimney which means less build up of creosote saving in cleaning time and money.

Buy a "clean glass" burning stove with a good view of the flames.

There are no shortage of styles to pick from. Some models out there include: 3 legged, freestanding pedestal, swivel, cylindrical, and the good old fashioned black ones. Be sure to check them all out and ask the sales person questions.

One of the most important Wood Burning Stove Tips is to think about how much heat output you need for your intended area. Do you want to warm a small room or the entire 1st floor of your house? The heat output is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). A good rule of thumb for estimating how much heat you want coming out of your wood burning stove is: 5,000 BTU/h for 200 square feet. Take into account the quality of the insulation in your house and the average outdoor temperatures during the colder seasons.

Now that you have one let's get to the tips for working and maintaining that new Wood Burning Stove!

Wood Burning Stove Tips #5: Fuel for your stove - WOOD.

Always use properly seasoned wood. Why? Using poor quality unseasoned wood reduces stove performance, gives off more smoke and pollution, and makes a mess. You will be dirtying the inside of the stove, the flue, and chimney quicker which means you have to clean more often. Properly seasoned wood has a moisture content less than 20%. There are handy tools in the marketplace that are well worth the investment to gage this.

If cutting your own wood do it a year in advance. You want it to sit a long time so the water content is low.

Also purchase or split logs that are a good fit for your stove. Logs 3-6 inches in diameter are usually a good size.

When you get your hands on a years worth of logs make sure to store them correctly. Stack the logs loosely, cover them up with a tarp, and leave some of the sides open to allow some air flow.

If you have different types or qualities of wood use the less dense wood during the day because you can be stoking the fire. Use denser wood at night when you are sleeping. The denser the wood the more heat the fire will generate and the less stoking it will need.

Two dense woods that are great for wood burning stoves are: maple and oak.

Wood Burning Stove Tips #6: Firing it up.

Use dry kindling and newspaper to start your fire. Have a sufficient amount handy to get it going good.

Before you load up your stove with wood open the door an inch for a couple of minutes. This will allow fresh air in to cause higher draft and should reduce back draft smoke.

Just to keep in mind, the lighter colored the smoke is, the less pollutants and creosote that are produced.

When using your stove keep the flue open so that you allow a steady flow of oxygen. Also when using the stove keep the doors closed until loading it with wood again.

Make the size fire that is good for the weather and temperature. If it's warmer out make a smaller fire and on the other hand if it's freezing out make a larger fire. In both cases though you want a hot and bright fire not one that smolders.

Allow the fire to burn down to coals before adding more wood. You want to rake them into a pile toward the stove door and then add your fresh wood. It's good to add 2 or 3 pieces at a time placing one toward the back of the pile and the others around that one.

Wood Burning Stove Tips #7: Maintenance

Keep the stove and chimney clean. Do it a minimum of once per year and on a as needed basis by a professional certified chimney sweep. Doing this will prolong the life of the stove, avoid repairs, and make you safer.

If you have them replace the baffles and catalytic combustor ever 3-4 years.

If you have broken firebricks replace them as soon as possible.

As the ashes pile up dispose of them as needed.

Wood Burning Stove Tips #8: Stove safety.

Always have well working smoke alarms in all rooms in your house especially in the room with the stove.

Always have a working carbon monoxide detector.

Never use flammable liquids to start a fire in your wood burning stove, including but not limited to: propane torches, gas, lighter fluid, hairspray, and kerosene.

Always have a working fire extinguisher handy.

Keep all flammable materials a good distance from your wood burning stove like newspapers and curtains or drapes.

There you have it! Smart Wood Burning Stove Tips from what considerations to make all the way down to the enjoyment and maintenance. Enjoy!

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Be sure to check out our other popular "House & Home" tips articles:

Drywall Tips for the House

Drywall Finishing Tips for the House

Smart House Buying Tips

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