15 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Be Ignoring Small Woodburners
Installing Small Woodburners Safely
No matter if you have a small home or cabin, a small woodburner can provide a warm and cozy atmosphere to your living space. But, there are some regulations that you must follow for ensuring that the stove is properly installed.
These rules require you to keep certain distances between your stove and any combustible material. To help you, we've created this guide.
Room Size
Woodburners can be found in a wide variety of outputs. It's important to take into consideration the size of your home when choosing the stove. Many people make the error of purchasing a wood burner that is too big for their space and this could have a negative impact on the performance and efficiency of the stove. This is why it's crucial to visit a showroom in order to find out what the ideal woodburner size is for your home and make use of a stove sizing calculator to determine how much heat your stove can generate.
Multiply the length, width and the height of a room in metres. Then divide this number by 14 to determine the approximate amount of heat required. However, this is only a rough guide and other factors such as the insulation quality of the property as well as whether there are external walls or how big the windows are in the room will impact on the actual heat output required.
It is also worth noting that any stove with an output greater than 5kW needs adequate ventilation and ventillation equipment or an air brick is required. This is to ensure that combustion of the wood is completed efficiently and that the stove doesn't get too hot, which can reduce its efficiency and cause excessive soot accumulations on the glass of the stove and inside the chimney.
It is crucial to remember that your small woodburner should be installed at a specified distance from both combustibles as well as non-combustible surfaces. The distance is predetermined. These values will be detailed in the manufacturer's handbook so be sure to use this when installing your stove and following these guidelines. Keep your stove free of combustibles as well as non-combustibles, to avoid fire safety concerns and ensure the safe operation of your wood burner.
Flue System
The flue system is the channel through which the exhaust gases generated by your woodburning fireplace travel to be vented out. This helps to maintain the cleanliness of indoor air by preventing the accumulation of harmful pollutants and odours. The flue stops heat from being transferred to combustible materials in your home. This reduces the risk of smoke or fire damage.
It is important to keep your flue as it is an essential element of any stove or fireplace. This can be done by regularly cleaning your flue and making sure it's ventilated to the right level. If your chimney is clogged you might need to contact an expert for inspection and cleaning. The flammable byproducts of burning wood in your stove can cause creosote accumulation in the flue. If it builds to an excessive level, it can ignite and cause chimney fires as well as other issues.
There are a variety of flues that you can use for your fireplace or woodburning device, including double-wall and masonry flue 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 installed with any fireplace, however, it is recommended to be inspected by a Gas Safe registered engineer with a flue gas analyser to ensure the lining is intact and that the chimney is working correctly.
If you have an older masonry chimney that requires relining, you can make use of a flexible chimney liner to provide an unbroken and smooth surface from the fireplace to the outlet. These liners are available in different dimensions and can be put in either internally or externally depending on the layout of your fireplace. These liners are also lined with insulation, which helps keep the flue gases warmer and improves performance.
The twin wall flue system is a popular option for homes with no chimneys. They are simple to install, and come with a double-skinned stainless steel that is smooth inside and corrugated outside. This is perfect for high temperatures. They can be used in conjunction with double-wall chimneys as well as masonry chimneys but they can only be placed in houses that are compliant with strict building regulations.
Distances from Combustible Surfaces
When choosing a woodburner, the space around the stove will be the most important aspect. You don't need to place your small woodburner too close to combustibles because they can quickly get extremely hot and ignite.
Most woodburners will have guidelines regarding the distance from surfaces that are flammable you should keep them. This information is available in the stove's instruction manual and is typically stated in terms of distances to the rear, front and sides. These guidelines may vary based on the type and heat output of the wood stove.
To prevent any risk from arising We strongly recommend that to follow the guidelines provided by the manufacturer of your woodburner. Also, regular checks and maintenance by an expert are essential to ensure your woodburner is safe.
During these inspections your woodburner technician will be able to identify any potential safety or health issues and ensure you're following the correct guidelines to safeguard your family and home. It is also recommended to install carbon monoxide detectors close to your woodburner, and keep them in good working order.
Certain woodburners require a large gap to be kept free of combustible substances in order to minimize the chance of them reaching their ignition point. The manufacturer will typically specify this in the manual for the stove, which you can download from their website.
As an alternative to maintaining the space, you could utilize a wall shield to limit the clearances for your stove. 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 covers the flue system on the back of the stove. It serves as a barrier to stop the walls from heating up and inflaming any combustible material behind them. This is a great choice for new homes, where the construction is usually made up of sheetrock (gypsum) or brick veneer, which do not offer much protection against the extreme heat generated by woodburners.
Shielding Combustible Surfaces
Woodburning stoves are very hot, which means that they can damage walls that surround them. The best way to prevent this is to put up walls with a shield that reduces the heat generated by the stove and to shield the wall. These wall protections come in a range of forms that range from simple heat shields, to more elaborate built-in models. The most effective wall protections blend brick and metal to stop the heat from the stove from transferring to the walls, while also reflecting it back.
The kind of wood that is burned in the stove should be likewise considered. Certain types of wood are known to produce creosote, which can block the fireplace and increase risk of fire. It is recommended to use only seasoned hardwoods for the stove. This will ensure that the fire burns hot enough to remove any moisture, and also reduce the accumulation of creosote.
talks about it of suitable hardwoods include Ash, Elm, and Beech. Pine is not a great choice because it releases a lot smoke and can 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 may cause health problems when removed away from its natural habitat.
There is a woodburner to suit every budget and living space. It is crucial to select the right woodburner in order to maximize energy efficiency and comfort. By avoiding larger, more expensive stoves you can save on running costs while still having the warm atmosphere that is a part of a traditional woodburner.