Wood Stove Installation
The care that is taken during a wood stove installation will dramatically affect the efficiency of that wood stove. It also ensures your safety and the safety of your family. It is recommended, of course, that you install a certified wood stove or fireplace insert and that it be professionally installed by a certified technician to insure its proper performance and safety.
Whether you install your wood stove yourself or have it installed professionally remember that the safety of your home and family depends on fully understanding and complying with the manufacturer instructions and building code requirements in your area.
Wood Stove Installation Requirements:
- Ensuring that there is proper clearance between the stove and venting system and any combustible materials.
- Proper protection of combustible flooring.
- Proper assembly of the wood stove and the venting components.
Another area you will want to pay attention to when installing a wood stove is making sure that that stove is properly size for your home and placed for best heat distribution. During installation pay particular care in making sure the venting system (or chimney) correctly installed. The venting system is the “engine” that drives the whole burning process and if installed incorrectly can cause the stove to perform poorly or even fail.
Decisions about the venting system to ensure adequate draft include:
- Make sure the flue is properly sized (paying particular attention to avoid an oversized flue).
- Proper chimney or flu height (this may be taller than minimum code requires).
- Proper location of the stove and flu (placement in the interior of the house is better when possible).
- Proper configuration of venting system (avoid excessive horizontal runs and changes in direction).
Making sure that you are using an EPA certified wood burning stove that is sized and placed properly with a venting system that delivers adequate draft will provide several benefits to the home owner, including:
- Reduced wood consumption.
- Production of more usable heat.
- Reduced cleaning and maintenance that can come from inefficient fires.
The best way to find competent wood stove installation professionals is to get referrals and check their credentials. One source to find wood stove installers is the National Fireplace Institute® (NFI) a non-profit certification agency that does nationwide education and testing of hearth professionals.