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Picking Out the Right Wood Stove for Your Home

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Stove Safety Tips

 

  •  When operating a wood stove, beware of these potential safety hazards 
  •  Excess heat radiates from the stove, stovepipe or chimney. Don’t let small children and pets get too close
  •  Sparks or hot coals could fly outside the stove when you open it to refuel. Floor protection should extend 18” in front of the stove.
  •  Heat may be conducted from the chimney to a combustible material.
  •  Flames may spurt out of the chimney or out of cracks in the chimney.

    • Box Wood Stove

  •  Radiates warmth through the firebox to the surrounding air.
  •  Draws air for combustion through the door.
  •  Door is not tightly sealed, has no damper control and releases a considerable amount of unburned gas up through the chimney.



    • Airtight Wood Stove

  •  Has a sealed firebox and a tight-fitting door
  •  An air intake damper allows air to circulate around the firebox and controls the rate of fuel consumed. It can be manually or thermostatically controlled.
  •  Provides slow-burning heat for a long period of time with little attention.
  •  Prone to heavy creosote buildup in the chimney and pipes because it is slow burning.

    • Pellet-Fed Wood Stove

  •  Burns a processed wood pellet fed electronically into the stove’s combustion chamber.
  • The advantage of this type of stove is it has a steady and controlled fuel source.
  •  Disadvantage is the electronic controls will not operate if the power is out.



    • Gas Stove

  •  Ideal for those with little space to store wood or with the time to maintain a wood stove. Also better for heating smaller areas.
  •  Uses natural gas so it is a reliable heat source when the power goes out.
  •  Flame height and heat intensity is easily adjustable.
  •  The direct vent type is ideal for homes without an existing chimney.

    • Outdoor Fireplace

  •  Portable, wood or wood-pellet burning heat source that can be used at home, on the patio or on the camping trip.
  •  Some can also be used as a grill.
  •  Some styles are enclosed and vent through the sides while others may include a chimney.
  •  Another variation is the firepit, which is bowl-shaped.



    • Stovepipe 

  •  Used to connect the stove with the chimney. Never use in place of a chimney.
  •  Should be 24-gauge metal or thicker (the smaller the number, the thicker the metal).
  •  Should be as short as possible and turns kept to a minimum.
  •  Inspect stovepipe regularly and replace every two or three years.
    • Courtsey of NRHA.org
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