A wood-burning stove in your fireplace is the perfect way to take the chill out of your home and save on energy bills. They're perfect if you're environmentally conscious and want to use them as your primary energy source to keep your home warm.
If they've been sparking your interest, find out if you can DIY and install your own burning stove in your property and what you'll need for your wood-burning stove installation.
Can I Install a Wood Burning Stove in My House?
Yes, you can, but there are a few things to consider before you do.
For instance, your new stove will need to be on the first floor to maximize energy efficiency. Your room should have good insulation, so the warm air isn't lost through windows or doors.
You'll also need an existing chimney fire for fitting your firebox, or if you plan on installing a new one, ensure that the spot you pick for your stove isn’t directly beneath the second floor's main supporting beams.
See Also: 4 Best Wood Stoves in 2021
Of course, an important factor is determining whether the surrounding wall can tolerate the heat from the hot stove while maintaining a clearance space between the stove and combustible walls. Plus, remember to fit a smoke detector for fire risk.
Lastly, you'll need to obtain a certificate of meeting the safety requirements of burning wood or wood fuel. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies that stoves meet the building codes required for safe burning. You may also need to inform your insurance company and homeowner's insurance that your stove model meets the EPA standard.
Do You Need Permission to Install Wood Stoves?
Stove fitting can require local government permissions to ensure you're meeting the safety requirements. If you're fitting it yourself or don't have a HETAS certificate, your local regulators will check your stove after it's been installed to ensure it's installed properly for use.
If you choose to have an installer do it, they will provide you with a HETAS permit and go through the planning regulations for you.
What Is Needed for Wood Stove Installation?
If you've decided you're going to install the wood stove yourself, read on.
Location and Positioning
After deciding where to position your stove, bearing in mind the guidelines recommended above, ensure that you've measured the square footage of the space to ensure you purchase the right size.
Shielding and Floor Pads
Lay a flame-resistant floor pad to stretch from the stove door to about 18 inches around its perimeter distance. This is so that any flames, stray sparks, and ash that fall from the stove don't cause a fire. You must have this protection if you have wooden, tile, or carpet flooring near the furnace.
Then, install a sheet metal heat shield on the walls surrounding the stove center to reduce the possibility of damage to surrounding furniture. These shields are easy to lay onto the surrounding wall.
Connect Your Chimney
Your stove will burn wood, so your chimney will need to remove the smoke from your house. It'll be handy if you already have a concrete chimney to act like a furnace, but if not, you can install it by drilling a hole through the drywall from the ceiling to the upper level and finally drilling another hole to connect your stove pipe to your roof.
If you fit a chimney, you can purchase a chimney ceiling kit that includes further instructions about drilling holes, tools, creosote, and a damper to fix around your chimney so that it's well insulated.
You'll then need to connect your stovepipe or flue pipe to the chimney. If your chimney is tall and straight, it'll be easy to slot your flue pipe through.
Professional Help
It might be worth hiring professional help with fitting new chimneys, particularly when drilling through hardwood and a brick roof. If stoves are poorly installed, they can be dangerous. If things seem off, hire someone for a thorough inspection.
Conclusion
Wood stoves are great additions to open fireplaces and can significantly provide warmth to a small house as heat rises. However, you may require some prerequisites before installing a wood stove, as they're permanent fixtures in the home.
Though the job is much easier with an existing vent, you can still have a stove by having a new chimney put in. Ensure you keep your home hazard-free by investing in pads and shields to reduce the danger of contact between the wood heat and any combustible materials.
