Many homeowners fear getting a wood stove or a heating appliance because they don’t want to go through the trouble of getting a compliance certificate, but do you really need to get a wood stove permit? Tag along as we dissect the legality of it all.
Short Answer
In most cases, installing wood-burning appliances and flues doesn’t technically require planning permission. However, this differs from one state to another, and it might be a legal requirement to notify the authorities in your area before making any changes.
Also, laws and building regulations change with time. So, the best thing to do is to check with the local planning authority to ensure you’re following the rules.
Do I Need Permission for a Wood-Burning Stove?
Installing a Wood-burning stove isn’t considered building work, so you don’t need a permit to install a wood burner. As per the government regulations, you should comply with:
- Installing the flue away from the principal side of the building and keeping it at the rear or the side
- Keeping the flue away from the roof, with a minimum of 1m from the highest point of the top of the building
However, you may need planning permission if your property is listed, so contact the local authority in such a case.
See Also: Best Wood Stoves
Do I Need to Line the Existing Chimney?
There’s no regulation for having a chimney liner; most new houses don’t even need one. Older chimneys, however, have brick walls, so it’s better to line them for multiple reasons, including:
Safety Reasons
Lining the chimney prevents smoke and fume leaks as well as the accumulation of carbon monoxide gas in the house. Yet, we recommend having a carbon monoxide alarm in the same room where you have the wood stoves installed to be on the safe side.
Keeping the Chimney Warmer
The heat keeps the interior of the chimney warm so that wood stoves burn more effectively. If your chimney gets cold, tar builds up, rendering your stove less efficient with time. That being said, you should always inspect your chimney to ensure there are no cracks and you aren’t putting your health at risk.
Can I Install a Wood Burning Stove Without a Chimney?
Absolutely, you don’t need a chimney for a wood-burning stove installation. You can use flue pipes or complete twin-wall systems in one of two ways:
- Through an External Wall: Simply run the flue pipes on the side of the house to empty the fumes outdoors, somewhere near the roof.
- Through an Internal Wall: The other way is to connect the pipes of the stove inside the house and release the smoke outside through an opening in the ceiling or the roof.
Can You Vent Wood-Burning Stoves Out the Side of Your House?
As mentioned earlier, you can vent a wood stove out the sides of houses and buildings, provided that you maintain the minimum distance from the top of the building and adhere to other installation requirements.
FAQs
Can You Install a Wood Burning Stove Yourself?
It isn’t hard to install wood-burning stoves, pellet stoves, gas stoves, or any other heating appliance, particularly if you place them in a pre-existing chimney or a fireplace against a wall. With average DIY skills, there’s no need for a professional installer, even when it comes to hearth installment.
Can I Place the Flue Liner Horizontally?
The way the flue is installed doesn’t affect how wood stoves operate. You can run them vertically or horizontally, according to your personal preference and the ventilation inside the room. Additionally, flue sizes won’t always be compatible with the size of the chimney, so you can do whatever is necessary for a perfect installation.
Do I Need to Get a Hearth for My Fireplace?
Fireplaces don’t necessarily require a hearth. But it’s best if you do get one to keep the heat away from the surrounding furniture and avoid catching on fire.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, you don’t need to get approval to have a wood-burning stove or vent one. Moreover, the type of wood stove you have doesn’t even matter, as long as there are no smoke leaks and you aren’t being dangerous or breaking through the wall facing the highway.
