Staying safe with a wood-burning stove

The benefits of a cosy home and a reduction in your heating bills that accompany getting a wood-burning stove are obviously fantastic. But they are completely insignificant in comparison to your safety and the wellbeing of other members of your household.

So, how can you help to ensure your family stay safe when you’re installing a stove?

Meet all the legal requirements

The old adage that prevention is better than cure is certainly true here. It’s best to get your installation right at the outset to avoid problems further down the line. Things that you need to consider include:

• The positioning of your stove.
• The materials around your stove.
• Your choice of hearth.

These and other aspects of stove installation are dictated, often for safety reasons, by Building Regulations. Read more about Document J of the Building Regulations, which covers stove installations.

Put safety first during the installation

You also need to consider the lining of your chimney (if you’re not using a flue) and all the connections in your stove and flue system. These are the main points at which carbon monoxide is likely to escape from your stove.

While a professional installation will minimise the risk of carbon monoxide leaks, a carbon monoxide alarm will give you extra peace of mind. It’s also a legal requirement for new stove installations. Buy a carbon monoxide alarm now.

Find a competent installer

The easiest way to ensure that your installation is done as safely as possible and meets the relevant Building Regulations is to use an installer who is part of competent person scheme. They are certified to do a competent job and can also self-certify that the installation meets the Building Regulations. Read more on competent person schemes.

There are also lots of things you can do to stay safe once your stove is installed…

Carry out a regular MOT

Just as you help to ensure road safety by carrying out checks on a car, so you can improve stove safety by giving it the occasional MOT.

You need to check for things like patches of rust that might develop into holes. We’ve put together a short guide on giving your stove a checkup.

Get your chimney swept

Using your stove can cause creosote to build-up in your chimney. This is particularly true if you’re burning damp or unseasoned wood.

These deposits are flammable and create a risk of chimney fires. The way to avoid this is to get your chimney swept a couple of times a year. Read more about the importance of getting your chimney swept.

Use gauntlets

Any hardened wood-burning stove owner will tell you that opening the door, loading your stove or generally coming into contact with your stove while it is in use is a far more pleasant experience with these on your hands! Buy stove gauntlets now.

Consider a fireguard

Stoves do get very hot, so if you’ve got young children or particularly inquisitive pets in the home it might be worth considering a fire screen, just as you would for an open fire. Buy a fireguard now.