Installing Small Woodburners Safely

A small woodburner can bring warmth to any house, whether it is an apartment or an outdoor cabin. There are some rules that you must adhere to in order to install your stove safely.

These guidelines include ensuring certain distances between your stove and combustible materials. This guide will assist.

Room Size

Woodburners come in a variety of outputs, and it's essential to take into account the size of your room when choosing a stove. Many people make the error of purchasing a stove that is too big for their space and this can have a negative impact on the performance and efficiency of the stove. It is important to visit a showroom to determine the size of the woodburner that is most suitable for your home and to use a stove-sizing calculator to determine how much heat it will produce.

Multiply the length, width and height of a room in meters. Then divide the result by 14 to calculate the approximate heat output required. This is a rough guide. Other elements, such as the amount of insulation in a home, the number of external walls, or the size of windows in a room can influence the actual heat output required.

A ventillation kit, also known as a basic air brick, is essential for any stove that produces more than 5kW. This is to ensure that the combustion of the wood is done efficiently and that the stove does not become too hot, which could decrease its efficiency and create excessive soot to build up on the glass of the stove and inside the chimney.

It is also important to note that the small woodburner must be installed at a specified distance from non-combustible and combustible surfaces that have a specified value. These parameters will be explained in the manufacturer's handbook so make sure you adhere to these when installing your stove and adhere to these guidelines. Keep your stove free of combustibles as well as non-combustibles, to avoid fire safety concerns and ensure the safe operation of your wood burner.

second hand wood burner is a way that allows the exhaust gases of your woodburning stove to vent outdoors. This ensures the air quality inside by preventing the accumulation of harmful pollutants and odours. The flue prevents heat from being transferred to combustible material in your home. This reduces the risk of smoke or fire damage.

It is essential to maintain your flue, which is an integral part of any stove or fireplace. This can be done by cleaning your flue regularly and ensuring that it's ventilated to the right level. If your chimney is clogged, you may need to call in a professional for inspection and cleaning. The flammable byproducts of burning wood in your stove can cause creosote to build up inside the flue. If it builds up to a significant amount it could cause a fire, causing chimney fires, as well as other issues.

There are a variety of flues that you can choose from for your fireplace or woodburning stove, including masonry chimneys and double-wall flue systems. Masonry chimneys are constructed using mortar and bricks and double-wall flue systems consist of chimney liners made from stainless steel. Masonry chimneys can be installed with virtually any fireplace but you should be inspected by an Gas Safe registered engineer with a flue gas analyser to ensure that the lining is not damaged and that the chimney is working correctly.

If you have an older chimney made of masonry that requires relining, you can make use of a flexible chimney liner to ensure an unbroken and smooth surface from the fireplace to the outlet. They are available in a variety of sizes and can be installed either externally or internally, depending on your fireplace layout. These liners can also be insulated, which keeps the flue gases warmer and enhances the performance.

The twin wall flue system is a popular choice for homes that do not have chimneys. They are simple to install and feature a double-skinned steel that is smooth on the inside and textured on the outside, which is ideal for high temperatures. They can be used with masonry and double-wall chimneys, but they can only be installed in homes that comply with strict building regulations.

Distances from Combustible Surfaces

The size of the space you will need to keep around your stove is one of the most important factors when deciding on the right woodburner. You shouldn't want your small woodburner to be close to any combustible material because they could get very hot and pose danger of fire.

The majority of woodburners have guidelines for the distance from combustible surfaces you should keep them, this information can be found in the instruction manual of the stove and is typically specified in terms of distances to the rear, front and sides. However, these guidelines can differ depending on the type of wood burner and the amount of heat they provide.

To prevent any risk from arising We strongly suggest that you to adhere to the guidelines set by the manufacturer of your woodburner. Also, regular inspections and maintenance by an expert are essential to keeping your woodburner safe.

During these inspections, your woodburner technician can check for any safety issues and ensure you're following the correct guidelines to safeguard your home and family. Install carbon monoxide alarms near your woodburner and ensure that they're in good working condition.


Some woodburners require a large gap to be kept from combustible materials in order to reduce the risk of the ignition point reaching. The manufacturer usually specifies this in the stove's manual, which you can download from their website.

As an alternative to maintaining this space, you could use a wall shield to decrease the minimum clearances needed for your stove. They have been tested and certified by the manufacturer to reduce the clearances safely.

A wall shield is a thin metal frame that protects the flue system on the back of the stove. This is a barrier that stops the walls from heating and igniting materials that are combustible behind them. This is a good choice, especially for newly built homes where the construction is typically comprised of sheetrock (gypsum) or brick veneers, which don't offer much protection from high temperatures caused by a woodburner.

Shielding Combustible Surfaces

Woodburning stoves are very hot, which means that they can damage walls in the area around them. The best way to avoid this is to install an exterior wall shield that will cut down on the heat produced by the stove, and also help protect the wall itself. Wall protectors come in many forms, from simple heat shields to complex built-in models. The best wall protections mix brick and metal to stop heat from the stove transferring to the walls, and reflecting it back.

The kind of wood used to cook in the stove is another important factor to consider. Some types of wood tend to produce creosote that can cause obstruction to the fireplace and increase the fire risk. To reduce the risk of fire issue, it is best to use seasoned hardwood for burning in the stove. This will ensure that the fire burns sufficiently hot to eliminate any moisture and limit the buildup of creosote.

Ash, Elm and Beech are examples of hardwoods that have been treated with. Pine is not a good choice because it releases a lot smoke and can cause creosote-like deposits within the flue system. Larch is a different kind of wood that should not be used since it is prone to Phytophthora Ramorum disease and can pose health hazards when transported out of its natural habitat.

There is a woodburner to meet the needs of every budget and living space. It is important to choose the right woodburner in order to maximize energy efficiency and comfort. You can save money on fuel by staying clear of larger and more costly stoves.