Wood Stove Safety

By The Mother Earth News Editors
Published on January 1, 1980
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Chimneys should be checked at regular intervals for excessive creosoting... and cleaned?when necessary?by an expert (or a stove owner who uses the proper tools.
Chimneys should be checked at regular intervals for excessive creosoting... and cleaned?when necessary?by an expert (or a stove owner who uses the proper tools.
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Two methods of connecting a chimney connector to a chimney flue where the connector must pass through a combustible partition wall. Instead of the asbestos board shown, sheet metal may be used, or a metal lath and plaster finish may be applied in that area. 
Two methods of connecting a chimney connector to a chimney flue where the connector must pass through a combustible partition wall. Instead of the asbestos board shown, sheet metal may be used, or a metal lath and plaster finish may be applied in that area. 
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Diagram show clearance margins for wood stove safety.
Diagram show clearance margins for wood stove safety.

Thoreau wrote of the stumps which he pulled out from his field at Walden Pond: “They warmed me twice, once while I was splitting them and again when they were on the fire.” The following is dedicated to helping folks who heat with wood prevent an inadvertent third warming.

Once upon a time, wood stove safety may actually have been (as so many people claim it still is) a matter of using plain old common sense. But–before you assume that your knowledge of campfires and fireplaces will carry you through the installation and use of one of today’s complex airtight heaters–consider the fact that not even the “experts” can agree about just what precautionary steps prudent wood burning should involve.

Much of the controversy centers on the fact that safe stove installation and operation are often either inefficient or inconvenient (or both!). And despite the fact that a compromise between absolute safety and 100% efficiency is often necessary, no one can tell you what margin of safety (at the expense of what degree of efficiency) you should choose. However, once you understand the problems and the alternatives involved in achieving the best compromise, you should be well equipped to make such decisions yourself.

Picking a Stove

Far too few consumers know just how important it is to choose a stove of the right capacity for the area to be heated. After all, wood heaters are anything but inexpensive in these days of energy consciousness, and financial pressures often force many folks to opt for a small unit . . . a decision which can lead to overfiring.

And, since the generally recognized safety standards for wood stove installation are based upon normal operaing temperatures (with comfortable margins for error), it’s possible for an overheated firebox to ignite walls or other flammable materials which are beyond the “safe” perimeter. (Did you know, for example, that sustained temperatures of slightly over 200°F can actually cause wood to combust spontaneously?)

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