As the temperature begins to cool down, people will opt to stay at home and enjoy the warm and cozy ambiance of their wood stove. This alternative heating source inside your home does not only take the chill out of the air but also helps you save some money from your electricity bill. However, using a wood stove can pose danger, such as accidental fires and smoke. Proper use of a wood stove is very crucial as it can greatly reduce the chances of having a fire break out inside your home. In this article, you will learn some safety tips for using a wood stove inside your home. 

Types of Wood Stoves

There are several kinds of wood stoves that are suitable for indoor heating. Most of them are classified as wood burning stove insert and free standing. 

While wood stove inserts are modified to fit within the fireplace opening and vent through the chimney, freestanding wood-burning stoves stand comfortably inside a room and use a connector to connect to the chimney. Often, wood stoves share the chimney flue of an existing fireplace, but sometimes they vent to another chimney which is designed mainly for wood-burning stoves. 

General Safety Tips For Using A Wood Stove

1. If you are buying a new wood stove, make sure to have it installed by a qualified chimney professional.
2. Choose a wood stove that is made to modern standards and is approved by nationally recognized testing laboratories. 
3. Before you use your wood stove, have your chimney, flue vents and wood stove inspected and cleaned by a professional chimney sweep. Make sure to determine if your chimney is suitable to use for your wood stove. 
4. For the DIY task, make sure to check the hinges, latches, and gaskets regularly and pay attention to signs of damage. 
5. For the free-standing wood stove, place it near the woodstove to limit the length of the chimney connector. 
6. Equip your home with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Install them throughout your home on every level and test them regularly to ensure they are working properly.
7. Keep a fully functional fire extinguisher inside your home. Ensure that everyone knows how to use it. 

The Do’s and Don’ts Of Using a Wood Stove

• Keep children and pets away from a wood stove when it is being used. The outer surfaces of the stove as well as the flue pipe are extremely hot. 
• Place your wood stove on a fire-resistant base or flooring. 
• Keep combustible materials such as curtains, upholstery, mattress, and others at least 3 feet away from the woodstove. 
• Remove ashes regularly and dispose of them in a metal covered container. Let ashes cool down before discarding them. Then, place the container outside at least 10 feet away from your home and other buildings. 
• Don’t overfire a wood stove. Making a larger or hotter fire than what you need may lead to damage to your stove.
• Burn only well-seasoned or dry wood such as ash, hickory, oak, beech, or maple. Do not burn green wood or trash in a stove as it can lead to creosote buildup or chimney fire. 
• Don’t start a fire or increase its intensity using a flammable liquid such as gas or kerosene. These substances may explode. 
• Do not let ashes buildup at the bottom of the stove because it can interfere with the airflow, trap heat, and can even take a long time to extinguish.
• Don’t leave a burning wood stove unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving your home. 

Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Services

By taking the proper precautions of using your wood stove, you can help avoid destructive and potentially deadly house fires and enjoy your wood-burning stove during these colder months. But, in case your home suffers from fire and smoke damage due to the woodstove or chimney fires, contact Water Damage Riverside professionals immediately. We offer fire and smoke damage restoration services as well as water damage restoration. With our years of experience restoring homes and properties, rest assured that your home is in the hands of the experts. To know more about our restoration services, contact us today.