Maintenance and Safety Precautions for Freestanding Solid Fuel Burning Appliances (Woodburning Stoves)
- Check the Stove for cracks or damage.
- Assure proper clearances from combustibles have been observed. Use manufacturers' specifications to assure adequate clearance if the appliance is U.L. or I.C.B.O. listed. If not listed, maintain a 36" clearance from combustibles.
- Keep paper, wood, curtains, furniture, or other combustible materials at least 36" away from the woodburning appliance.
- Check all connections in the metal chimney and flue pipe to assure they are connected properly and not loose.
- Check the fire box for creosote build-up and remove any that is present with a brush.
- Check the rain cap to assure it isn't plugged, which can cause smoke to enter the house.
- The entire length of the chimney pipe should be metal double- or triple-wall listed pipe. Going from a listed metal double- or triple-wall chimney to a single wall pipe above the roof will cause greater creosote build-up.
- The listed double- or triple-wall chimney pipe must have a 2" clearance from combustibles, including insulation.
- If the appliance is vented into an existing chimney, inspect the chimney for missing mortar, loose mortar joints and cracked bricks. Assure the connection in to the masonry chimney is secure and free of leaks. Repair any defects.
- Assure proper clearance of single-wall pipe is maintained. In many cases an 18" minimum clearance from combustibles is required.
- Make sure no other appliance is vented into an existing chimney.
- Make your smoke alarm is working, most have a test button. If you don't have one--get one. Smoke alarms save lives!
- Obtain a 2A-10B-C fire extinguisher and place it in a readily accessible place. This extinguisher will work on electrical, flammable liquid, or solid combustible type fires.
- Store ashes in a closed metal container outside, at least 36" away from your residence or other structures, and assure dry grass or weeds are cut back 36".
- There is no woodburning installation that is 100% fire safe, so if a problem does occur, such as a chimney fire, notify the Fire Department immediately. There is no cost to you when you notify the Fire Department and they respond.
Never light your appliance using gasoline, paint thinner, fuel oil, or any other type of accelerant. Many of these will cause an explosion in result in severe burns.