Freestanding Wood Stove Installation



Posted: Thursday, July 05, 2007

by
The Fireplace Channel

When installing a wood stove, there are numerous factors that must be considered. The first step of wood stove installation is to find a proper place for the stove. It is very important to set the stove on the proper type of flooring. It is vital that the stove is not placed on flammable or combustible material like carpet or hardwood. Ceramic tile and concrete are the best options since they do not catch fire. When using ceramic tile you must place a fireproof barrier between the tile and any combustible materials such as wood flooring. In general, regulations state that the stove must be placed in an area with at least twelve inches of fireproof material surrounding all sides of the stove except for the side used to load the wood, which must extend for 18 inches. This insures that it will not be likely that any sparks to land on nearby wood or carpet and possibly start a fire. Not only should the wood stove be placed on appropriate flooring, it should not be closer than twelve inches from any combustible wall. Wood stoves must be placed a safe distance from all walls made of combustible material. The stove can be placed closer, if the wall is covered with a flame-resistant shield. Local building codes vary greatly in different localities so always check with the building inspector's office to be sure of the code in your area.

Wood stoves also must use a qualified stovepipe or chimney exhausts smoke to the outdoors. The stovepipe is one of the most important parts of a wood stove. The stovepipe should be made of double wall steel. This means that there is a larger stovepipe at least two inches larger around the pipe carrying the smoke. The stovepipe should not be closer than nine inches to an unprotected wall, and it should not pass through any combustible materials through the roof.

Wood stove installations are a time-consuming process. There are many trained installation experts who can save stove owners the trouble of installing it themselves. Since a wood stove installation can be a complicated process when done right, it is usually always a good idea to hire a professional for any wood stove installation.

*This article copyrighted by THE FIREPLACE CHANNEL 

Karen Duke is a fireplace, chimney and hearth industry expert of over 25 years in both the retail and service sectors. She is a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep and has numerous hearth industry certifications. She is the founder and webmaster of www.TheFireplaceChannel.com. She is also the co-founder and webmaster of www.GasCoals.net, one of the largest online fireplace retailers in the world. She makes her home in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Karen's contact information can be found on either of the above sites.
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