Safety and Maintenance Tips for Wood Stoves and Fireplaces

The first step to safe wood stove operation, is proper installation, preferably by a certified professional like Top Hat. The critical consideration in placing the stove is adequate clearance; that means, the stove must be located a safe distance from any objects called “combustibles” that could catch fire such as surrounding walls, furniture, draperies or other items. The appropriate clearances are clearly stated in your owner’s manual and if you have very small children, install a decorative barrier to put in front of the stove for protection from burns.

Never leave kindling, newspaper, flammable liquids, matches or your wood gloves too close to the stove as they could burn. The stove should also be installed with a proper floor pad or non-combustible material that meets the manufacturer’s instructions. Procedures for maintaining internal stove parts vary between catalytic and non-catalytic stoves, so consult your owner’s manual carefully but the following maintenance issues are the same for both types of stoves:

Remove and dispose of ashes carefully-

  • Ashes should be removed when they come near to the level of the door opening but leave about 1/2" of ash in the firebox because a wood fire burns best when made on a bed of ashes. Place all ashes in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid and do not dispose until all ashes are thoroughly cold. Remember ashes that look cold may contain hot embers, so don’t set these ashes on a wooden deck or surface. Set the container well away from the house.

Clean your glass door-

  • You may be able to limit your glass door from getting covered with soot deposits by properly burning dry wood and keeping the stove on high burn for a period of time after each reloading. You should wipe the glass routinely but only when the stove and glass are cool. Use a soft cloth or newspaper and a non-abrasive cleaner specifically for creosote. Be sure to thoroughly rinse any residue of the cleaner or it may get baked into the glass. The ceramic glass used in wood stoves is safe and won’t break from even the hottest fire, but be careful not to crack the glass by pushing it against a log that is too long for your firebox.

Replace your stove door gasket-

  • If your stove is more than four or five years old, you may need to replace the fiberglass rope gasket around your door. Top Hat carries a variety of gasket sizing. You can bring your doors in to have it done in our shop or you can request for it to be done during your chimney sweep service. It is also a good idea to check and make sure your door fits tightly and evenly. Again, check your owner’s manual for the specific adjustment for your stove.

Get your chimney cleaned-

  • To reduce the possibility of fire caused by creosote buildup you should make sure that your stove’s venting system is inspected and cleaned by Top Hat in the summer before your heating season. Remember creosote is flammable and can build up on the inside of your chimney. Burn only seasoned wood and building the occasional large hot fire helps prevent creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.

Watch the full video for more maintenance and safety tips. Call Top Hat to get on our annual summer chimney sweep schedule!

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