First off, understand that installing a wood burner is equivalent to building an above ground furnace. Always check with your insurance company before you start. Most of these insurance companies are going to require it be installed professionally. It is highly recommended that this be installed professionally, as there is a lot of precision involved, and one mistake can easily cause a fire to break out in your house or apartment.
Then you need to figure out exactly how big of a wood burning stove you will need. The best thing to do is consult someone who owns a hearth shop. Have this person come out, and he or she will help you determine the best wood burner for the size and space you have set out.
After having the wood burner professionally installed, what you need to do next is clear any and all combustible materials away from the stove. Always check with the owner’s manual and find out what the recommended space is to keep all flammable materials from the stove. If you have children, teach them that what’s being installed is extremely dangerous and is not a toy. Unfortunately, there is no substitution for responsible parenting.
Next, proper maintenance, including cleaning is required for your new wood burner. Keep in mind that this is done in much the same way as cleaning a chimney. You’re trying to clean out the creosote from your wood burning stove, for two reasons. For one thing, letting the creosote build up will eat away at the flue pipe. Second, it will smell during the summer months, which is the last thing you need. An annual cleaning done in the style of a chimney sweep will prevent the need to repair your stove. Buying materials like you buy to keep your chimney clean, such as the Creosote Sweeping Log, will help the cause but it will not prevent entirely having to clean your wood burning stove every year.
In conclusion, when it comes to wood burning stove installation, even with all the do-it-yourself manuals and Bob Vila’s advice on “doing it yourself”, the best thing you can do is get professionals involved and get the item installed. A good wood burning stove will pay for itself in the long run by saving you a fortune in heating costs and end up saving the planet in the process.
