How do l know if my wood stove is safe?
Feb 29, 2024
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Choosing a stove
Make sure your stove is made of a sturdy, suitable material, such as cast iron or steel.
If you buy a used stove, check it carefully for cracks or other defects. Legs, hinges, grills and ventilation shutters should also be carefully inspected.
If you live in a mobile home, make sure your stove is of a type specifically approved for use in such homes.
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Chimney requirements
If you are using an existing fireplace chimney to vent the stove, it must be sealed below the stovepipe entry point to prevent toxic gases from backing up into the room. This can be accomplished by either
The cross-sectional area of the chimney flue should be at least 25% greater than the cross-sectional area of the stovepipe and no greater than three times the cross-sectional area of the stovepipe.
Avoid connecting multiple heaters to a single chimney flue as flue gases and sparks can travel from one flue opening into another and may also result in less than optimal operation.
Make sure your chimney is in good condition and has a flue liner. Check for missing flue bricks and cracked masonry. You may need to have your chimney inspected by a chimney sweep and have a mason make any repairs that may be needed.
For masonry chimneys, the stove pipe should extend through the chimney wall to its inner surface, but not beyond. Use high-temperature cement to secure the pipe to the masonry.
If you don't have a suitable chimney, or if you don't want to close your fireplace, a factory-made chimney listed by a recognized testing laboratory is a good solution. It should extend at least 3 feet above the highest point through the roof of the building and at least 2 feet higher than any part of the building within 10 feet.
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