A wood-burning stove is a great way to heat a room or home (depending on its size). As is the case with any appliance, though, if it is to work well, it should be used in the way it is intended. So, how should you take care of a wood-burning stove to keep it safe to use and in good working order?
Be careful what items you burn in a wood burner. A wood-burning stove, as the name might suggest, is intended for burning wood. This means you should avoid using coal as it burns hotter than wood does and could present a risk. There are even certain woods that are hazardous to burn, these include particleboard, plywood, pressure-treated or painted wood, colored paper and gift wrap, and plastic items. When burned, all of these items release dangerous toxic fumes.
What are the best types of wood to burn in a wood burner? Preferably, use dry wood rather than wood that is freshly cut as it has much lower water content and so will burn hotter. You may want to use a different wood to start the fire as well, for example, softwoods such as pine ignite quickly. When you have the fire going, then you can switch to using hardwoods like hickory and ash, etc. which burn hotter and cleaner. Cutting them into smaller pieces will also help.
Safety should be the main concern with any type of fire or stove and a wood burner is no exception. Be sure that you have the correct number of smoke detectors for the size of your home and check to see they are working every month. The safe disposal of ashes is also very important, a good way to do it is to place them in a metal container filled with water. Lastly, have your wood-burning stove inspected regularly as creosote tends to accumulate in the stovepipe.
