Can I Install My Own Wood Stove?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

wood-burning

What are the requirements for a wood-burning stove?

Install a stove with adequate clearance from any combustible surfaces, including floors, walls or furniture.

Any chimney must have adequate capacity, the correct height, proper location, proper clearance from combustibles and proper mechanical support

to be safe.

How much does it cost to put in a wood-burning stove?

Average Wood Stove Installation Cost
Average Cost


$3,250
Highest Cost $5,000 Lowest Cost $1,500

Can I fit a wood burner without a chimney?


Yes. You can install a wood burning stove in properties without a chimney

. Stovax has designed a twin-wall flue pipe system – the Stovax Professional XQTM range – which allows rooms without chimneys to enjoy the benefits of a wood burning stove.

Can you add a fireplace to a house without a chimney?


Yes, it is possible to add a wood burning stove or a fireplace without an existing chimney

, but you do need to install a chimney in the process. All wood burning fireplaces have to have a way to allow smoke and dangerous gases to exit your home.

Is it worth installing a wood burning stove?


A wood burning stove can be worth it alone for the increased heat output from your fires compared to using open wood burning fireplaces

, and you'll save on firewood costs in the long run because you can control the fire more effectively in a wood stove to burn more slowly and efficiently.

Does a wood stove add value to a house?


A wood stove can add value to a house, but it can depend on what a buyer is looking for

. Studies have shown that fireplaces in general are a selling point for a home, while may help to increase house prices by up to 5%.

Can you put a freestanding wood stove in a fireplace?

Stoves can be added to a fireplace in several ways.

Free-standing stoves can be installed so that the stove pipe enters into the fireplace chimney above the damper, through the damper or into the firebox below the damper

. Properly designed stoves can also be inserted into the fireplace opening.

Are wood burners illegal?

The good news is that

no, log burners aren't being banned

, but there have been some changes. The strategy came into law in May 2021, so we've broken down what it actually says and what's going to change.

How far should a wood stove be from a wall?

The standard clearance recommended by the National Fire Protection Agency is

36 inches

. This means that the back of the stove should be 36 inches away from any combustible material, such as woodwork, unprotected walls, furniture and even firewood.

What do you put on the wall behind a wood stove?


The fireback is a traditional heat shield for a stove

The solution of replacing the back wall with a heat-resistant material, such as heat-resistant stones or a wood stove heat shield, is often cumbersome and not always beautiful.

Can I complain about my Neighbours wood burning stove?


Local Councils are legally obliged to investigate complaints made under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 relating to public health and nuisance issues

, which include smoke and fumes from fires or stoves.

Do I need permission to fit a log burner?

There is much misconception around installing a wood burning stove and whether you need planning permission or not. Historically you may need some kind of clearance from your local authority, but with new updated changed,

vast majority of cases need no formal permission

.

Can a wood stove vent through wall?

You see, stove venting varies by the type of fuel being burned in the stove. For instance,

wood-burning stoves will always be vented through the roof of your house

, but pellet-burning stoves can be vented vertically through the roof, or horizontally through the wall to the outdoors.

How do you install a wood stove without a chimney?


A twin wall flue system

is the key to fitting a wood burner without a chimney. Simply speaking, it is a series of connectable stainless steel pipes that can carry your stove fumes outside. They comprise a stainless steel pipe wrapped in thick insulation and encased by a second outer tube.

Can you install a wood burning fireplace in an existing home?

Be assured that

it is possible to add a fireplace to an existing home

. You'll just need to determine which one will work best. Get familiar with your area's building codes to check requirements such as minimum clearances around vent pipes and limits on fireplace emissions.

Why is there a chimney but no fireplace?

Chimneys are most common in houses built before 1900 when older furnaces needed chimneys to remove fumes from the house.

As steam, gas, and electric heating became more popular, fireplaces were no longer necessary

. They just became another place where heat could escape.

Do wood-burning stoves make your house smell?


A certified wood stove should never smell like smoke

[source: EPA]. A stovepipe or chimney that doesn't draw properly creates a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning — and you can't smell a carbon monoxide leak. If you don't have a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide detector in your home, you should install both, pronto.

How long do wood stoves last?

In summary, a wood stove can last anywhere from

5 years to 20 years or more

. There is such a range because there are a number of different factors that can influence how long a wood burning stove lasts. These factors include: The quality of the materials used.

Which is better wood stove or fireplace?

It means wood-burning stoves convert roughly 70% of the wood's organic matter to heat. To put that number into perspective, fireplaces have an average efficiency of about 20% to 25%. Therefore,

wood-burning stoves are up to three times more efficient than fireplaces

.

What is the future of wood burning stoves?

The main answer is

increased efficiency

. The future of wood burning stoves will therefore be affected by which configurations and styles produce the least amount of airborne particulate matter. In other words, these stoves will need to adopt a more ecologically friendly design.

Where should a wood stove be placed in a house?

Placement. Wood stoves should always be installed

on the lower level

in two-story homes. Heat rises, and although you can install a wood stove on the top floor, it will not heat lower levels with any efficiency. If possible, an air duct should be cut through the floor somewhere near the stove.

Is burning wood better than gas?

When it comes to heating your home,

burning wood instead of coal or natural gas can have a far lower impact on the environment

. The main reason for this is unlike these alternative energy sources, it isn't a fossil fuel which can never be replaced.

Do you need a chimney liner for a wood stove insert?


When an insert has no liner, or a partial liner, it cannot be cleaned in the normal way

(by putting a brush into the chimney through the insert). Doing so would cause ash and creosote to fall behind the insert, where it would build up and potentially ignite.

What can I use instead of a fireplace?
  • Electric Fireplace. Image Source: pxhere.com. …
  • LED Fireplace. Image Credit: pixy.org. …
  • Gas Insert Fireplace. Image Source: Regency-fire.com. …
  • Decorative Mantel. …
  • Pellet-Burning Stove. …
  • Wood-Burning Stove. …
  • Fake Firewood.

Can I run stove pipe through chimney?

If your new stove will sit right in front of your fireplace – or in the firebox as a fireplace insert – then in terms of smoke flow,

you shouldn't have a problem, as long as the vent opening in the stove is close in size to the existing flue

.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.