Installing a wood stove in my basement

If your stove does not have a flue built in, then you will need to install one before attaching it to the chimney. It is best to attach this when laying out and installing other parts of the system as well such as gas lines because many times certain types of joints or fittings must be used. The last step is to attach the stovepipe to the chimney. This will carry the smoke and heat from the fire up and out of your home. Be sure that you use a pipe with the correct diameter for your stove, or it will not work properly.

Also, make sure that the pipe is the proper length. If it is too short, then your heat will not be able to circulate properly around the room and you will have a cold spot in front of the stove where the smoke settles.

Now that installation is complete, all there remains to do is light a fire! If you are not getting enough heat in your basement, make sure it is a wood stove for basements and not a fireplace.

The installation of a wood stove for basements requires some additional venting because the flue gases are cooler than normal and also have moisture associated with them which condenses on colder surfaces inside the chimney or in pipe insulation, staining it black. This is not enough to be dangerous but will create an aesthetic problem that needs to be addressed. To avoid this, you need to install a pipe inside the chimney just above where it passes through the roof of your house with an elbow that points down toward the stove or fireplace opening in order to keep any condensation from dripping onto either surface.

A general rule is at least eight inches for every inch of flue diameter that is exposed to the room air, so an eight-inch pipe would be appropriate for a six-inch stovepipe. If you are using flexible insulated chimney venting PVC , only use black or galvanized steel; never use aluminum which will corrode and create bad odors in your house. Agency EPA has set the standards for wood stoves, and these days almost all of them meet or exceed those requirements.

If you are in the market for a new stove, be sure to get one that is EPA-certified. Many people choose to install a wood stove in their basement because it is an effective way to heat the whole house.

The following guide for installing wood stoves is intended for people who have already decided to install one in their basement. The best place to install a wood stove is in the center of the house, but if your basement is small this may not be possible. In that case, try to find a spot near an outer wall where there is plenty of ventilation. Make sure there is enough space around the stove for the chimney to connect properly.

Keep in mind that wood stoves need much more room than fireplaces. A closed unit will heat the room more effectively but an open one will provide more of a traditional fireplace look and feel. If you have children, keep in mind that an open fireplace may be dangerous for them. The chimney is an important part of your wood stove installation and should be installed by a professional.

Make sure the chimney is tall enough to draw the smoke and gases out of the house. The minimum height should be at least twice the height of the stove from the ground. The chimney should also be wide enough to allow for proper ventilation.

Most codes require a width of at least eight inches, but some stoves may require a wider chimney. Make sure you use a reputable installer and follow local building codes for best results. When installing a wood stove in your basement, it is important to keep safety in mind. Here are some tips to help you stay safe while using your wood stove:. With these safety tips in mind, you can safely enjoy the warmth and ambiance of a wood stove in your basement.

The first step is to consult with your local building inspector to ensure that a wood stove is allowed in your basement and that you are following all the necessary safety codes.

Once you have approval, purchase a qualified wood stove and find an experienced contractor who can help you install it properly. Most seasoned hardwoods such as oak, beech, and maple work well. Avoid using softwoods like pine or fir because they burn too quickly and cause dangerous creosote buildup in the chimney flue.

The best way to tell if a piece of firewood is seasoned is to check the ends for cracks. As a general rule, you need at least 16 inches 41cm of vertical clearance between your wood stove and any combustible material like floor joists or walls in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

This means that if there is a combustible material within 16 inches of the top or sides of your stove, you will need to use a special type of stovepipe that allows for this clearance. One common problem is improper installation, which can lead to chimney fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Another issue is creosote buildup, which is a black tar-like substance that can build up in the chimney over time and cause a fire. To prevent creosote buildup, make sure to use seasoned hardwood and clean your stovepipe regularly.

The main danger of using a wood stove is carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur when the stove is not installed or operated correctly. Other dangers include fires caused by creosote buildup and chimney fires. It is important to take all necessary safety precautions when using a wood stove, including installing a carbon monoxide detector and having your chimney inspected regularly.

If you have any other questions about installing a wood stove in your basement, please consult with a qualified contractor. Wood stoves are a great way to heat your home and can save you money on your energy bills, but it is important to take the necessary safety precautions.

Adding a wood stove is an energy-efficient strategy to convey a cozy feeling to your house. Unlike fireplaces, wood stoves can heat a complete room or perhaps even all your area , relying on its layout.

And their prefabricated chimney pipes let you install them almost anyplace—even in entrance of an existing fireplace. The supreme location for a wood stove is as regards to the middle of the world to be heated.

This provides the most efficient heat distribution. Avoid finding it near an exterior wall as this increases the warmth loss to the outdoor, and decreases the heat gained from the stove. If you need to get a building permit to install your stove, the officials in this department should be able to help you get one.

You may also want to call your local fire marshal, as, in some jurisdictions, installing a wood stove requires an inspection to approve the validity of the installation. Finally, you may also want to contact the issuer of your homeowner's insurance, as installing a wood stove may change your liability.

Lay a non-combustible floor pad in the spot where your stove will be. This pad, made of brick, ceramic tile, concrete or another noncombustible substance, should be flush with your home's existing flooring.

Floor pads are essential for safe wood stove operation, as they ensure that any stray sparks or embers that fall from the stove will only come into contact with the pad, not the floor, reducing the risk of fire. Floor pads are especially crucial in the case of houses with wood or carpet floors directly adjacent to the stove. Certain laws dictate the use of floor pads - in the United States and Canada, the floor pad must stretch at least 18 inches 45 cm in front of the stove door and 8 inches 20 cm from the other sides.

Add a heat shield to protect combustible walls. Installing heat shielding on the walls around the site of your stove can further reduce the risk of damage or fire. Heat shields are often made of sheet metal, which is relatively simple to lay over existing walls. Check your local building codes to find out whether any special permission is needed to mount the shield as well as any other related clearance requirements.

Note that the installation of a heat shield can reduce the clearance requirements of your stove. Carefully move the stove into position. If you haven't hired professional movers to help you get your stove into position, you'll need to move it yourself. Wood stoves are made from metal and can be incredibly heavy, so be sure to take any and all measures necessary to protect yourself as you move the stove. A sturdy dolly or hand truck that's rated above the weight of your stove is a great way to get the stove to its position without hurting yourself.

Minor adjustments to the stove's positioning at the site of installation may need to be done by hand, in which case you should enlist the help of a friend or family member so that you don't have to bear the full weight of the stove yourself. You may also want to try rolling the stove into position on lengths of sturdy PVC pipe.

Install a chimney and connect it to your stove, if necessary. A well-functioning chimney is absolutely crucial for getting the most out of your wood stove. Your chimney should carry smoke and sediment safely outside your house - a poorly-installed chimney may not effectively remove the smoke, leaving your living room a gloomy, smokey mess. Chimneys can be an existing part of the house's construction or can be installed along with the stove, but in either case, the chimney must be well insulated and made of a non-combustible material.

New chimneys installed for wood stoves are often made of a special kind of insulated stainless steel piping. You may need to use a length of stovepipe to connect your wood stove to the chimney.

This is fine, but remember that stovepipe is relatively thin and poorly-insulated, so by no means can stovepipe be used as a substitute for an actual insulated chimney. Generally, the taller and straighter a chimney is, the better.

The greater distance that smoke must travel horizontally through curved sections of stovepipe, for instance , the less effective the chimney will be at removing smoke from the stove. Consider hiring certified professionals to install and inspect your stove. Installed properly, wood stoves can be a tremendous boon for your house, but installed improperly, they can be a hassle and even a serious danger. If you encounter any problems while installing your wood stove or you are unsure of how to proceed safely, enlist the help of a professional.

Similarly, if, after installation, you have even the slightest doubts about the safety of your stove, schedule an inspection with an expert. The safety of your home and family is well worth the minor expense of hiring outside help. Yes, but you can obtain a copy of the manual by contacting the manufacturer online.

Most stoves will either have a name on them or a metal plate somewhere with its information. They should be able to provide you with a copy of the manual. Not Helpful 0 Helpful It might be due to heat. Make sure that aside from using high-temperature tolerant tiles, you're also using high-temperature cement to fix them near the stove. Normal cement usually cracks and crumbles due to heat. Not Helpful 6 Helpful Every stove is different, check in your owner's manual or on the tag on the back of your wood stove.

In the US, however, NFPA requires at least 36 inches of clearance from combustible materials to the side or rear of a wood stove, unless something less is specified in the owner's manual or there is an engineered "shield" on the walls.

Not Helpful 8 Helpful Too much air to the stove could do it. Close down the damper or air flow valve to fix this. Not Helpful 7 Helpful There might be too much positive air pressure in the chimney. Before you light the fire, light a piece of rolled-up newspaper, and let it burn directly under the flue in the fireplace. This will warm the air and begin the updraft process. Your chimney might also need some sweeping; you should hire a certified chimney sweep to do an inspection and clean the chimney for you.

Not Helpful 11 Helpful What if a house has a large central area, and all bedrooms and other rooms are separated from the main area by only a door? Do those rooms still get enough heat if their doors are closed, with the house heated only by a wood stove? The rooms will stay warmer, but not like with a central heating unit. Any room that is shut off from the wood burning stove heat, even by a door, will be colder than if left open.

Not Helpful 10 Helpful No less than a couple of inches, no more than a foot - relative to the size of your stove. Not Helpful 7 Helpful 9. A draft does not come down a chimney. Due to Bernouli's principle, a draft goes up the chimney.