How to Maintain Your Wood-burning Stove
Stay warm – and safe – this winter by following this expert advice on keeping your stove in tip-top condition
If you have a wood-burning stove, you’ll probably love luxuriating in its toastie warmth when the temperature dips.
However, while they look charming and can be super-effective heatwise, wood-burners also require regular maintenance. Here’s how to keep your stove safe and ensure it stays in good working order.
Professional advice from: Nigel Meyers of Stoake; Dr David Morgan of Orion Heating; and Jamie Osbourne-Briggs of Cambridge Stove Installations.
However, while they look charming and can be super-effective heatwise, wood-burners also require regular maintenance. Here’s how to keep your stove safe and ensure it stays in good working order.
Professional advice from: Nigel Meyers of Stoake; Dr David Morgan of Orion Heating; and Jamie Osbourne-Briggs of Cambridge Stove Installations.
Sweep frequently
It’s important to keep your chimney and flue clear of blockages and soot, and to clean your stove regularly. Heavy usage means you’ll need more frequent sweeps.
“A wood-burning stove must be swept at least once every 12 months,” Nigel says. “We sweep the liner with a specially designed brush, and use rotary power-sweeping equipment, which is thorough but gentle on the liner. We also give the stove’s insides a thorough clean out, and remove the fire bricks to clean behind them.”
Jamie Osbourne-Briggs adds, “We advise using a chimney sweep from Sweep Safe [the UK chimney sweep association], but all good sweeps will give the appliance and flue a once-over and advise on any issues while on site.”
It’s important to keep your chimney and flue clear of blockages and soot, and to clean your stove regularly. Heavy usage means you’ll need more frequent sweeps.
“A wood-burning stove must be swept at least once every 12 months,” Nigel says. “We sweep the liner with a specially designed brush, and use rotary power-sweeping equipment, which is thorough but gentle on the liner. We also give the stove’s insides a thorough clean out, and remove the fire bricks to clean behind them.”
Jamie Osbourne-Briggs adds, “We advise using a chimney sweep from Sweep Safe [the UK chimney sweep association], but all good sweeps will give the appliance and flue a once-over and advise on any issues while on site.”
Book in a full annual check
As well as a sweep, consider a full service. Nigel suggests this include the following: “Inspect the burner’s air controls; test door seals to ensure air from the room isn’t being pulled in (this can make the stove difficult to control); check flue and liner connections; smoke test the stove to ensure the flue is operating correctly, and check the carbon monoxide alarm is in date and functioning correctly.”
Finally, a certificate of sweeping proves the stove’s been properly maintained. “This is often a requirement for home insurance and manufacturers’ guarantees,” Nigel says.
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As well as a sweep, consider a full service. Nigel suggests this include the following: “Inspect the burner’s air controls; test door seals to ensure air from the room isn’t being pulled in (this can make the stove difficult to control); check flue and liner connections; smoke test the stove to ensure the flue is operating correctly, and check the carbon monoxide alarm is in date and functioning correctly.”
Finally, a certificate of sweeping proves the stove’s been properly maintained. “This is often a requirement for home insurance and manufacturers’ guarantees,” Nigel says.
Find fireplace specialists in your area.
Maintain your door ropes
Make sure these fireproof ropes, which create a seal around your stove’s door, are in good order, David advises. “They maintain your control over air combustion and burning speed,” he says. “Without good door ropes, your stove will perform badly.”
As Jamie also points out, “Maximising the efficiency of your fuel saves you money.”
Make sure these fireproof ropes, which create a seal around your stove’s door, are in good order, David advises. “They maintain your control over air combustion and burning speed,” he says. “Without good door ropes, your stove will perform badly.”
As Jamie also points out, “Maximising the efficiency of your fuel saves you money.”
Keep an eye on the baffle plate
This metal plate sits inside your stove, below the top, to prevent intense heat coming into direct contact with its top and to ensure as much heat as possible is deflected into your room.
“Every month or so, the baffle plate should be dropped down to release any ash that might have built up,” Nigel says. “This ensures the stove runs efficiently between sweeps.
“If the stove is over-fired, it can warp the baffle plate,” he says. “This can occur if lots of small pieces of wood are used as fuel. They burn quickly and can bring a stove over its designed temperature.”
This metal plate sits inside your stove, below the top, to prevent intense heat coming into direct contact with its top and to ensure as much heat as possible is deflected into your room.
“Every month or so, the baffle plate should be dropped down to release any ash that might have built up,” Nigel says. “This ensures the stove runs efficiently between sweeps.
“If the stove is over-fired, it can warp the baffle plate,” he says. “This can occur if lots of small pieces of wood are used as fuel. They burn quickly and can bring a stove over its designed temperature.”
Invest in decent firelighters
“We recommend natural firelighters – the type made from wood shavings dipped in wax,” Nigel says. “They light easily and cleanly, and don’t produce much smoke or fly ash. Using newspaper makes loads of smoke and fly ash, which can be messy.”
Jamie adds, “Always build fires slowly using natural firelighters with small bits of kindling, then add logs once the box is hot enough to take the load – as a general rule, 10 to 20 minutes after the fire’s started.”
“We recommend natural firelighters – the type made from wood shavings dipped in wax,” Nigel says. “They light easily and cleanly, and don’t produce much smoke or fly ash. Using newspaper makes loads of smoke and fly ash, which can be messy.”
Jamie adds, “Always build fires slowly using natural firelighters with small bits of kindling, then add logs once the box is hot enough to take the load – as a general rule, 10 to 20 minutes after the fire’s started.”
Replace cracked glass
“If the glass cracks, replace it immediately,” David says. “The stove will be uncontrollable if air leaks in, plus you risk fumes escaping into the room.”
Nigel adds, “If the glass gets dirty, there’s no need to use chemicals. Dip a microfibre cloth or sheet of newspaper in water, then into the soft ash inside the stove (avoiding any hard bits of unburnt fuel, as this can scratch the glass). Gently rub the glass to break down dirt, then wipe off with a clean cloth or kitchen towel.”
“If the glass cracks, replace it immediately,” David says. “The stove will be uncontrollable if air leaks in, plus you risk fumes escaping into the room.”
Nigel adds, “If the glass gets dirty, there’s no need to use chemicals. Dip a microfibre cloth or sheet of newspaper in water, then into the soft ash inside the stove (avoiding any hard bits of unburnt fuel, as this can scratch the glass). Gently rub the glass to break down dirt, then wipe off with a clean cloth or kitchen towel.”
Know what you can and can’t maintain yourself
“Rope seals, firebricks, window glass and baffle plates are designed to be user serviceable,” David says. “You might get covered in ash when you replace them, but it’s not a professional job. Chimney-sweeping, however, is best left to an experienced professional.”
It’s vital to keep things in good repair. “If a wood-burner is poorly maintained,” Jamie says, “it can lead to major flue issues and end up costing hundreds or even thousands of pounds for the flue to be replaced.”
“Rope seals, firebricks, window glass and baffle plates are designed to be user serviceable,” David says. “You might get covered in ash when you replace them, but it’s not a professional job. Chimney-sweeping, however, is best left to an experienced professional.”
It’s vital to keep things in good repair. “If a wood-burner is poorly maintained,” Jamie says, “it can lead to major flue issues and end up costing hundreds or even thousands of pounds for the flue to be replaced.”
Take your safety seriously
As David points out, when you use a wood-burner, “you’re creating a very intense and powerful fire in the middle of your home. The user must treat it seriously in the same way they would any appliance that burns fuel. Steps must always be taken to eliminate the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or fire damage.”
As David points out, when you use a wood-burner, “you’re creating a very intense and powerful fire in the middle of your home. The user must treat it seriously in the same way they would any appliance that burns fuel. Steps must always be taken to eliminate the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or fire damage.”
Avoid loose piles of wood next to your stove
Still on the subject of safety, Jamie warns, “Stacking wood, or any combustible materials, right next to your appliance might look great, but it’s a big NO – extremely dangerous and lots of house fires have been caused this way.”
Instead, choose a stove with a purpose-built log store underneath, he advises, or store the wood slightly away from the stove. A basket at the edge of the hearth, for example, is fine.
“Most stoves have a minimum distance to combustible to abide by,” Jamie adds. “These vary massively from manufacturer to manufacturer and model to model.”
Still on the subject of safety, Jamie warns, “Stacking wood, or any combustible materials, right next to your appliance might look great, but it’s a big NO – extremely dangerous and lots of house fires have been caused this way.”
Instead, choose a stove with a purpose-built log store underneath, he advises, or store the wood slightly away from the stove. A basket at the edge of the hearth, for example, is fine.
“Most stoves have a minimum distance to combustible to abide by,” Jamie adds. “These vary massively from manufacturer to manufacturer and model to model.”
Be aware of your stove’s limits
“Don’t overload or over-fire your stove,” Jamie says. “Some people make the mistake of constantly running it. It’s worth buying a thermometer to put on your appliance or flue; these cost around £10 online and show your burning temperature, and whether it’s too high or low.”
“Don’t overload or over-fire your stove,” Jamie says. “Some people make the mistake of constantly running it. It’s worth buying a thermometer to put on your appliance or flue; these cost around £10 online and show your burning temperature, and whether it’s too high or low.”
Stay on top of eco regulations
Maintenance aside, it’s a good idea to be aware of eco issues as well, especially with changing regulations on the cards.
Nigel argues that “wood-burning is carbon neutral if the fuel is ethically sourced from properly managed woodland. Carbon dioxide that’s released into the atmosphere by burning logs is absorbed by growing trees. It’s a complete cycle over approximately 10 years.”
However, particulate emissions from wood-burners, which cause air pollution, have been in the news recently, as they have negative health implications. Ecodesign is the European Union programme for lowering emissions, due for implementation in the UK in 2022. DEFRA has confirmed its commitment to it, meaning only stoves that meet stricter green standards will be sold in the future.
Currently, if you live in a smoke-controlled zone, such as London, the only wood-burning stoves you can legally buy are DEFRA-approved ones, tested for emissions levels.
“The new Ecodesign stoves dramatically reduce particulate emissions by as much as 80 to 90% when compared to an open fire, or an older wood-burning stove, and by as much as 50% when compared to a DEFRA-approved stove,” Nigel says.
If you have an older wood-burner, you may wish to consider upgrading it, so it meets the latest regulations.
Tell us…
Do you have a wood-burning stove? Will you be following any of these tips, or do you have any extra advice of your own? Share your thoughts, ideas and tips in the Comments section.
Maintenance aside, it’s a good idea to be aware of eco issues as well, especially with changing regulations on the cards.
Nigel argues that “wood-burning is carbon neutral if the fuel is ethically sourced from properly managed woodland. Carbon dioxide that’s released into the atmosphere by burning logs is absorbed by growing trees. It’s a complete cycle over approximately 10 years.”
However, particulate emissions from wood-burners, which cause air pollution, have been in the news recently, as they have negative health implications. Ecodesign is the European Union programme for lowering emissions, due for implementation in the UK in 2022. DEFRA has confirmed its commitment to it, meaning only stoves that meet stricter green standards will be sold in the future.
Currently, if you live in a smoke-controlled zone, such as London, the only wood-burning stoves you can legally buy are DEFRA-approved ones, tested for emissions levels.
“The new Ecodesign stoves dramatically reduce particulate emissions by as much as 80 to 90% when compared to an open fire, or an older wood-burning stove, and by as much as 50% when compared to a DEFRA-approved stove,” Nigel says.
If you have an older wood-burner, you may wish to consider upgrading it, so it meets the latest regulations.
Tell us…
Do you have a wood-burning stove? Will you be following any of these tips, or do you have any extra advice of your own? Share your thoughts, ideas and tips in the Comments section.
“This is the first and most important thing,” Nigel Meyers says. “It’s best to use kiln-dried logs in a wood-burner, with a moisture content of between 10 and 20%. Kiln-dried logs are easy to light, burn cleanly, help keep the glass clean and produce minimal emissions, which is better for the environment.”
“Use the best-quality fuel you can,” Dr David Morgan adds. “Damp logs or low-quality fuel can damage your appliance or block the flue.”
Nigel also advises monitoring moisture levels yourself to help keep things eco-friendly. “Wood-burning stove users should have a meter to check the moisture levels of the fuel they’re burning.”
You can buy affordable moisture meters online.
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