I want a wood burning stove but...
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My family installed one a few years ago and here's what we did.
We figured out which room we wanted the stove in. It was a room that stuck out of the main part of the house. We chose this room for a few reasons:
It was already our mudroom, so tracking in dirt and snow wouldn't make a mess of the house.
It sticks out from the rest of the house so that building a chimney wouldn't be as big of a project as it could have been.
It's the main enterance to our house so cold air is warmed up before it spreads to the rest of the house.
Before buying the stove, we looked for a place to put it. (Yes you do need to have the chiminey go outside.) First, we found a window that we didn't want. This helped because we didn't have any beams in the way and we didn't need to break a new hole in the wall. After taking out the glass, we built the chiminey outside and bricked up the window. We also built a brick platform for the stove to rest on. We then brought in the stove and installed the vent to the chimney. We covered the wall behind the stove with brick and stone.
Of course we had a very unsafe and inefficient stove at first so we had to take extra precautions, but I think it's worth taking all the precautions possible if using something with the potential of starting a fire. We happen to live in a 150 year old farmhouse that would go up in flames faster than tinder if we didn't take care.
As for it being hard or easy, it really depends on what kind of stove you are getting and where you are going to put it in your house. if you want the chimney in the middle of the house, you are looking at a huge project. if you are putting in an exterior wood furnace, It may be much easier... It really depends.
As for where to start, check the building ordinances and codes in your area to make sure you are doing everything by the book. Also do some research on the types of stoves there are. Some stoves can be sealed off so that the fire burns longer and cooler for the night, others have built in fans for circulating air better. Take a look.
We figured out which room we wanted the stove in. It was a room that stuck out of the main part of the house. We chose this room for a few reasons:
It was already our mudroom, so tracking in dirt and snow wouldn't make a mess of the house.
It sticks out from the rest of the house so that building a chimney wouldn't be as big of a project as it could have been.
It's the main enterance to our house so cold air is warmed up before it spreads to the rest of the house.
Before buying the stove, we looked for a place to put it. (Yes you do need to have the chiminey go outside.) First, we found a window that we didn't want. This helped because we didn't have any beams in the way and we didn't need to break a new hole in the wall. After taking out the glass, we built the chiminey outside and bricked up the window. We also built a brick platform for the stove to rest on. We then brought in the stove and installed the vent to the chimney. We covered the wall behind the stove with brick and stone.
Of course we had a very unsafe and inefficient stove at first so we had to take extra precautions, but I think it's worth taking all the precautions possible if using something with the potential of starting a fire. We happen to live in a 150 year old farmhouse that would go up in flames faster than tinder if we didn't take care.
As for it being hard or easy, it really depends on what kind of stove you are getting and where you are going to put it in your house. if you want the chimney in the middle of the house, you are looking at a huge project. if you are putting in an exterior wood furnace, It may be much easier... It really depends.
As for where to start, check the building ordinances and codes in your area to make sure you are doing everything by the book. Also do some research on the types of stoves there are. Some stoves can be sealed off so that the fire burns longer and cooler for the night, others have built in fans for circulating air better. Take a look.
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396 Posts
I installed a wood stove in my old house. I updated our propane furnace to a high efficiency that vents through a PVC pipe and out the wall. After doing the update I was able to use the old furnace chimney for the wood stove. It worked well since it was located in the center of the basement. The floors stayed warm and the heat would rise through out the whole house.
You may also consider a force air stove or an outside wood boiler. If you have hot water or baseboard heat a boiler inside or outside may work great for you.
You may also consider a force air stove or an outside wood boiler. If you have hot water or baseboard heat a boiler inside or outside may work great for you.
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206 Posts
That's probably the best way if you aren't construction savy: especially if you are talking about fire. Good luck with your project and don't give up on legos!
I would definitely suggest doing some more research. The "vent" you are referring to is called the chimney (or stove pipe) and it is absolutely 100% necessary. It is how all the smoke, CO, etc. safely exits your home. There are ventless gas stoves, but even these are not that great of an idea, IMO.
You will need to check local codes but there are typically minimum specs for distance of the stove to combustibles, double-wall vs. single wall chimney pipe, heat shields, area of hearth in front of and underneath the stove and height of the chimney top from the roof line. It isn't just slapping something together and building a fire if you are doing it correctly.
Also keep in mind that your insurance rate may increase. A home with a woodstove was more expensive to insure than a home without due to the increased risk of fire when I lived in MI. You could not report that you installed one but if you have a fire and they figure out there was a woodstove in the house, good luck filling a claim.
If you are going to get a stove, think about supplemental cooking along with supplemental heating. I'm guessing you want the stove so you can still heat if the power is out and/or there is a petroleum fuel shortage or price increase? A lot of stoves look very nice but don't have an area on top large or flat enough for a pan. Just something to think about.
My parents have always had Jotul brand stoves. They are pricey but very high quality, efficient and you can cook on most. If/when I have a home again, a Jotul will be installed. Here is an owners manual that talks about installation so you can get an idea:
http://www.jotul.com/FileArchive/Te...CB Black Bear/Manual_F_118_USA_P04_050508.pdf
You will need to check local codes but there are typically minimum specs for distance of the stove to combustibles, double-wall vs. single wall chimney pipe, heat shields, area of hearth in front of and underneath the stove and height of the chimney top from the roof line. It isn't just slapping something together and building a fire if you are doing it correctly.
Also keep in mind that your insurance rate may increase. A home with a woodstove was more expensive to insure than a home without due to the increased risk of fire when I lived in MI. You could not report that you installed one but if you have a fire and they figure out there was a woodstove in the house, good luck filling a claim.
If you are going to get a stove, think about supplemental cooking along with supplemental heating. I'm guessing you want the stove so you can still heat if the power is out and/or there is a petroleum fuel shortage or price increase? A lot of stoves look very nice but don't have an area on top large or flat enough for a pan. Just something to think about.
My parents have always had Jotul brand stoves. They are pricey but very high quality, efficient and you can cook on most. If/when I have a home again, a Jotul will be installed. Here is an owners manual that talks about installation so you can get an idea:
http://www.jotul.com/FileArchive/Te...CB Black Bear/Manual_F_118_USA_P04_050508.pdf
Thanks!
My home also has an inoperable gas fireplace. I never knew if maybe I could do something with it. I'm going to keep on investigating. I definitely need some options for when things get cold. My power does have a tendency to go out from time to time
Thanks everyone for the input.
My home also has an inoperable gas fireplace. I never knew if maybe I could do something with it. I'm going to keep on investigating. I definitely need some options for when things get cold. My power does have a tendency to go out from time to time
Thanks everyone for the input.
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857 Posts
It'd be best to have one put in by a professional. Even if you've done it before, it can be easily messed up. It's worth every penny. Saves your energy bill by alot.
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