Shed Wood Burner – Safety Considerations

If you own a shed or log cabin, or an off grid residence, you might be interested in installing an electric stove inside. There are some things to consider before you do so.

To reduce fuel costs and heat loss, it’s vital that your cabin or shed be properly insulate it. Insulation can also reduce dampness, and improve the fire safety.

Size

A shed log burner can be used to heat a summerhouse or a shed. However, it is important to select the best woodburning stoves stove woodburning stoves for sale your home and ensure that it complies with all the safety requirements. A stove that is too large will not be adequately venting and will also quickly soot up the flue. A stove that is too large will not be able heat the room effectively.

It is important to first determine the dimensions of the shed and then determine the location of the stove. Once you’ve decided on the place where the stove should be located, you will have to construct a hearth to support it. The hearth should be at least 12mm thick, and constructed from non-combustible materials. The safe distance between a single wall flue pipe and any combustible material is 3x its diameter, but this can be reduced by using an insulative panel as shielding.

Once you’ve constructed the hearth, you can then install the stove. Depending on the stove you choose you might need to purchase the stove door, a stovepipe or damper. Install a carbon monoxide alarm in your shed or cabin because they are smaller than homes and can quickly fill with CO gas.

If you’re installing a stove inside a shed, then you’ll require a flue liner to protect yourself and to stop condensation. The flue liner is available in a variety of hardware stores, and they’re usually easy to cut to the proper length. Be sure to use tin snips or a can opener to remove the lid and bottom of the can, and make sure to bend sharp edges within.

Safety

Shed wood burners are comfortable and efficient, however you should consider the safety aspects of the installation. This includes ensuring the correct installation and use of the stove, a carbon monoxide detector and fire extinguisher. To decrease the chance of an accident it is crucial to keep children and pets away from the stove.

It is a good idea to choose an HETAS certified installer to install your stove in your shed. They can ensure that the installation process is completed in compliance with the building regulations. This includes the proper distances from walls that are combustible. This could eliminate the requirement for a building control certificate which can save you money and time in the long run.

You will need to ensure that you only burn well-seasoned, kiln-dried, seasoned wood in your shed stove. Do not burn treated off-cuts because they will produce chemicals that can pollute the air and lead to air pollution. Also, you must make sure that your chimney is the proper size. A single wall flue system is suitable for the majority of sheds, however if you want to use a double wall stove in your shed, this will require a bigger chimney.

Smoke from a wood-burning stove can be hazardous, especially for pregnant women, children and the elderly. Smoke from a wood burner fireplace-burning stove could be harmful to those with asthma, COPD, heart disease and even pets and dogs.

A fire guard screen should be used to protect children and pets from sparks and hot embers, and it is a good idea to keep a log book of fires and extinguisher handy in case in the event of an emergency. You will also need to ensure that you don’t make use of charcoal starter or gasoline fluid near your stove in the shed since they are highly flammable substances and could explode or cause flare-ups in the case of an accident.

You could be living in a smoke-control area. This will affect the type of stove you can put in. You should select the right log stove that has been approved by DEFRA.

Installation

Having a log burner in your shed or summer house is a great idea and can really bring you closer to nature in a way that can’t be achieved with a regular fire in the home. A log burning stove in your garden or shed can also be an ideal location for socializing and gatherings with family members, while also providing you with the chance to enjoy the great outdoors without having to leave the comforts of your home.

You’ll also need to consider whether you live in a smoke-free zone and if there are any local planning laws that could impact your installation. Also, you’ll need to consider whether you reside in a smoke-control zone and if there are any local regulations on planning that might affect the installation. In the ideal scenario, you should speak with a HETAS registered installer to help you plan your installation.

You will need to determine the size of the flue pipe your shed can handle before you install the wood stove for your shed. This is usually easy enough and the company that sells your stove can help you on this. Once you know what size flue pipe you will need then you can begin to look at shed log burners that will work for your shed or summer house.

Once you have chosen the ideal stove for your summerhouse or shed it is important to prepare the area to install it. This involves removing any materials that are flammable and making sure that there is at least 1m from the shed to the front edge of the chimney stack. It is also recommended to ensure that the stove is positioned at least 2m away from the closest combustible wall and that any combustible items inside the shed are covered with fire boards or insulated.

The hearth must be constructed from non-combustible materials, and at least 12mm thick. You can choose any kind of stone or concrete for example, but be careful not using sand, because it could impact the performance of your stove and lead to an issue in the chimney. Also, you’ll need a pair of twin wall flue pipes as well as a class D airvent and chimney cowl.

Maintenance

Shed wood burners are safe to use if there is adequate ventilation and a smoke detector is installed. If you plan to install a wood stove in your shed, make sure that the electrical installation has been signed off by an electrician, and that any flammable material is kept away from the stove.

It is important to clean regularly the flue and glass of your stove’s log burner in the shed. You can use a gentle spray of vinegar to get rid of any smudges or marks from the inside of the stove glass. However, be careful not to get any vinegar inside the burner. You can also use a mild solution of water on a paper towel to wash the outside of the glass in the log burner.

Remember that shed log burners are designed to be used with dry-seasoned firewood. The logs’ moisture content must be less than 20%. Use a wood moisture meter to determine the moisture content of your logs. Store your small wood burning stoves for shed in a ventilated area, and be sure to keep any flammable items like furniture and curtains from the shed. It’s also recommended to have the chimney swept at minimum once a year.