Shed Wood Burner - Safety Considerations
Installing a stove in an outdoor shed, log cabin, or a different off grid home is a fantastic idea. There are a few considerations to be made prior to doing this.
It's important to make sure your shed or cabin is properly insulated to reduce the loss of heat and save fuel costs. Insulation also helps to reduce dampness and improve the safety of fire.
Size
A shed log burner can be used to heat a summerhouse or a shed. But, it is essential to select the correct stove for your space and make sure that it meets all of the required safety standards. A stove that is too big isn't capable of properly venting and can also rapidly soot up the flue. A stove that is too large will not be able to heat the room sufficiently.
First, you must determine the size of your shed, and then decide on the best place to put the stove. Once you've determined the location then you'll need to build an area for the stove to rest on. The hearth should be at least 12mm thick and made of a non-combustible substance. The safe distance between a single-wall flue pipe and any combustible material is 3 times its diameter, but this can be reduced by using an insulative panel as shielding.
Once you've constructed the hearth, you can then put in the stove. Based on the type of stove you want to install you may have to purchase an oven door, a stovepipe, or a damper. Install a carbon monoxide alarm in your cabin or shed, as these are smaller spaces than homes, and they can swiftly fill with CO gas.
Installing a stove inside an outdoor space will require you to install a chimney liner to ensure safety and stop condensation. Flue liners can be found in a variety of hardware stores and can be cut to the right length. Use tin snips for removing the lid and the bottom of the can. Be sure to bend any sharp corners inside.
Safety
Shed wood burning stoves are efficient and comfortable, however they should be installed with care. This includes ensuring that you have the proper installation and use of the stove, a carbon monoxide detector, and a fire extinguisher. It is also important to keep pets and children away from the stove to minimize the risk of accidents.
Installing your shed stove by a HETAS-registered installer is a good idea. They can make sure that the installation is completed in accordance the current building regulations, including the necessary distances from combustible walls. This will help you avoid the need for an official building control certificate.
You must ensure that you only burn well-seasoned, kiln-dried, seasoned wood in your shed stove. Don't attempt to burn treated off-cuts as this will produce chemicals in the flue gases which can cause pollution and reduce the quality of the air. You will also have to ensure that your chimney is of the appropriate size. For most sheds a single wall flue is sufficient, but if your shed will be using a double wall stove, you'll require a larger chimney.
Smoke from a wood-burning stove can be hazardous, especially to children, pregnant women and those who are elderly. Smoke from a stove that burns wood is a risk for people suffering from asthma, COPD, heart disease as well as dogs and cats.
It is crucial to use an alarm screen to shield children and pets from hot coals and sparks. A book of fire logs should also be kept nearby in the event of an emergency. You will also need to ensure that you never use gasoline or charcoal starter fluid near your stove in the shed since they are highly flammable materials and could explode or flare-up in the event of an accident.
You might live in a smoke-control region. This will impact the type of stove you can install. You must select the type of stove that is part of the DEFRA (External link) approved appliance list.
Installation
A log burner in your summer home or shed is a great idea. It can help you get closer to the natural world than a fire in your home. A log burner in your shed or garden can be a fantastic place to gather with family and socialising. It also lets you to enjoy the wonderful outdoors from the comfortable confines of your home.
You'll also have to consider whether you are in a smoke-free zone and if there's any local planning laws that could affect your installation. You'll also need to consider if you reside in a smoke-control zone and if there are local planning regulations that might affect the installation. In the ideal scenario, you should speak with a HETAS registered installer to help you plan and installation.
If you decide you want to install a shed wood burner, the first thing you'll have to do is determine the size of flue pipe your shed is able to accommodate. This is typically a simple process and the supplier of your stove can help you on this. Once you know the size flue pipe you will need then you can begin to look for log burners for your shed that will work for your summer house.
After you have selected the ideal stove for your summerhouse or shed it is important to prepare the area for its installation. This will involve clearing away any flammable materials and ensuring 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 at least 2m away from the closest wall that is combustible and that any combustible materials inside the shed are covered with fire boards or covered with insulation.
You'll then have to install a hearth, which should be made from non-combustible materials and be at least 12mm thick. You can make use of any type of stone or concrete, for example, but you should be cautious not to use sand because this could affect the performance of the stove and result in a chimney failure. Also, you'll need a pair of twin wall flue pipes, class D airvent, and chimney cowl.
Maintenance
Shed wood burners are safe to use provided there is adequate ventilation and a smoke detector is installed. If you plan to install a wood burner in your shed, make sure that the electrical installation has been approved by an electrician, and that any flammable material is well away from the stove.
It is important to regularly clean the flue and glass of your stove's log burner in the shed. Make use of a small amount vinegar to clean the inside of the stove glass. Be careful not to let vinegar get inside the burner. You can also clean the outside of the glass log burner by using an easy solution consisting of paper towel and washing liquid.
Be aware that shed log heaters are made to use dry seasoned firewood. The moisture content of the logs should be less than 20 percent. The best method to determine the level of moisture in your logs is to use a wood moisture meter. Keep your wood in an area that is well ventilated. Keep combustibles such as curtains and furniture away from the shed. It's also an excellent idea to have the chimney swept at least once a year.