Installing Your Wood-Burning Stove

The installation of your wood burning stove is of primary importance. Carefully consider where you'll put your stove. Usually a centralized location is best if the stove is to be used as a heating device. One point to consider is that warm air rises. If the stove is too close to a stairwell, you may lose much of your heat to the floor above. Follow these guidelines:

• When installing factory-built fireplaces or wood-burning stoves, local building codes must always be followed.
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards call for a 36-inch clearance between a room heater stove and any combustible wall or ceiling surface. If the length of the stove pipe won't permit that much clearance, protect the combustible wall with a panel of some protective material, such as sheet metal, spaced at least one inch from the wall.
• Stoves that have less than two inches of ventilated open space beneath the fire chamber or base of the unit should never be installed on combustible floors or have any combustible material beneath them unless permitted by their listing.
• Do not physically alter any fireplace or chimney parts.
• If you're using a gas line, remember to test all gas piping and connections for leaks after the installation is completed.
• Although grounding may not be required by code, it is recommended if you live in an area of high risk due to electrical storms.

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