| With home heating bills smoldering through the | | | | you buy. Other safety tips will be more general in |
| roof, it's no wonder that many homeowners are | | | | nature, but are every bit as important: |
| contemplating a wood burning stove to help | | | | - Keep a properly maintained fire extinguisher |
| handle some or all of their home heating needs. | | | | nearby at all times. |
| Firewood is abundant and inexpensive in many | | | | - Move combustible items as far away from the |
| parts of the country, and technological | | | | wood burner as possible. |
| advancements have made woodstoves and other | | | | - Use only clean paper, newsprint and dry kindling |
| wood burning appliances safer and more efficient | | | | to start a fire. Never use an accelerant like |
| than ever. | | | | gasoline, kerosene or lighter fluid. |
| Unfortunately, wood burning appliances still pose a | | | | - Burn seasoned wood only. Wet or green logs |
| danger if common sense safety precautions are | | | | may cause a combustible residue to build up inside |
| ignored. Here's a quick look at some key steps | | | | your chimney. |
| you can take to reduce the likelihood of a fire. | | | | - Never burn trash or garbage in your wood |
| | | | burner. |
| Find A Professional Installer | | | | - Close the door of your wood burning appliance |
| Few homeowners have the technical "know-how" | | | | as soon as it's lit and immediately after loading |
| to properly install a woodstove, fireplace insert or | | | | new logs. |
| other wood burning appliance, and fewer still | | | | Talk to your local fire department. They may be |
| understand all of the pertinent building code | | | | able to offer additional information about burning |
| requirements in their community. For example, | | | | wood safely, and they may be able to provide |
| clearances between the wood burning appliance, | | | | additional information about local ordinances that |
| the venting system and any combustible materials | | | | affect when you can use your wood burner. |
| above, below or beside the appliance are critical. | | | | Follow Maintenance Guidelines |
| What's more, installation errors in a wood burning | | | | Make sure you read and follow the maintenance |
| appliance rarely prevent it from "working." This | | | | guidelines provided with your wood burning |
| can all too easily leave a homeowner with a false | | | | appliance to help keep it working properly. Many |
| sense of security--until it's too late. | | | | manufacturers recommend an annual inspection, |
| Ask about certified installation services when | | | | and your installer can often perform this service |
| shopping for a wood burning appliance, and check | | | | or recommend an inspector. Remove ashes |
| credentials. According to the Environmental | | | | regularly, and have your chimney inspected and |
| Protection Agency (EPA), one of the best ways | | | | cleaned each year by a certified chimney sweep. |
| to locate a certified professional is through a | | | | The Chimney Safety Institute of America offers |
| certification agency like the National Fireplace | | | | a searchable list of certified chimney sweeps |
| Institute (NFI). A list of NFI Certified Woodburing | | | | online at |
| Specialists is available on the organization's | | | | Install Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detectors |
| Internet site at | | | | If you haven't already done so, now is a great |
| Learn How To Burn | | | | time to install smoke and carbon monoxide |
| Before the installer leaves, ask him or her to | | | | detectors throughout your home. These devices |
| show you how to use your wood burner. Include | | | | can potentially warn you about a fire or wood |
| all family members in the discussion, if possible, | | | | burner malfunction, and may save your life. Talk |
| and use this opportunity to set strict rules about | | | | to your local fire department about the best |
| who is permitted to operate the new appliance. | | | | locations for each device, and make sure you |
| Much of what you learn will be specific to the | | | | test them regularly to make sure they're working |
| make and model of the wood burning appliance | | | | properly at all times. |