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 aspects to consider prior to doing so.

To reduce fuel costs and heat loss, it's essential that your shed or cabin be properly and properly insulated. Insulation can help reduce dampness and enhance fire safety.

Size

A shed log burner can be used to heat a summerhouse or a shed. But, it is essential to select the best stove for your space and make sure that it meets the safety requirements. A stove that is too big will not be capable of properly venting and will also quickly soot up the flue. A stove that is too large isn't able to heat the room adequately.

First, you must determine the size of your shed, and then decide where to position the stove. Once you've identified the spot, you'll need to create an area for the stove to rest on. The hearth must be at least 12mm thick and constructed of a non-combustible product. The distance between the single wall flue pipe and combustible material is 3x the diameter of the pipe. However, this can be decreased if you employ an insulative panel as shielding.

Install the stove after having constructed the hearth. Depending on your choice you may have to buy an oven door, a stovepipe, or damper. Install an alarm for carbon monoxide in your cabin or shed or shed, as they are smaller spaces than homes and can quickly fill up with CO gas.

If you're installing a stove in an outdoor space, then you'll require a flue liner for safety and to avoid condensation. Flue liners can be found at a wide range of hardware stores and can be easily cut to the correct length. Just be sure to use tin snips or an open can opener to take off the lid and the bottom of the can, and be sure to bend sharp edges within.

Safety

Shed wood burning stoves are effective and comfortable, but they must be installed safely. This includes ensuring that you have the proper installation and use of the stove, as well as a carbon monoxide detector and fire extinguisher. To decrease the chance of an accident it is crucial to keep pets and children away from the stove.

Installing your shed stove by a HETAS-registered installer is a great idea. They will be able to make sure that the installation is done in line with current building regulations, which include the appropriate distances from combustible walls. This could eliminate the requirement for an official building control certificate, which will save you time and money in the long time.

Only burn wood that has been kiln dried and well-seasoned in your stove for your shed. Don't burn treated off-cuts because they release chemicals that pollute the air and lead to air pollution. Also, ensure that you have a correctly size chimney. In most sheds, a single wall flue is sufficient, but if your shed will be using a double wall stove, you'll need a larger chimney.

The smoke from a wood-burning stove can be dangerous, particularly for pregnant women, children, and the elderly. Smoke from a stove that burns wood is a risk for people who suffer from asthma, COPD, heart disease and even dogs and cats.

A fire-proof screen should be used to protect children and pets from sparks and hot embers and it's recommended to keep a log book of fires and an extinguisher in case in an emergency. You will also need to ensure that you never employ charcoal starter fluid near your shed stove since they are extremely flammable and could explode or cause flare-ups in the event of an accident.

You may live in a smoke-control area. This will impact the type of stove that you can put in. You'll need to select an appliance that is part of the DEFRA (External link) approved appliance list.

Installation

A log burner in your summer house or shed is a great idea. It can bring you closer to the nature than a regular fire in your home. A log burning stove in your shed or garden can also serve as a focal point for socialising and family gatherings as well as giving you the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors without having to leave the comforts of your own home.

When you are installing a wood burner in a shed you'll need to think about the size of your shed or summerhouse and the output you require from the stove in order to adequately heat it. You should also consider if you are in a zone of smoke control and whether there are local laws governing planning that could affect the installation. In the ideal scenario, you should speak with an HETAS registered installer to assist you plan your installation.

If you decide you'd like to install a shed wood burner the first thing you will need to do is to find out what size flue pipe your shed can accommodate. This is typically a simple process and the manufacturer of your stove can help you on this. Once you know the size flue pipe you'll require and you are able to look for log burners for your shed that are suitable for your summer house.

After you have selected the ideal stove for your shed or summerhouse, you will need to prepare the area for installation. This will involve clearing away any materials that could ignite and ensuring that there is an adequate distance of 1m from the shed to the front edge of the chimney stack. It is also advisable to ensure that the stove is positioned at least 2m from the closest wall that is combustible and that any combustible items inside the shed are covered with fire boards or covered with insulation.

You'll then have to install a hearth, that should be constructed of non-combustible material and be at minimum 12mm thick. You can choose any type of stone or concrete, for instance, but you should be careful not to use sand since this could affect the stove's performance and result in a chimney failure. You'll also require twin wall flue pipes, class D air vents and a chimney cowl.

Maintenance

Shed wood burners are generally safe to use provided that they have adequate ventilation and a smoke alarm installed. If you intend to install a wood burner in your shed, ensure that the electrical installation is approved by an electrician, and that any material that is flammable is kept away from the stove.

Clean the glass and chimney of your log heater in your shed regularly. You can apply a light splash of vinegar to wash away any smudges or marks from the inside of the stove glass. However, make sure you don't get any vinegar inside the burner. You can also wash the outside of the glass log burner using an easy solution consisting of paper towel and shed wood burner washing liquid.

Keep in mind that shed log burners are designed to be used with dry seasoned firewood. The moisture content of the logs must be less than 20 percent. Use a wood moisture meter to determine the moisture content of your logs. Place your small wood burning stove in a place that is well ventilated. Keep combustibles like furniture and curtains away from the shed. It's also a good idea to get the chimney swept at least every year.