Are Wood Stoves More Dangerous Than Using Oil?

By Jim on November 10th, 2008

I know quite a few people that are moving to wood instead of paying high prices for oil. It makes a lot of sense but I hadn’t thought that it might be more dangerous.

New London Fire Chief Jason Lyon is concerned that people new to using wood heat may not know how to do it safely and efficiently. He also worries that when finances are spread thin, chimney – and even furnace – maintenance may be overlooked and become a fire hazard.

Maintaining a clean chimney, he said, is key to safely using wood heat.

But Foley worries that some people desperate for a cheaper heating source are turning to wood without knowing how to burn it safely, often using green wood, which produces more creosote than seasoned wood.

“A lot of people are heating with wood who’ve never done it before, and they’re grabbing anything they can get,” he said. The town of New London, said Lyon, sees three to seven structure fires each year. Of those, one or two are chimney fires.

If you’re going to be burning wood to heat your home for the first time you might want to check out these wood burning safety tips:

1. Get an annual chimney check. Have chimneys inspected annually, and cleaned as necessary, by a qualified professional chimney service technician. This reduces the risk of fires and carbon monoxide poisonings due to creosote buildup or obstructions in the chimneys.

2. Keep it clear. Keep tree branches and leaves at least 15 feet away from the top of the chimney.

3. Install a chimney cap to keep debris and animals out of the chimney.

4. Choose the right fuel. For burning firewood in wood stoves or fireplaces, choose wellseasoned wood that has been split for a minimum of six months – one year and stored in a covered and elevated location. Never burn Christmas trees or treated wood in your fireplace or wood stove.

5. Build it right. Place firewood or firelogs at the rear of the fireplace on a supporting grate. To start the fire, use kindling or a commercial firelighter. Never use flammable liquids.

6. Keep the hearth area clear. Combustible material too close to the fireplace, or to a wood stove, could easily catch fire. Keep furniture at least 36” away from the hearth.

7. Use a fireplace screen. Use metal mesh or a screen in front of the fireplace to catch flying sparks that could ignite or burn holes in the carpet or flooring.

8. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Place detectors throughout the house and check batteries in the spring and fall. When you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time, remember to check your batteries.

9. Never leave a fire unattended. Before turning in for the evening, be sure that the fire is fully extinguished. Supervise children and pets closely around wood stoves and fireplaces.

10. The CSIA recommends annual inspections performed by CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps. These chimney sweeps have earned the industry’s most respected credential by passing an intensive examination based on fire codes, clearances and standards for the construction and maintenance of chimney and venting systems. The National Fire Protection Association also recommends that all chimneys are inspected on an annual basis.

I don’t have to worry as I’m stuck using propane. I don’t have a fireplace so no wood burning for me. I have thought about getting one of those fake fireplaces though.