Essential Safety Tips That Every Wood Stove User Should Follow

1. Essential Safety Tips That Every Wood Stove User Should Follow For a majority of the world, the harsh winter months are finally over. Gone are the days when you had to think twice before heading out for something because of the chilly winds! Well, while a lot of us have the luxury to enjoy at least a couple of warmer months every year, a considerable number of people, especially those living in Canada and Northern European countries, a vacation is probably the only time they get to experience the true summer. For the moment, this article is exactly for those readers who are living in the coldest places in the world and can’t go without keeping their heaters on every single night. It’s no secret that, with the prices of natural gas skyrocketing over the past couple of years, people are quickly switching to alternative ways to keep their houses warm. Among these, the fastest growing types are Wood Stoves in Canada and Europe. They’re efficient, portable and generally safe. However, just like any other equipment involving fire, it’s important to be aware of the safety instructions to avoid any unforeseen circumstances. This is why we are here to assist you with 5 quick tips to keep yourself safe while you’re relaxing with your family near a fireplace. Ready? let’s begin! 1. NEVER Use a Lighter Fuel to Start The Fire

2. Starting a fire in a wood stove is certainly no mean feat, especially for the beginners. This is where some people would suggest using highly inflammable fuels for a quick light up in the fireplace. This is an extremely dangerous advice that could potentially lead to an explosion in no time! The best way to light a fire in your wood stove is to sprinkle a few small chunks of wood over the large blocks. As long as the wood is completely dry, it’s not going to take long before your fireplace is up and running. 2. Ensure a Proper Ventilation of Air Unlike electrical heaters, wood stoves don’t require you to seal off your entire place in order to heat it up. In fact, it’s highly recommended that you keep your windows open and create a proper channel of air to flow through your house while using a fireplace. A fresh flow of air will ensure a constant movement of air into and out of your place, which is often referred to as the Stack effect. For a proper functioning of a wood stove, stack effect is very crucial, and therefore, a proper channeling of air into your home is a must. 3. Use the Right Type of Wood

3. A common mistake that new wood stove owners do quite frequently is that they fill their fireplaces with any wood that they could conveniently get their hands on. However, if you’re not using the recommended type of wood for burning, you’re not only causing damage to your wood stove but also to your health. While you don’t have to be an expert in woods, there are a few quick ways to tell if the one that you have right now is ideal for burning. First off, as discussed before, the wood should be completely dry. Secondly, ensure that it is free from any algae on its surface. Thirdly, look for well-seasoned woods when you’re out for some fireplace shopping. And finally, ensure a safe wood stove which is free from termites and moisture. 4. Use a Fence to Keep Children Away From the Fireplace

4. This may sound like a pretty obvious thing to do, and yet, a surprisingly large number of fireplace owners forget to ensure the safety of their children. In addition to fencing your wood stove, you have to be extra careful in not letting your children anywhere near it. Those tiny sparks of fire coming out of the wood stove may only feel like a slight pinch on your skin, but they can cause severe burns in children. 5. Use Cast Iron Utensils for Cooking on Wood Stoves One of the coolest things about having a wood stove in your place is that, in addition to heating the space, it can also provide sufficient surface heat to cook your food on it. However, a safety tip while using a wood burning cook stove is that you should always use cast iron cookware. Definitely avoid placing borosil ones on your stove at any cost. Apart from these tips, always ensure that your smoke detectors are in proper working condition with or without the wood stoves.