Home Safety Zone - Wood Stove Safety

Wood Stove Safety

If you live in the Northern states where the winters can be quite harsh, a wood stove can be like a godsend. Nothing feels more comforting and cozy in the dead of winter than a blazing fire in the stove, but they can also present a very serious threat if not handled properly. Every home that does have one should know a thing or two about wood stove safety so that the warmth of the fire does not get too hot and cause an injury or damage to the home.

Wood stove safety in a nutshell

Wood stoves are becoming more and more popular these days, but with the increasing popularity there has also been an increase in the number of fires each year that happen as a result of negligence on the part of the homeowner. There is often times too much of a temptation to do things as fast and as cheaply as possible and so many of the fires are actually as a result of incorrect installation and general misuse. Just as you protect your family and your home by practicing good kitchen safety and stove safety, so too should you get a few tips on how better to avoid an accident with the wood stove.

Here are a few basic wood stoves safety guidelines:

When installing the wood stove, make sure that there is space between the stove and all of the walls as well as anything else that is combustible.
Burn only wood that has been properly dried as wet wood can produce a lot of smoke and it will be harder for you to ignite.
When the fire is out and you remove the ashes, place them in a metal container (that cannot burn) and keep this container out of doors.
Don't put any of your garbage into the wood stove as it can cause a chimney fire.
Don't make a fire and then leave the house and do not let one burn unattended throughout the night.

There are a whole host of other wood stove safety tips and guidelines that are available on the Internet. One of the best places to get tips and help is at your local fire station.

Read on and learn how to protect yourself from other dangers that are in the house and how you can take the precautions that will make your house a safer place - from the kitchen and kitchen appliances to the backyard and the pool.

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