Installing a Wood Stove in Your Home
A wood stove can stand out as a unique design feature in your home and provide an essential heating service. If you are thinking about installing a wood stove in the center of your living room or elsewhere, you may be wondering about the following:
- Benefits of a wood stove installation
- Planning considerations, such as whether or not to place a wood stove in the center of a room
- Maintenance needs of wood stoves
Below, learn more about the benefits of a wood stove, where to place it, and how to keep it functioning safely and efficiently with help from the wood stove and chimney professionals near you!
Benefits of Installing a Wood Stove in Your Home
As highlighted by House Digest, installing a wood stove in your home offers many benefits. For example, wood stoves are available in many different styles and materials. Therefore, you can find a selection that suits your home and operational preferences, as well as your personal style. At Spotless Chimney, we welcome you to visit our Stove Shop. That way, you can explore your stove choices and discuss your upcoming installation with us!
Additionally, using a wood stove is a great way to reduce energy bills and environmental impact. As noted by the U.S. Department of Energy, new wood pellet stoves in particular burn cleaner and have the ability to heat homes of average size. Consequently, used alone or as a supplement to other heating solutions, they can help reduce emissions while potentially saving you money! In locations where weather-related power outages may occur, like the Connecticut communities served by Spotless Chimney, some wood stoves can continue heating the home regardless of power loss.
To enjoy these benefits, it’s important to contact a professional chimney expert for wood stove installation. From code adherence and insurance coverage to correct chimney system design and ventilation, an experienced chimney services provider has the specialized knowledge and training to add a wood stove, as well as any other chimney system components. DIY efforts may not only endanger your home and loved ones but also have significant financial consequences. Be sure to contact your local chimney technician, such as the team at Spotless Chimney, to ensure that your installation is done correctly.
Why Install a Wood Stove in the Center of the Room
Many factors influence where to put a wood stove in the home, such as room size and home insulation, as well as chimney location and clearances. However, if possible, situating a wood stove in the center of the room or closer to it often helps provide more even heat distribution. While other location considerations are generally discussed in this guide from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, your local stove and chimney consultant is best suited to provide placement recommendations specific to your home.
In addition to heating efficiency, installing a wood stove in the center of the room also adds a notable stylistic feature to that space. In sharing advice from professional designers, Mansion Global notes that a centrally-placed wood stove can become a focal point for the room, not to mention your home. Your choice of stove design may inspire or be informed by other room decor. Decisions regarding furniture organization, lighting and more take its presence into account. Contributing to a cozy feel, whether it is in use or not, a wood stove in the center of a main room in the home is also one way to provide a central gathering point for loved ones.
Maintenance for the Wood Stove in the Center of the Room
While homeowners are responsible for some maintenance and operation efforts like burning the recommended wood and removing ashes, other chimney services are best performed by professionals. In addition to the expert installation of the wood stove (and chimney system as needed), annual chimney inspections and cleaning are a vital part of wood stove performance and overall system safety. For example, a Level 2 inspection examines the appliance and any connections, as well as the chimney interior by way of video equipment, along with the exterior components. Consequently, the creosote and debris accumulation that can increase the risk of fires, obstructions like animal nests that interfere with ventilation and other chimney repair needs can be identified and addressed as soon as possible. Prioritizing annual cleaning and scheduling chimney repairs as needed helps prevent issues like chimney leaks, dangerous creosote buildup and other problems.
For warmth during Connecticut’s colder months or as the feature around which friends and family relax and catch up, a wood stove in the center of a room is a popular choice for many homeowners. At Spotless Chimney, we are here to help you find the right stove or fireplace for your home and provide for any of your other chimney needs. For wood stove installation, chimney system maintenance or 24-hour emergency service, contact us today.