Need help with general stove safety...

[Andy99]

I have been using my new stove for about a month now and it hit me today we are making some mistakes. I guess what really made me realize was today when I came home from work my wife had the stove going and next to it on the hearth she had 3 splits. They were way to close to the stove. She also had the rake on the hearth but it was not to far from the wood surround. I did everything according to the specs in the owners manual when it came to clearances, r values and hearth design. Now we are making dangerous mistakes. I also bought an ash can with a double bottom but I have been scooping ash into it and leaving it in the house. I just read that some people put the can outside. I guess I need a basic safety list to go over with my wife and reinforce the basics for myself.
Please post any safety advice that a new stove owner might overlook or not realize. as simple and basic it might seem to you It might not have occurred to new stove owners...

 

[BJ64]

For starters you are already on the right track by recognizing some issues upfront.

For me the best advice was in the stove manual. It will tell you all the minimal clearances to combustibles. Normally these inches of clearance are listed for walls, furniture, and anything else that can be considered "combustible" - such as firewood. As a bonus the information in your manual is specific for your stove.

The double bottom ash can is something I would like to get. Can you post where I can find them?

I have a can outside that I dump the stoves slide out ash pan into. Dumping the ash pan into the can makes a dusty mess.

 

[JMF1]

The double bottom ash can is designed to help but never set an ash can on a combustible surface, inside or out. I only set mine on concrete or dirt. Also keep in mind that coals whithin the ashes can stay hot for many many days, so before you "dispose of them" be sure thery will not come to life again. I supervise a Disposal Co and can't even count the number of fires in our trucks this has caused over the years!

 

[BJ64]

The double bottom ash can is designed to help but never set an ash can on a combustible surface, inside or out. I only set mine on concrete or dirt. Also keep in mind that coals whithin the ashes can stay hot for many many days, so before you "dispose of them" be sure thery will not come to life again. I supervise a Disposal Co and can't even count the number of fires in our trucks this has caused over the years!

That is true about the coals holding fire for a long time. I was hoping the double bottom can would help reduce heat marks and bucket circles on my limestone (from the local creek) patio "pavement".

 

[madrone]

The other issue with coals is CO. Coals can be emitting carbon monoxide into your house. Usually, there aren't so many that is would be an issue, but why take a chance? If I have to clean out a hot stove, I put my bucket outside.

Definitely go by the clearances in the manual. That said, I sometime warm up a few pieces of wood near my stove. I have a stove with fairly close clearances, but I don't put any wood near it for too long. I suspect a bigger danger is things that are always too close, which can dry out and even begin to char, which lowers the combustion point. If the wood is for the next load, it's probably less dangerous. But you're right to consider it.

 

[ansehnlich1]

Yeah, good thread. I don't store nothin' comustible on my hearth, now, every now and then I'll put a split or two there, but ONLY if I'm around and know I'm gonna be puttin' 'em in the stove within an hour or so.

Also, be prepared for the red hot coal that falls out sometime when you least expect it, and roll onto your hardwood floor, or worse, your carpet. I have a wool rug on the hardwood floor on the side that I load my stove from, just a little insurance, and I HAVE had hot coals roll out onto that rug, RECENTLY :bug:

Always have gloves handy.

Always have a fire extinguisher handy.

I also have a small shovel head, from a fireplace shovel, WITHOUT the handle on it, so I can use it to sweep up any embers/coals that get the idea they want to go places that are unacceptable to me. With that I have the fireplace broom, but also an old paintbrush, that I can grab quick, and sweep hot stuff up quick, if I need to

 

[Andy99]

I have this one...

(broken link removed to http://www.northlineexpress.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=5IM-LT0160)

 

[EatenByLimestone]

The ash could be an issue. I have mine in a metal garbage can outside my back steps.


I think you are overreacting re the splits set by the stove. It would take more than a few hours to dry the splits out to the point that they self ignite. Furniture and studs are subjected to the heat from the stove all day, every day for months on end.

I agree that noticing a possible problem is the best way to prevent a problem.

Matt

 

[Backwoods Savage]

On this page: (broken link removed to http://woodstove.com/pages/acces.html) the third item down on the page, is the ash holder. This is what we use. We put the ashes in this, take them outdoors and set it on a cement floor and leave it until the next time we need to dump ashes. Before we bring it inside though, we dump the old ashes into a barrel, which is saved for dumping the ashes onto the vegetable garden in the spring.

Note: By not dumping the ashes on the garden until spring, the goodies don't leach out of the ash before we need them.


Another note to any Fireview owners: This ash holder works fantastic with the Fireview stove because the lip is just the right height to place the ash holder at the firebox door and just rake the ashes right in. No mess this way!



Andy, something else you might want to do is to keep a pail of sand or even better, a good fire extinguisher right there by the stove. Just not too close to the stove as if there would be a fire, you need to be able to reach it and not have to reach into a fire to get to it. Naturally, some baking soda will also work to put out a small fire.

We too keep some splits near the stove at night but never touching the stove.

 

[LLigetfa]

my wife had the stove going and next to it on the hearth she had 3 splits. They were way to close to the stove.

The specified clearances to combustibles are mostly for long term exposure but also for hot embers falling out of the stove. The 3 splits I assume were for immediate consumption so not a long term exposure hazard.

That said, it is good that you are recognizing potential hazards and mitigating them.

 

[Andy99]

Im just want to make sure we are safe in our new adventure of wood heat. we have no experience at all with wood stoves so this is all new to us...

 

[stockdoct]

Here's a "mistake" for you....

For the past two months since my Lopi was installed, I have managed the stove in every way from scrounging the wood to cleaning the ashes. But I was at work this week and my wife was home, and I knew the stove fan would be dying out before I got home. So I called her, and asked that she put a single log on the fire. She did, and when I came home the stove was firing nicely.

An hour later, it was time to re-load the stove I found to my surprise THE DOOR WASN'T SHUT. Oh my god, she thought she had latched the door, but didn't. A small chunk of wood was probably blocking the door from completely closing, so she though it latched properly, but it was kinda just swinging in the wind.

Lesson learned is exactly what you're talking about: sometimes its the basic, simple things that could lead to a catastrophe. Make sure everyone who might operate the stove knows what it feels like when the door actually latches.

 

[bbeals]

We picked up a nice ash can at Plow and Hearth. (broken link removed to http://www.plowhearth.com/product.asp?section_id=0&department=0&search_type=normal&search_value=ash&cur;_index=&pcode=2238)

It has a double bottom, but I would never set it on anything combustable, as it still gets really hot. What we like about it is the sealing lid, this allows the coals to burn out and cool very quickly (a matter of hours). I set it on the brick steps outside the front door and then dispose of when cool.

 

[fattyfat1]

+1 on the fire extinguisher! always keep one within arms reach of your wood stove. I have mine hidden, so it's not an eyesore, but EVERYONE who tends fire in my house knows where it is, so close to the hearth area you can grab it in an instant. It is dedicated for the hearth area only. I would also get a carbon monoxide detector/smoke detector for that room. make sure it does BOTH! they are more expensive but worth it. you are already aware of combustibles too close. I would also add a fence of some sort around it if there are children around. mine can be folded up and put away in five seconds. my boys are 6 and 4, and they are aware of the stove, know not to touch it, but it is more for trips and falls/ rough housing, accident type stuff. couldn't live with myself if someone ended up with a life-changing injury/scar from tripping over a toy.