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A wood burner is both romantic and practical. It can also be energy efficient and a cheap heating source, if you have a good supply of wood. A wood stove adds an extra ‘cosy’ element to any log cabin. There are a few things to take into consideration if you are planning on having one installed.
A wood burner must be fitted by a registered professional. The installation of burners is not permitted as a DIY job and therefore you will need to make sure that it is fitted and installed correctly. If it is not fitted correctly, it could cause damage to your cabin. If you purchase your stove from a registered dealer, they should automatically offer you the option of having it installed by them. If you buy a second hand wood burner, make sure that you have it inspected before installation, so that you know it is safe.
The most practical option for the flue or chimney is to have it going straight up through the roof. You will need to ensure that your log cabin is strong enough to hold the weight of the chimney. This means that the roof needs to be stable and durable. Check any necessary regulations and permission status to ensure that having a chimney will not impact on these, and your neighbours are happy with smoke production. Once installed, make sure that the area around the chimney is protected to prevent leaks from rain or snowfall.
Wood burners are heavy so you might need to reinforce your log cabin floor so that it can cope with the weight of the stove and hearth. When you are reinforcing the floor, you will also need to install a non-combustible board as this will help with fire prevention. Most requirements state that a concrete base is better for a wood stove to be installed on, so if you are in the early building stages – take this into consideration.
For safety reasons, wood burning stoves should not be placed too near walls. However, it is also a good idea to install heat shields on the walls around the area of the stove, as this will add another layer of protection to your log cabin home.
For optimum performance, it is always a good idea to have your log cabin fully insulated. If you have had this done, then look for a wood burning stove that has a low KW output.