Wood-Burning Fireplace and Stove Safety

While the cozy crackle of a fire and its alluring woodsy scent can be a comforting presence in your home, wood-burning stoves and fireplaces can also bring a higher risk of damage to your home.

In 2015, heating equipment was involved in one out of every five residential fire deaths, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Generally, wood stoves are associated with more residential fires than central heating systems.

Taking a few preventive measures will help you enjoy your heating system safely. Here’s a guide to all the steps you’ll need to take: 

Getting Covered

First, it’s a good idea tocheck in with your Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent to make sure you have the proper liabilities in place. They can help you select the right coverage and answer all your questions.

Although a standard property insurance policy will cover fire damage, you may need extra protection when you add one of these features to your home.

“Anytime anything is done to your house, we need to know about it,” says James Masters, a Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent in Wheeler, on the eastern edge of the Panhandle. “Even if you’re thinking about adding onto your home, we need to know about it.”

Notifying your Agent of any work done on your home will ensure that the addition is covered and your policy is adjusted to the amount of coverage your home now needs.

Building and Installing

Consider your space, your needs, and the specific safety concerns in your home when you’re planning to install a wood-burning fireplace or stove.

• Get a professional. Don’t skimp on the installation, Masters warns, as there are regulations that must be met before Texas Farm Bureau Insurance will insure the addition. Also, errors made during this process may not be visible until it’s too late.
• Consider space. If you’re adding a wood-burning stove, it must be at least 18 inches from surfaces on all sides if it’s noncombustible (36 inches if it’s not), Masters says. He also suggests adding a noncombustible floor pad underneath the stove.
• Get the right materials. The base for the stove or fireplace must be made of noncombustible material, such as brick, concrete, slate, or ceramic tile. You may want to consider the combustibility of your walls, too.
• Create ventilation. The vent must go through your roof. If this isn’t done correctly, you could face poor air quality, carbon monoxide accumulation, and a denied policy.
• Ask questions. This is your home, and you want the installation done correctly. If there’s something you don’t understand, speak up. Don’t wait.

Maintaining Safety

Once your new feature is in place, it’s important to do some light upkeep to keep it functioning safely.

• Keep the chimney swept to prevent creosote buildup.
• Clean ash from the bottom of the grate. Store it in a noncombustible container with a tight-fitting lid, kept outside and away from the home.
• Schedule an annual inspection to ensure the chimney is structurally sound.
• Get professional cleaning every year to get rid of dangerous chemicals.

Lighting the Fire

This is the fun part! Keep these safety tips in mind whenever you gather around the fire. 

• Burn hardwoods such as oak, ash, and maple, and use wood that was cut and dried six to 12 months prior.
• Use a fireplace grate.
• Keep glass doors open while a fire is burning.
• Close mesh screens while a fire is burning.
• Only burn wood. Never burn garbage, charcoal, or plastic, and never use lighter fluid or gasoline to light an indoor fire.
• Keep flammable items away. Those include books, newspaper, furniture, and indoor plants.
• Never leave a fire unattended. Make sure it is extinguished and cold before going to sleep.
• Extinguish the fire completely before closing the damper.

Did you know wood-burning fireplaces and stoves may actually increase the value of your home? Ask your Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Agent for more information. If you’re getting ready for the holidays, learn how to deck the halls safely.

Coverage and discounts are subject to qualifications and policy terms and may vary by situation.