Are you curious about putting a wood-burning stove in a new house? There are lots of people who love the aesthetic appeal of a wood-burning stove. There is something classic about having a stove that takes wood, but it is also true that a wood-burning stove can be a bit dangerous.
First, a lot of wood-burning stoves are very old, and they might not have been taken care of properly. But, that also means that if you have a new wood-burning stove in your new house, it might be safe.
What do you need to know about a wood-burning stove, and how can you take proper care of it? There are a few points regarding having a wood-burning stove in a new house that you need to keep in mind.
Regulations From the EPA
First, you need to keep in mind that there are rules and regulations you have to follow. All houses, regardless of age or the type of stove you have, have certain restrictions that need to be met if you have a new house, you (or the construction company) still need to prove that it is up to code.
If you have a wood-burning stove, there are certain standards that have to be met, and the standards can vary from state to state. It is helpful to take a look at the EPA website to see if you can find information related to your state.
A few quick points to keep in mind include:
- In Colorado, you might not be able to have a wood-burning stove in your house fired up every day. Depending on the climate outside, you might not be allowed to burn wood, and that would apply to a wood-burning stove.
- In Idaho, there are also burning restrictions that you need to follow related to air pollution, so you will need to check to see if your wood-burning stove falls under this category.
- If you live in the state of Washington, there are some wood-burning stoves that are legal, and some that are not allowed. The standards can change from time to time, so it is important to reach out to regulatory authorities for the most recent information.
- In California, particularly in the Bay Area, new houses are not allowed to have a wood-burning stove if they have been constructed after 2016. If you are interested in having a wood-burning stove in your house, you will need to take a look at your local ordinances to see if you fall into the Bay Area restriction. You may also want to reach out to a local contractor or regulatory agency to learn more.
In a lot of states, wood-burning stoves are fine, but there are regulations that you need to follow. You need to make sure you have a way to adequately filter the smoke away from the house, and you must make sure you are not in violation of any residential codes. Otherwise, you could face significant fines, and you might have to surrender your stove.
Check for Smoke Control Issues
One of the most common issues that you may face with your wood-burning stove is a smoke control issue. This is the biggest reason why there are a lot of extra rules and regulations surrounding wood-burning stoves, and there might be smoke control regulations that you need to follow.
What this means is that there could be some times when you can use a wood-burning stove, and there are other times when you might not be allowed to use it because of air pollution or smoke. You need to keep a close eye on the weather to see if there are any restrictions that you need to follow on that day.
How To Install a Wood-Burning Stove in Your House
Now that some of the basic rules and regulations have been covered, it is time to take a look at considerations. What do you need to do if you want to install a wood-burning stove in your house?
Some of the most important points to keep in mind include:
Does Your House Have a Chimney?
You must make sure you have a way to get the smoke from your stove to the outside world. One of the most common options is a chimney. Even though chimneys can still be found in new homes, they were only universal in old homes. Therefore, if you have recently purchased a new house, it is not guaranteed to come with a chimney.
Even if your house has a chimney, you must make sure the wood-burning stove is close to the chimney. That way, you can get the smoke from your house to the outside world. If your house does not have a chimney, you can reach out to a contractor who can help you build one.
Constructing a chimney can be expensive, so you should always get multiple quotes before you decide who you want to build your chimney. You should not try to build your chimney on your own. You need to reach out to an expert who can help you.
Can You Build a Pre-Fabricated Flue System?
If your new house does not have a chimney, and you do not want to spend a lot of money to build one, another option is a prefabricated flue system. This is a system that will do the same job as a traditional chimney. There are some systems that are internal, and there are others that are external. There are also a lot of stylistic options to consider, so be sure to think carefully about which system is right for your needs.
Keep in mind that you will have to perform some maintenance on this system from time to time. If you do not take care of it, it could start to get clogged, and you might have a difficult time filtering smoke away from your house. As long as you take care of the system, it should be enough to filter smoke away from the stove into the external environment.
Is the Air Vent Large Enough?
The vast majority of new homes are airtight. What this means is that there must be an air vent that is open to the outside. If the air vent is not large enough to accommodate your wood stove, you may have to make it larger. The size of the air vent that is required is dependent on the heat generated by the wood-burning stove.
If the air vent is not large enough, you might not be permitted to have a wood-burning stove in your house. If you want to make the air vent larger, you should reach out to a professional who can help you.
Do I Need To Replace the Wood-Burning Stove in My House?
If you purchase an existing house, you may notice that it already has a wood-burning stove inside. Similar to the regulations above, what you have to do with this stove is dependent on where you live. There are some situations where the seller is required to remove the wood-burning stove when he or she sells the house.
f the seller does not agree to remove the wood-burning stove, you may want to talk to your real estate agent to see if this is allowed. Your real estate agent should know the regulations regarding a local area, and they will let you know if the seller has to remove the wood-burning stove.
Depending on where you live, such as California, you may be required to replace the wood-burning stove with one that has been EPA-certified. Therefore, you need to take a closer look at the wood-burning stove in the house. If it has been certified, you may not need to remove it.
On the other hand, if it has not been EPA-certified, you will be required to remove it. Then, you will have to replace it with a different model that has been appropriately certified.
What Are the Benefits of Having a Wood-Burning Stove?
As you take a look at the wood-burning stove in your house, you might be wondering if you should keep it. Ultimately, this is a stylistic preference. There are some people who prefer to have this type of stove, and there are others that would like something a bit more modern. That being said, there are several reasons why you might want to keep the stove in your house.
Some of the biggest reasons why people enjoy keeping this stove around include:
They Use a Renewable Source of Energy
It is true that wood-burning stoves generate some pollution, but they have become much more efficient during the past few years. They don’t generate nearly as much pollution as they used to, and they use a renewable source of energy.
Obviously, wood is a renewable source of energy. There is more wood growing right outside. Furthermore, wood is much more environmentally friendly when compared to electricity and gas. If you are looking for a way to heat your home, a wood-burning stove could be a solid option.
You Can Save Money on Utility Costs
Having a wood-burning stove is also a great way to save money on your utility expenses. You may have noticed that the price to heat your home has gone up significantly. Regardless of whether you have an electric or gas heater, the price has increased. If you are looking for a way to save money, you might want to go with a wood option instead.
While you will still have to spend money on your wood, you might be able to stand up to traditional utility companies.
Wood Stoves Have Gotten Much More Efficient
During the past few years, wood stoves have also gotten much more efficient. What this means is that a significant proportion of the heat generated by the stove stays in the house. This has to do not only with the quality of the stove but also with the insulation in your house. If you have an older stove, it is not going to be as efficient, but you might be able to replace it with a more efficient option. You may want to reach out to an expert who can help you figure out which stoves are the best options.
Ultimately, there are a lot of benefits if you decide to go with a wood-burning stove. It is a matter of personal preference, and you will need to compare this stove to some of the other options. You need to think about the money involved, the maintenance required, the impact on the environment, and how it will impact your home’s value. Do not forget that you also need to take a look at local rules and regulations to see if you are allowed to have this type of stove.
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