Do This To Your Wood Stove Before Winter

Many of us homesteaders have wood-burning stoves. Some of us use it as a supplement to a furnace or other type of central heating system. Others are dependent on their wood stove as their sole source of heat.

What’s critical regardless of your dependence on wood heat is to make sure it’s ready for winter. That’s the time when we need it most and it’s a bad time to find out something’s not right.

Creosote 101

Creosote is a harsh, black buildup of burnt organic compounds that occurs when any wood is burned. Softwoods like pine and other conifers are the biggest offenders. Hardwoods like oak and maple are less so.

What happens with creosote is that it coats the interior of a stove, particularly the stove pipes and chimneys of a wood stove. Over time the buildup thickens and with enough heat will actually ignite. This is commonly referred to as a chimney fire.

The danger of a chimney fire is that it will send hot ashes and coals into the air that can land on the roof or the surrounding area. And they’re not traditional ashes. They tend to burn long and hot and can set a roof on fire or start a wildfire.

Become a Chimney Sweep

A chimney sweep involves cleaning the stove pipe or chimney with a chimney sweeping brush. It’s usually a round, bristled brush with a long handle that can be extended up to 30 feet. The idea is to brush up and down in the chimney or stovepipe and clear out the creosote. You then vacuum or sweep out the creosote that drops to the bottom.

This should be done once a year, especially before winter kicks in.

Related: 7 DIY Stoves You Can Build In A Crisis

Vacuum Your Wood Stove

We’re all good at shoveling out ashes with our ash shovels but get the vacuum out and get them all out. You obviously want to do this with a cold stove, but wood ash gets everywhere in a wood stove and now’s the time to just get that thing clean.

And don’t get complacent. Vacuum around door hinges, lids, grates, or anything else that can accumulate ash. It will all come back, and you’ll have to do it again but get off to a good start heading into winter.

Check Gaskets

There are usually fire-proof gaskets on doors for wood stoves. They’re easily replaced. But if you’re trying to replace one when the temperatures are below zero -that’s a bad idea.

If in doubt, order a new one for any door or opening that has a fireproof gasket. They’re cheap and easy to replace and can be found online or at most home centers and hardware stores.

Air Flow

The critical factor with any wood stove is clear and efficient airflow. The air that comes into the stove to fuel the fire and the air that is exhausted as smoke. We’ve covered the challenges of creosote, but there are other things to think about.

Have leaves or debris collected around or in the chimney or stove pipe?
Has a bird or other animal decided your chimney or stove pipe is a convenient place for a summer nest?
Are the air vents at the base of your stove clogged with soot, dust, or ash?
Is your chimney deteriorating and requiring tuckpointing or is your stove pipe rusted?

There’s a lot that can restrict airflow in a wood stove and if you see or feel there is any problem with proper and regular combustion it’s worth thinking about how efficient your airflow is for your wood stove.

Get Rid of the Rust

Most wood stoves are made of cast iron. Most are painted black. They always look good when you buy them. But heat compromises paint and the natural moisture in wood or your home will eventually lead to rust.

Rust on the interior of some wood stoves is inevitable and at most requires only this once-a-year tune-up. Some high-temperature black paint can clean it up but inside a wood stove, the rust will sometimes come back. Don’t sweat it. Rust happens.

Related: What The Pioneers Did To Survive Harsh Winters

It’s the exterior rust that matters. Many wood stoves are a centerpiece of some of the main rooms in a home. Take the time to sand and repaint any rusty parts of your wood stove with a high-temperature tolerant spray paint. They are easy to find at home centers or online and may be in the automotive section if you can’t find them in the regular paint section.

The primary goal is to have a wood stove that creates the heat we need, but it’s nice to have a wood stove that’s elegant and comforting rather than rusted and distracting.

Think About the Woods You Burn

This isn’t an easy option for some of us, but if you can -try to burn hardwoods.

Here are the commonly recommended hardwoods that create the highest heat and the least creosote. They include oak, maple, ash, and birch.

A big caveat is that birch is a notorious creosote builder so if you can avoid using it -don’t.

Clean the Glass

Many wood stoves have a fire-proof glass door. It’s a great idea. It’s comforting to watch the fire burn in the stove. As you might expect it will inevitably become clouded with ash and you’re picture-perfect fire will be obscured. The stove will still work fine but say goodbye to the flickering flame.

This is where you have to be really careful. You don’t even want to think about cleaning the glass when it’s hot. The easiest way is to use some vinegar on a rag or cloth and just wipe the stuff off. Keep doing it until the glass looks clean.

Burn A Hot Fire

A hot fire is the best chemistry and physics for a wood-burning stove. It consumes the woods, evacuates the creosote, and keeps your home warm. Whenever you can, burn hot and hard. Use the hottest hardwoods like maple and oak and make sure you have clear airflow.

You may also like: