Safety in Using a Wood Heater

This is what should be done to safely use a woodchord that will fit all around the door in the groove.
heating system. Before you ever start a fire in yourScrape out any of the old chord still inside the heater
wood heater check the stove pipe and chimney. Lookdoor groove and when clean wipe it with a rag. Apply
to see they are properly connected and that theythe liquid adhesive a few drops at a time to the inside
have no holes showing. Fumes like carbon monoxide,of the groove. The warmth of the door will cause it to
as well as smoke, could escape into your housebecome sticky in a few minutes. When the adhesive
through a hole in the stove pipe, as could flames f youbecomes gel-like, press the chord into the groove with
ever have a small chimney fire. That could start aa screwdriver. Hold the chord in place for a few
house fire.Open a window some to allow oxygen frommoments while it sets, attaching a few inches of the
outside to enter the room where your heater ischord to the groove at a time. When it is all in place,
burning. The fire burns up the oxygen present in theclose the heater door. Tighten the door latch as much
room when the heater is operating.It is a good idea toas possible and let it set for about fifteen minutes.The
have your heater sitting on a sheet metal base, thatchimney must be checked for an excess of soot
stretches out in front of the heater's door. This metaldeposited on its inside. It is a good idea to open the
sheet spreads out any excessive heat on the floorhole for the soot to fall down the chimney and stove
and should the fire spit out burning embers when thepipe into the heaters burning chamber. This is done by
door is opened for putting wood in, the floor will beturning two fire bricks on their side at the top of the
protected from burns. This can often happen if theheaters burning chamber.Wear old clothes. Take hand
wood being burnt is not completely dry. Some types ofwiping rag, chimney cleaning brush, and the tools
wood like spruce will tend to pop and spit embersneeded to remove the stove pipe cap at the top of
frequently while burning.Check the fire proof chord sealyour chimney. Carefully climb onto the roof. Take off
around the door of the heater, making sure that therethe chimney cap and brush the soot off the inside of
are no holes or gaps present. You want the fire boxthe cap. Look inside the chimney. You will likely see a
of your heater air tight when you close the draft leverlayer of black soot covering the top of the chimney.
shutting off the air flow. The draft lever allows you toBlow it away. Take the chimney brush and carefully
control how hot the fire burns. Closing the draft leverpush it down and pull it up the chimney. Do this
slows down the fire by stopping its oxygen supply.Yourepeatedly until you see no more black near the top of
should keep a door seal repair kit on hand. It contains athe chimney. When it's clean reattach the cap onto the
tube of liquid adhesive and a length of fire proofchimney, clean your hands and tools with the rag and
rope-like chord. If you can see the light of the firebe careful climbing down off the roof. Take your time.
through the edge of the door where the door seal isIt is not worth getting hurt by falling.Wood heat is a
located, repair is needed.It is best to do the repaircomfortable way of heating your home but it does
when the door of the heater is still quite warm.take some safety knowledge and precautions to do
Measure and cut the correct length of door sealingso safely.