Safety Precautions for Wood Stoves in Tiny Spaces

My family and I live in a tiny space and I love to see what other folks have done with their spaces. I’ve seen hundreds of tiny houses on wheels, skoolie conversions, off-grid cabins, yurts, modern and vintage RVs and vans set up for a full-time living. I’ve seen some amazing builds incorporating wood stoves.

I did a lot of research about safety precautions before buying one.

Choosing the Right Size Stove

Our original wood burning stove was big for our tiny house. Which I realized means you will either have to choke it way down or open all the windows. Otherwise, it will overheat your home.

Opening the windows in winter wastes fuel and defeats the purpose of heating. Choking a wood stove down too far can cause it to burn inefficiently. This wasted fuel pollutes the air and causes a dangerous amount of creosote.

It’s best to choose a tiny stove that can adequately heat your space. That way you can burn a hot and clean fire without making your living space uncomfortably warm.

Designing Good Fuel System

When I first bought my woodstove, it didn’t come with a fuel pipe or any instructions and I made the mistake of using a pellet pipe instead of solid fuel rated stovepipe. It gave off an awful chemical smell every time we used the stove. I had to change out the pipe for the right one. CMWS, a wood stove manufacturer in Canada, sells mini wood burning stove with the proper installation plan.

Observing Proper Clearance

The other mistake I see frequently is clearance violation. On my most recent trip to a tiny house festival, I toured a beautifully constructed tiny house on wheels with a small stove installed in the kitchen.

Not all stoves come with installation instructions, so clearance violation is no surprise. There was no space under the stove, and the back of the stove was against a wall with no shielding. I suspect the stove was not actually used. But if it was, then it was only a matter of time before it caused a fire.

Walls that are not protected will deteriorate over time as they are exposed to excessive heat. At some point, a fire can start without warning. Clearance needs to be observed to avoid a fire.

Providing a Fresh Air Supply

Having insufficient ventilation with a wood stove is somewhat less dangerous than with a catalytic heater. A wood stove exhaust can deplete the oxygen in the room without filling the room with smoke. Difficulty in lighting or maintaining a fire is usually the first sign of poor ventilation. If smoke is spilling out of the stove, you are likely to smell and see it.

If your small space is relatively tight, you might need to add the fresh air supply to your stove. Some stoves have optional direct air kits which allow you to duct outside air to the stove’s air intake. With a direct air kit, you can ensure that the stove will have enough air to burn efficiently.

Safety Gear

Stoves get hot while in operation. To keep from burning yourself, you should us oven mitts, a set of stove tools, or a pair of welding gloves to use while stoking the stove. You should always have at least one functioning smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector and a fire extinguisher in your space.

Also, if you have very young children in your home, it’s a good idea to think about how you might keep them away from the stove.

CONCLUSION

If you decide to go with a mini wood stove to heat your home you need to consider the safety precautions for wood stoves. With the right stove for your space, fireproof hearth with proper clearance and a solid fuel-rated stove pipe, you can have peace of mind and years of safe, efficient heat for your family. I shared all the necessary safety guidelines for the proper functioning of your mini wood stoves, for anyone who is planning to buy the new one for your cozy space, Cubic Mini Wood Stoves are the best options. These wood stoves come with easy installation guidelines along with safety measures.