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Show Make Sure Your Wood Stove Burns Safely A wood burning stove can be a charming addition to your living room decor. However, Royal-Globe Insurance Companies and their independent agents remind re-mind you to consider these suggestions before you glow with the anticipated energy savings and added warmth from your new investment. Fire hazard is a leading drawback to providing heat as in the "good old days." Most fires are caused by improper installation of the stove or its use. Some Do's and Don'ts to keep in mind: When installing the stove, allow enough clearance, clear-ance, generally 36 inches, between the stove and combustible com-bustible walls and ceilings. Place a non-combustible base under the stove. A quarter-inch asbestos millboard covered with sheet metal is most commonly com-monly used. The base should extend at least 18 inches beyond the ash removal door and six inches on all other sides. Hire a trained person, perhaps a mason, to inspect the chimney. Ask your local building inspector to check the stove once it is installed. Burn only dry, well-seasoned well-seasoned wood. Never use "green" wood. If your house is tightly insulated, consider opening a window a crack to allow ventilation. Dispose of ashes in a closed metal container and place it outside, away from the house. Seal off the fireplace before connecting a wood stove to its chimney. If you do not have a suitable chimney, a factory-built ' one listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or other recognized testing laboratories, labora-tories, is a good solution. Be sure to follow manufacturer's manufac-turer's recommendations regarding clearance to combustible com-bustible materials. Never use flammable liquids to start a stove fire or burn trash in it, which can start a chimney fire. Never let a wood fire burn unattended or overnight. Your stove should be made of sturdy material, such as cast iron or steel. It is a good idea to purchase a stove listed by UL or other recognized testing laboratories. If you buy a used stove, inspect carefully for cracks or other defects. The hinges, grates and draft louvers should be checked also to see that they work properly. Your best types of wood for stove fires are apple, red oak, sugar maple, beech and ironwood, according to the University of Maine louvers and the solid damper in the stovepipe and throw a liberal amount of coarse salt into the fire chamber. Your chimney and stovepipe should be checked annually and needed repairs made before the heating sea- . son. You may want to hire a professional to clean the chimney to prevent a possible pos-sible fire hazard. Royal-Globe and its independent inde-pendent agents want you to be both safe and warm this winter season. Extension Service. If the wood is split before storing, it dries in less time and burns more evenly. When building a fire, use a shallow bed of ashes and a small amount of crumpled paper covered with a few small sticks of wood fuel:' When the draft is started up the chimney flue, larger pieces of wood may be added. Never throw gasoline, kerosene or other flammable flamma-ble fluid on the wood to get a quick fire. If in spite of all your precautions, you have a chimney fire, call the fire department first and then take steps to fight the blaze while waiting for help. Close the stove's draft "No man who knows aught, can be so stupid to deny that all men naturally were born free." : : John Milton |