Get the fire going and extinguish chilly nights at home
Known for their classic charm, wood-burning stoves offer a cost-effective way to heat your home. One downside, however, is that they’re pretty tricky to install without professional help. But if you’re an experienced DIYer who’s up for a challenge, here’s how to install a wood-burning stove so that you can start enjoying cozy nights by the fire.
Before you purchase a wood-burning stove, research the relevant laws and regulations in your area. In many cases, installing a wood stove requires a permit, so most people shouldn’t attempt this DIY. You should also contact your homeowners insurance company because it may have rules around adding a wood-burning stove.
When you’re ready to install your stove, you may need several people to help. Wood stoves can weigh as much as 800 pounds, so make sure to follow basic safety protocols for moving heavy furniture.
The exact process for installing a wood-burning stove depends on a few factors, including the type of stove, the layout of your home, and your ventilation system. However, the following steps provide a good starting point for many installations.
It’s best to install your wood-burning stove on the ground floor of your home near an outside wall or existing chimney so that it’s easy to vent the smoke and gases outside. Like space heaters, wood stoves are best for heating individual rooms, so the U.S. Department of Energy recommends putting your stove in the room where you spend the most time.
It’s also important to install your stove away from combustible surfaces, including floors and walls. Check the stove’s user manual and your municipality’s regulations regarding minimum clearances from these surfaces.
Next, you’ll need to add a non-combustible hearth pad, which sits under the stove. The hearth pad reduces the risk of your floor catching on fire if embers or sparks fly out of the stove while also protecting your subfloor from heat.
You can buy a pre-assembled hearth pad or build one yourself from tile, stone, or another non-combustible material. Your stove’s installation instructions and local building codes should provide guidance on where to place the pad so that it complies with clearance requirements.
As we’ve mentioned, many municipalities have rules about how close a wood stove can be to a combustible wall. However, some places will let you install wall protection to reduce these clearance requirements.
Wall protection is available in several materials, including sheet metal or brick. When putting up the protection, it’s important to leave a 1-inch space between the protective material and the wall. Otherwise, the heat may penetrate the wall, creating a fire risk.
There are several ways to vent a wood-burning stove, including through a ceiling, wall, or existing fireplace chimney. For this guide, we’ll focus on ceiling ventilations, but your user manual should have instructions for venting a stove through a wall or chimney.
First, lay down a drop cloth to catch any debris that might fall when you start cutting into your ceiling and roof. Then, put on your safety glasses, dust mask, and gloves. On the ceiling, use a laser level or plumb bob to mark the center point of the spot where the stove pipe will pass through. With a reciprocating saw, cut an opening in the ceiling for the stove pipe. The size of the opening will depend on the stove pipe, so check your installation manual for more information.
Remove any insulation so that there’s a clear pathway between the ceiling and roof sheathing. Then, use your drill to run a screw through the roof sheathing at the center point of the opening. On the roof, lay down the roof flashing so that it’s centered over the screw. Reach into the flashing and use chalk to trace the outline of where you’ll cut the roof. Finally, use your saw to cut through the shingles and roof sheathing.
Does all this roof work sound overwhelming? If so, put down the saw and call a fireplace pro to help.
Set up the ceiling support box according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This involves sliding the box upward through the opening in your ceiling, then securing it to the ceiling joists with brackets and hardware (these are included in the ceiling support box kit).
From the roof, cut the roofing nails around the top half of the hole in the roof. Slide the flashing under these shingles, making sure it fits snugly. Pull out the flashing, apply silicone to the underside, and slide it underneath the top shingles again. The bottom half of the flashing should sit above the shingles. Attach the flashing to the roof with screws, then add more silicone on top of the screws.
While you're still on the roof, start assembling the chimney. Begin by attaching the pipe adapter to the male end of the chimney pipe, then lower it through the flashing and ceiling support box. Slide the storm collar over the chimney pipe and secure it with a bead of silicone. Finish the roof work by attaching the rain cap to the top of the pipe.
Back inside, connect the stove and chimney by attaching the male end of the stove pipe to the top of the stove. Connect the pipe’s female end to the male side of the adapter. Use a level to make sure the pipe is straight.
Finish setting up the wood-burning stove in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. This might involve adding the fire bricks, installing a damper, and inspecting the various parts of the wood stove.
Perform a final check of the connections, then light a small fire in the stove. Keep a close eye on it as it burns, looking for any signs of smoke entering your home. You should also head outside and make sure smoke comes out of the chimney.
This is a complex project that’s best left to a local wood stove company for several reasons.
For starters, installing a wood-burning stove involves potentially dangerous activities, like climbing onto your roof and moving heavy equipment. It also requires pulling permits, selecting the right pipes, and fireproofing the area around the stove. Also, if installed incorrectly, a wood stove could cause a fire or release smoke into your home—both of which can be life-threatening.
On average, hiring a professional to install a wood-burning stove costs between $1,500 and $4,000, with most people paying around $3,000. However, if you handle the installation yourself, you could save $500 or more, depending on the complexity of your project and labor costs in your area.
Yes, it’s possible to install a wood-burning stove through the wall. The process is similar to venting the stove through the ceiling, but you’ll need to be careful of electrical wiring, plumbing, studs, and other potential obstructions in your walls. If you’re not comfortable with this type of work, call a professional who installs wood-burning stoves.
