When many people think of wood stoves they imagine blissful scenes with the family spread out enjoying the warmth of the fire on a cold winter day. Often staring at it instead of the ubiquitous Television which perhaps has taken its place. However an unfortunate number of others imagine that wood burning stoves are dangerous as fire-hot deathtrap waiting for some unwary toddler to stumble into it or for loose heat to escape and light the house on fire as the unsuspecting family sleeps.
Fortunately, this second view is terribly outdated. Wood stoves have come a long way from the potbellied things of two centuries ago. Today stoves come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are fully equipped with heat exchangers, catalysts, insulation, and other advanced options to improve both efficiency and safety.
As it stands, numbers of state agencies around the world set strict safety limits on modern commercial wood stoves. They also regulate the amount of pollution the stoves are allowed to emit. These regulations, as well as the experts available for installing and designing your specific system, reduce the risk of a stove getting out of hand drastically.
There is some danger of course. Free standing stoves will get hot and it is best if you keep an eye on any toddlers or especially absent-minded pets. Also you should always carefully review the operating guide for your stove and be sure to keep up to date on all stove maintenance. With the proper steps your stove will keep burning wood, warming you and your household, and saving you money for years to come.
