Getting Your Wood Burning Stove Ready for Winter

As the nights draw in and temperatures start to drop, there is nothing quite like settling in front of a wood burning stove. But before you light your first fire of the season, it is worth taking the time to make sure everything is in good order. A stove that has sat unused through spring and summer may need attention before it is safe and ready to perform at its best.

Our team carries out stove servicing and safety checks for homeowners across the UK every autumn, and we see the same issues crop up time and again. The good news is that most of them are easy to avoid with a little forward planning.

Book a Stove Service Before the Cold Sets In

We always encourage homeowners to arrange a professional service before the heating season begins rather than waiting until there is a problem. Once demand picks up in October and November, availability gets tight quickly.

A full stove service and chimney sweep covers everything from clearing soot and creosote from the flue to checking door seals, rope gaskets, baffle plates and firebricks. These components wear over time, and a damaged seal or cracked baffle can seriously reduce how efficiently your stove burns.

During a service our installers will also check for any signs of corrosion or damage that may have developed over the warmer months. Moisture can get into an unused flue system, and that can cause problems if it goes unnoticed.

What a Service Typically Includes

• Sweeping the chimney or flue liner to remove soot and debris
• Inspecting the door seal and replacing rope gaskets if worn
• Checking the baffle plate and replacing if cracked or warped
• Inspecting internal firebricks for damage
• Checking the air wash system is working correctly
• Visual inspection of the flue system for signs of damage or blockage

Check Your Carbon Monoxide Detector

A working carbon monoxide detector is not optional. It is an essential part of owning and operating any solid fuel appliance. Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless, and even a small flue leak can allow dangerous levels to build up in a room without any warning signs.

Before the season starts, test your detector and replace the batteries if needed. Most audible CO alarms have a lifespan of around five to seven years, so check the manufacture date on yours. If it is old or showing a fault, replace it straight away.

Our team recommends fitting a detector in every room where a solid fuel appliance is in use, positioned according to the manufacturer's guidance. If you are unsure whether your current setup meets current safety recommendations, our frequently asked questions page covers this in more detail.

Inspect Your Fuel Supply

Using the right fuel makes a significant difference to both performance and safety. For a wood burning stove, seasoned or kiln-dried hardwood with a moisture content below 20 per cent is what you should be burning. Wet wood produces far more smoke, deposits more creosote in your flue, and gives you less heat for your money.

If you run a multi-fuel stove, you have more flexibility, but the same principles apply. Only use approved solid fuels, and if you live in a smoke control area, make sure you are only burning DEFRA-approved fuels or using a DEFRA-exempt appliance. Burning the wrong fuel in a smoke control zone can result in a fixed penalty notice from your local authority.

Fuel Storage Tips

• Store logs off the ground and under cover to keep moisture levels low
• Allow newly cut wood at least one to two seasons to season properly before burning
• Keep a moisture meter to hand so you can check logs before use
• Order kiln-dried wood early, as supplies can run short once demand rises in autumn

Check Your Flue and Chimney

Even if your stove was serviced at the end of last season, it is worth a visual inspection before you light the first fire. Birds can nest in unused chimneys over summer, and debris or blockages in the flue can cause smoke to spill back into the room rather than drawing correctly.

If you have an older chimney without a liner, or if your liner is reaching the end of its working life, now is a good time to address it. A properly fitted chimney liner improves draw, protects the chimney structure and makes your whole system more efficient. Our installers can advise you on the right liner for your flue size and stove output.

Make Sure Your Installation Is Certified

If your stove was installed by our team, your installation will have been completed to HETAS standards, which means it was registered with your local authority and complies with current building regulations. This matters not only for safety but also for your home insurance and any future property sale.

If you have a stove that was fitted without HETAS certification, or if you are considering a new installation before winter, speak to our team. We cover a wide range of areas across the UK and you can check whether we serve your location on our locations page.

A Few Final Checks Before You Light Up

Once servicing is done and your fuel is sorted, there are a few quick checks worth doing before the first fire of the season.

1. Open the air vents and check they move freely and are not seized
2. Check the glass is clean and crack-free
3. Make sure the hearth area is clear of any combustible materials
4. Do a quick test burn with a small amount of dry kindling to check the draw is good before loading the stove fully
5. Keep the area around the stove clear during the first fire in case of any dust or residue burning off

Taking an hour or two to go through these steps now can save you a lot of inconvenience once the cold weather properly arrives. If you would like our team to help get your stove ready for winter, get in touch and we will arrange a visit at a time that suits you.