Before the season
Look over the outside of the stove, check the damper and doors, and have a specialist check and sweep the chimney. Clear away anything that has piled up near the stove over the summer, and test your carbon monoxide detector.
Care
Care and use
A stove has its own yearly rhythm. In the fall it wakes up after a long rest, in winter it works at full strength, during a thaw it can act up, and in spring it settles down for its break. Each season asks for a little attention of its own. Below is what to keep in mind at different times of the year, along with the safety essentials that don't depend on the season.
The easiest time to check a stove is when you don't need it. A summer visit from a specialist spares you the temptation to light a questionable stove on the first cold day.
How this section works: we describe a stove owner's seasonal tasks in general terms — without firing schedules or standards. How often your stove and chimney should be checked and swept is up to a specialist, and the rules for using a stove safely are set by fire-safety regulations, which differ from country to country.
Seasonal care
What to take care of at different times of the year.
In freezing weather
In a hard freeze the stove is lit more often, and it's especially tempting to add some wood and head out on errands. Never leave a burning stove unattended, and don't close the damper too early, however much you want to hold on to the heat.
During a thaw
When the weather changes sharply, the draft sometimes weakens and the stove starts to smoke. If smoke comes into the room, don't close the damper; air out the room and stop adding wood. If it keeps happening, have a stove-maker look at the stove.
After a long break
If the stove hasn't been used for a long time — say, the house stood empty — don't light it right away. Debris and soot may have built up in the chimney, and cracks may have formed in the masonry. First comes an inspection and a chimney check by a specialist.
In spring
When the heating season is over, clear out the ash, wipe down the stove and write down whatever worried you over the winter: smoke, cracks, a weak draft. The list will come in handy when you meet with your stove-maker.
In summer
The best time for a specialist to inspect, repair and sweep: you don't need the stove, so the work can be done without hurry. Summer is also a good time to refresh the whitewash and tidy up around the firebox.
Safety: the essentials
- Carbon monoxide has no color or smell — there is no way to sense it
- Close the damper only after the wood has fully burned out and no blue flames remain
- A specialist checks and sweeps the chimney and stove regularly
- Never leave a burning stove unattended
- In case of fire or signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, get out into fresh air and call 112 (or your local emergency number)
Related sections
- How-to
How to light a stove calmly, when to close the damper and how to care for the outside of a stove.
- Tools
Fire iron, ash shovel, hearth plate, ash bucket, carbon monoxide detector and fire extinguisher, with no brands.
- FAQ
Answers about the journal, the history and workings of stoves, and safety in a home with a stove.
Sources
- Russia's Emergencies Ministry: fire-safety rules for using stoves
Information about stoves is given in general terms, based on encyclopedic and ethnographic dictionaries, materials from museums of wooden architecture and the fire-safety rules of Russia's Emergencies Ministry; fire-safety rules differ by country, so check the ones that apply where you live. Only a specialist who has inspected your stove and chimney in person can tell you what condition they are in and whether they are safe to use.