3 Things To Do To Prepare Your Wood Stove For The Winter Heating Season

The first signs of cold weather are seeping in across the country, so it is definitely time to start thinking about preparing your home for the heating season. If you have a wood-burning stove, the approaching winter probably means you are stockpiling wood to carry you through. However, there are a few things you need to check out about your wood-burning stove to ensure it is safe and sound before you actually have to start using it for heating. Here are three things you need to do to ensure your wood stove is absolutely ready for the winter heating season. 

Check your exhaust pipes for signs of corrosion and buildup inside.

The pipes leading from your wood stove to the fireplace are prone to collecting layers of soot after just one burning season. It is a good idea to disassemble these pipes and get a good look at them on the inside before the wood-burning season begins. Use a long-handled scrub brush to brush away any buildup. You should also be on the lookout for corrosion, which can be a major issue if you burn wood that has a high moisture content because it is not well seasoned. If you do spot signs of corrosion, even if the area is small, it is best to go ahead and replace that particular section of pipe. 

Have your chimney cleaned out by a professional. 

It is no big secret that you need to have your chimney cleaned out annually, but a lot of homeowners take the task upon themselves and end up with minimal results. It is best to go ahead and call up a professional to clean out your chimney because they will have the tools on hand to reach far down into the chimney and push out hidden debris. 

Remove any built-up soot from the inside of your wood stove. 

It is easy to disregard the inside of the wood stove when you are getting ready for the next winter season, but this area needs to be tidied up just like every other component. Grab a flashlight and a good steel-bristled scrub brush to scratch away the hardcore soot that has probably accumulated on the walls and inside of the door of your wood stove. Use a broom to sweep this debris out to get rid of it. The less build-up your stove has on the inside, the easier it will ignite because it will have the proper air flow. 

For more information, contact local professionals like Nebraska Heating & Air.