When properly cared for and maintained, wood burning stoves can last up to 20 years. Having said that, all good things must end, making it inevitable that you will eventually have to replace your log burning stove. When it comes to replacing your stove, be on the lookout for these warning signs:

Rust

While it’s not uncommon to find a patch of rust on your wood burning stove, if this happens often it may be time to replace it. Moisture and air cause metals to rust. When the metal on your wood burning stove starts to rust, moisture is probably getting inside through a leaky pipe, a leaking door or a broken gasket. 

Cracks

The appearance of cracks in your wood burning stove is another sign that it needs to be replaced. Cracks in the stove indicate that its stability has been compromised, which poses a serious safety hazard. There is a possibility of dangerous fumes escaping from cracks in your wood burning stove and they can also pose a serious home fire hazard.

Warping

A warped stove body is one of the biggest signs that it’s time to replace your wood burning stove. You should have a smooth, flat surface inside your wood burning stove. A warped surface indicates a loss of structural integrity of the steel or cast iron. In addition to being a potential safety hazard, this will also reduce the efficiency of the fire by affecting how much air gets into the stove.

Broken door 

All wood burning stoves come fitted with an airtight seal, which is known as a gasket. This component is essential for minimising the stove’s exposure to air moisture which can affect the performance and maintenance of your wood burning stove. If this seal is cracked a bit or peeling off, it is essential that the gasket is replaced. It can be possible to replace just the gasket without needing to replace a new stove altogether.

Efficiency

Even if you’re burning the same amount of wood as normal, you might notice that less heat is being produced, which indicates that your wood stove is less efficient. Depending on age and general wear and tear, your wood-burning stove may lose some of its efficiency over time. By replacing your old, inefficient wood burning stove with a modern, more efficient one, you’ll lower your costs.

Burning the right fuel and maintaining your wood burning stove correctly will ensure it runs efficiently for a longer period of time than if you neglect cleaning and burn the wrong types of fuel. Having your chimney swept at least once a year is important, as is regularly cleaning your stove.

Furthermore, make sure that you burn clean fuel so that your stove does not accumulate dirt and pollution. Fuel should be natural and contain less than 20% moisture. Dry logs for your log burner from denbighshire can burn cleanly and efficiently in wood burning stoves.