Why it’s a good idea to light your wood-burning stove in summer

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There are two main reasons to light your wood-burning stove during the summer months. The first is that, given the British weather, it is very likely that you will need the warmth the stove generates nearly as much as you do in the winter.

(Half)-joking aside, the other reason to light your stove even if it isn’t really needed during the warmer weather is to avoid your appliance succumbing to rust and corrosion. That increased risk of corrosion is caused by our friend the British weather and, in particular, summer showers.

All through the year, rainwater gets into your stove system via your flue opening. The amount of water that gets in depends on the amount of rainfall, how exposed your chimney is and whether you have a chimney cowl fitted.

But regardless of those factors, in winter – when your woodburner is in regular use – the heat generated by the stove evaporates any rainwater that finds its way into the flue and the stove itself.

That’s not the case in summer when although, in theory, significantly less rain is falling, there is nothing to evaporate it.

Allowed to sit until your woodburner is in regular use once again, this moisture can start to cause corrosion and rust to your appliance.

How to stop rust in your woodburner

The way to avoid this rust and corrosion is to occasionally light your woodburner throughout the summer.

Even having a small fire for a short period of time will allow any moisture gathered in the stove system to evaporate, which will reduce the risk of the stove rusting.

It is worth doing at regular intervals during the warmer weather and it is probably worth making extra effort to light your stove if you know there’s been a decent amount of rainfall over the past few days.

Here are some tips if it’s too late and you’ve already spotted some rust.

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