Even with a fence installed, a crawling child or toddler should never be left alone without supervision in a room with a wood burning stove. Toddlers, specifically, like to toss items over the fence. Heavier items such as blocks can easily crack or break the glass front of certain models of stoves. Plastic items, should they be on top of the stove, can easily melt and release harmful fumes into the air.
From an early age, children should be informed of the risks of a wood burning stove. It ought to be explained that fire is hot and ought to not be played with in any form. The same explanations given to children about the kitchen stove and safety should apply to a wood burning stove Tucson AZ HVAC .
Kids are fascinated with fire. As you are loading a wood burning stove with either logs or pellets, this becomes a perfect time to discuss with them the risks. You dont want a child to be frightened of the wood burning stove, but, at the same time, you do want to instill a healthy respect for the appliance.
Older children can help with wood burning stove chores, such as bringing in fire wood or pellets. They can also help sweep up the area or engage younger children while the parents are occupied with the stove. Other chores, such as loading the stove or emptying the ash pan, is best left to older teenagers or adults.
An additional concern with wood burning stoves, not just for children, is the toxins put into the indoor air by the stove. If a child has an allergic reaction to smoke or has asthma, a wood burning stove might make an attack more likely. Care needs to be taken that a child is out of the room when the stove is opened for filling or for cleaning the ash pan.