I need some extra heat in a cabin I want to rent in the winter, I would love to install a wood burning stove, thoughts?
My insurance won’t allow it.
Will you be giving lessons on how to light, use it?
How will they be supplied with wood?
Someone I know had a weeks worth burnt in a weekend
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I would not do it! 1. There is no way to fool proof anything to do with fire, guests don’t read instructions and many guests fro urban areas wouldn’t have a clue how to operate a wood burning stove. 2. Your insurance company may raise your rate or drop you. There are many stories about Airbnb guests and fire!
No. No. No. Most guests have no idea how to use one or how to practice fire safety.
You should check out infrared heaters. They are small.units, some look like a nice piece of furniture, the outside doesn’t get hot and they heat up a room quickly.
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No, no, no, and HELL NO!
No wood stove, no fireplace. Even an outdoor firepit is questionable.
I allow guests to use a wood burning stove in my listing, @Lesia_Null .
So far so good, as in nothing has burned down (knocking on some of that wood), and I have been hosting since 2012.
As the others say, often guests don’t read, don’t have a clue. It used to be that people who booked places like ours were the sorts with basic backcountry skills, but, especially now, you cannot count on that. I ask winter guests, when they book, if they have experience with a woodstove. They all say yes. I think some include that time they saw someone light one on a TV show, but still it gets them thinking about it.
I have framed and hung illustrated instructions on the wall just above the stove. If you don’t frame that instruction paper, a couple from Toronto will twist it into a torch and use it to light the fire then won’t know what to do about the damper because the instructions are now burned up. You think I’m kidding.
Check as quickly as possible after they have left to ensure the fire is safely out.
It’s definitely an added worry, but it has kept us booked up during winter. Guests do love it.
Oh yes, they will use far more wood than you, who have cut, split and stacked it, will think necessary. As @Debthecat says, a week’s worth in a weekend, etc. I’m generous with the wood – I don’t want anyone to be cold – but careful to keep the backup stacks out of sight in the barn. What they see they want to burn.
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Our old listing in Silicon Valley would often bring people who were not familiar with things of this sort. Never had an issue with our two wood burning/gas fireplaces (in the 4 years we hosted that home) but did have a very scary incident where some guests did not start the pizza oven in the backyard properly (despite providing directions). They made so much fire and smoke our neighbors became concerned and called the fire department.
That’s the important point. Have you cleared this with your STR insurance company?
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@CatskillsGrrl has a wood burning fireplace in her rental. Perhaps she will chime in.
We installed a pellet stove to supplement central heating as townies always seem to require sauna temps. Look and feel of an open fire but electrically controlled, no open flame small flue and way less dirt than a wood burner.
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Really I was bought up in two European cities in homes that had coal, peat and wood fires so I wouldn’t stay people in urban areas don’t know how to light fires .
Most of the the Airbnbs in the Catskills offer a wood stove, including mine - a wood burning stove insert. It is want the marketplace wants. When I added landlord / host insurance to my property I had to submit the paper work for the company that installed it. However, when I went shopping around a few years later to see if I could get a better rate, I couldn’t find anyone willing to cover it. I didn’t look hard, though.
As for what I offer, I have many cords of firewood here, but I historically I keep a supply of composite logs like “Duraflame” or it’s cheaper equivalent and leave that in the stove upon their arrival so they could just light it and then add real wood. It avoided the hassle for guess who don’t know how lay up or kindle fire. But lately I have just offered a lot paper, fat wood and kindling.
I have been hosting around 10 years. No problem with it at all. I also offer an outdoor fireplace on my other listing - a vintage travel trailer.
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I have a wood burning fire place which guests can use. I don’t supply wood and suggest they buy a compressed fire log at the supermarket. But all the comments about stoves and fire are a concern.
If you are looking to install a wood burning device for heat and ambiance, consider a gas burning stove instead. You can also do a pellet stove but they have their own issues (although put out a lot of heat.)
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