Log burners are pretty heavy, so moving one can be quite a long-winded job. While you might have had someone install it for you, taking it out to move house or relocate it is usually something you can do yourself.
In this article, we’ll look at the best way to move a log burner, including any tips you need to prepare and stay safe during the moving process.
How Easy is It to Move a Log Burner?
Before we jump into the method, it’s worth asking, how easy is it to move a log burner?
This is obviously a subjective question because the job’s ease depends on how heavy your log burner is and how much weight you can lift. However, we can generally classify moving a stove as a mid-level difficulty job.
Much of this comes down to the sheer weight of the log burner. They usually weigh at least 50kg, but 100kg or more is perfectly common depending on the size.
So, unless you’re a powerlifter, this isn’t necessarily something you can lift alone!
Provided you can get some help for the actual lifting stage, moving a log burner isn’t too difficult. They can be a bit of a difficult size and shape, but getting them from one place to another is perfectly possible.
How to Prepare for Moving a Log Burner
You can make moving a log burner much easier by doing some preparation. Ideally, the moving stage should be just that: physically removing the wood burner from its location to wherever it’s going.
Everything else should be done first. On that note, here are some tips for how to prepare for moving a log burner.
Make sure the fire is out
This should go without saying, but make sure there’s no lit fire and that the stove is completely cold. You’ll want to wait at least 12 hours after the last fire, if not 24, before you try moving it.
Disconnect the flue
One of the first things you must do is disconnect the stove from the chimney, which usually means removing the stove pipe. The stove’s instruction manual should explain this, but it’s a fairly evident process.
Clean everything down
Empty the ash pan and make sure the stove is as clean as possible before moving it. Wait until after you’ve disconnected the stove pipe, as this could drop ash back into the stove.
· If possible, remove the door, griddle, ash pan, and any other parts that’ll make the stove lighter.
· Clear your moving path. Make sure you move any furniture and that you keep kids and pets out of the way.
· Lay down sheets of plywood to protect your flooring. It’s much safer to use something solid than dust sheets or similar.
Can a Log Burner Be Moved?
Provided you’ve done all the above, moving the log burner should be pretty simple. Remember, all we want to do at this stage is actually move it.
You shouldn’t be trying to tidy or disconnect at this point.
Make sure you’re aware of the weight of your log burner. If it’s around 50-60kg, it should be possible for 2 people to lift it.
Whether you’re then happy to carry it the entire journey is a different issue, of course.
If it’s not possible to carry it, you’ll want a flat dolly. To get it under, you’ll need to tip the log burner up slightly, slide under the dolly, and then gently drop it back down.
Secure the log burner with some rope tied around the dolly.
Then, tie some rope around the front legs, which you’ll use to drag the stove. Depending on its weight, it can help to have one person behind pushing and one in front pulling.
Using this method, you should be able to get the stove to where it needs to go.
Another reason it’s worth laying down plywood is that it has low friction compared to other materials. You should find this works in your favour and makes the stove much easier to push.
How to Temporarily Remove a Wood Burner
If you need to temporarily remove a wood burner, you don’t need to bother with as much prep. For example, if you need to replace some tiles on the hearth or work on the chimney, the wood burner will only need to be relocated for a few days.
To do this, you’ll basically just need to follow the explanation given above. You’ll still need to disconnect the stove pipe and physically remove the wood burner from the fireplace.
But you won’t need to lay down as much plywood, depending on where you plan to store it, of course.
Even if your wood burner is relatively light, it’ll be worth using a dolly to temporarily remove it. They’re designed to make the job much easier, and it’ll be a big benefit if you’re not taking the stove out permanently.
Can You Relocate a Wood Burning Stove?
Suppose you want to move house and take your stove with you, you might be wondering, can you relocate it? The short answer is yes, absolutely.
Again, there’s not much to say about the disconnecting stage, as that remains the same as the method given above.
However, you’ll want to make sure that the wood burner is properly wrapped in moving blankets to protect it during transit.
Use moving blankets rather than regular sheets because they’re much thicker and heavier, meaning they provide much better protection and cushioning.
It’ll also be worth removing any moving parts or making sure they’re extra secure. After all, you don’t want the stove door swinging open while you’re driving!
Also, think about what vehicle you’ll use to move the stove and how you’ll get the stove into it. A moving van may have a loading ramp or lift, which will make the job much easier.
If it does, you’ll just need to wheel the stove onto the ramp and push it into the back of the van.
However, if it doesn’t, or you’re using a rental van or your own vehicle, you’ll need to find another way to get the stove in. Lifting is the most obvious solution, but you’ll need 2-4 people (or maybe even more) depending on the size and weight of the stove.
Another option is to rent a shop crane or similar piece of equipment. Most standard equipment hire stores should stock them, and it’ll make the job much easier.
Be sure to rent one with a far higher weight limit than your stove’s weight, though. Extending the boom arm reduces the working capacity, so aim for a maximum weight of around 150% or so.
Moving a Log Burner
Moving a log burner requires a bit of planning to do it properly. However, there’s no reason why you (and a few friends) can’t do it yourself to save you from hiring professional movers.
If you do decide to move a log burner yourself, make sure you know how much it weighs and how to lift properly.
Of course, you can get plenty of equipment to make the job easier, so shop around for some if you know you’ve got a heavy log burner to move.
