No, you can’t completely fireproof a house. There is always a chance that a fire can break out inside or outside your home. Even if most of the home is built with fireproof materials, a long-burning fire can still cause damage. Still, fireproofing efforts can buy you additional time to evacuate and give you a better chance of salvaging your home after a fire rather than needing to rebuild entirely.

Pellet stoves burn compressed wood byproducts, making them very efficient and clean-burning. However, even efficient combustion still produces fine dust particles, which could have an effect on the health of vulnerable people in your household, such as infants and people with asthma. A wood stove pro can help determine whether the levels in your home are unsafe.

According to the National Fire Protection Association’s Code NFPA 25 (titled “Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems”), private fire hydrants must undergo inspection once per year, with an accompanying flow test and any necessary maintenance performed on the same schedule. Keep in mind that your town, city, or county may adopt more or less strict testing requirements. 

Yes. It’s okay to leave a pellet stove on overnight, and these stoves can provide 24 to 48 hours of warmth from one ignition. However, you should practice proper pellet stove maintenance, like cleaning the burn pot before each use, deep cleaning the unit at least once per year, and running the fan when the stove is lit.