How to Move a Wood Stove

When you move any piece of furniture or large appliance from its original place, it is a task that requires attention and planning. Be it from one room to the other or from one house to the other, you will require a good amount of time, appropriate equipment, and some extra hands on deck. So when you plan to move your wood stove, remember that the most important thing is safety, not only for you but also for the woodstove itself. Make your plans keeping that in mind.

Why are wood stoves so risky to move?

It is no wonder that moving wood stoves or stoves of any kind, for that matter, is a huge undertaking. It would be best to be thoroughly prepared and equipped to carry out this process (ideally with more than two people). One of the biggest risks is an injury to yourself and to others. So before you get enthusiastic about moving your wood stove, get a proper understanding of why it is considered risky.

• Weight: You will know how much your wood stove weighs, based on the company that manufactured it and which model it is. The weight of a wood stove can vary and starts at about 300 pounds but can go all the way up to 800 pounds as well. This is a pretty large amount of weight to handle by yourself, and you will require the help of at least three other people who can lift and halt the woodstove with you in a balanced fashion.
• Dimensions: Wood stoves are legendary for being too bulky to handle and their overwhelming weight. This can create balancing issues if you have people helping you carry the stove together. Losing balance with this object up in the air is a big hazard and can cause serious injuries. Some woodstoves are as tall as 40 inches and as wide as 30 to 33 inches.

Things you’ll need for the move

Now that you’re aware of what moving a wood stove entails, it’s time to prepare for this task. Plan to keep a couple of days aside for prepping and the task itself. Then you should make a list of everything you will need to complete this task efficiently and safely. Here’s a list of things you will most certainly need for the move.

1. Helping Hands: It is not advisable to move a wood stove by yourself, even if you have an appliance or furniture dolly at your disposal and you’ve seen a whole bunch of YouTube video tutorials. Consider asking friends who are strong enough to help you lift (at least 3) or hiring professional movers to help you with the process. The latter is the better option, given that they have ample experience in this area and will also bring the necessary equipment, tools, and materials. But if you don’t have the budget for professional help, ask neighbors, friends, colleagues, and relatives for help.
2. Moving Dolly: Manually carrying a wood stove is a difficult task and a dangerous one. You may have to move the wood stove for a considerable distance, even if it is within your home. So instead of straining your backs, limbs, and muscles, it would be better to hire a moving dolly. Appliance and furniture dollies are available for rent at hardware stores and with professional movers. If you hire professional help, they will bring the dolly along. Loading the wood stove onto a dolly and then transporting it will save you time, sweat, and risk.
3. Blankets: If you are going to load the wood stove onto a moving truck, not only will you need to protect the floors from getting scratched along the way, but also protect the woodstove itself from getting damaged, especially while it is being transported from one location to another. Bumpy roads can shake up transporting vehicles such that the cargo that hasn’t been properly secured or cushioned may break or get damaged. So wrapping your wood stove in furniture blankets and then securing them in place with moving straps will ensure that they also remain protected.
4. Moving straps: These are very useful in securing large appliances and pieces of furniture in place, whether they are on the dolly or in the transport vehicle. The straps ensure that the wood stove will stay in place and not slide from one end to the other, should the truck make unpredictable turns. These are tough enough to withstand the weight of the woodstove and are easily available at any hardware store.
5. Plywood sheets: Plywood sheets can come in handy if you’re worried about damaging your wooden floor while moving the woodstove. By placing them before the wood stove in the pathway you have created, you could actually place the wood stove on the plywood sheets and use them to slide it across.
6. Gloves: Don’t forget to have a durable pair of gloves on you, and for your friends who are helping you. These gloves will save your hands from cuts and scratches and save your hands from losing your grip on the woodstove in case you break into a sweat. Gloves are advisable for any such moving task.

Prepping the Wood Stove

Once you have collected all the necessary equipment, worn protective gear, and enlisted the help of able-bodied friends or laborers, it’s time to lift and haul. Remember that this process is still quite dangerous, and if you are not in agreement with one other, any number of accidents can occur.

1. Clear the Pathway: The route you take to move your wood stove should be cleared of any furniture, wires, or obstacles. See that there are no water spillages or other materials that could cause you to lose balance, slip, and fall. Mats and rugs that are slippery should also be removed. Also, ensure that the floor is protected because moving a wood stove manually might create scratches and damage the floor. Furniture sliders, an appliance dolly, and anti-skid floor protectors are ideal.
2. Remove any pipes: When securing the wood stove, remove any stovepipes attached to it. Set them aside for the moment until you have moved the stove. Ensure that they are not still hot from being recently used. Ideally, you should leave your wood stove unused for at least 12 hours before your move to ensure that there are no accidental burns while handling it.
3. Detachable elements to lighten weight: You want to make the load as light as possible, so if there are any more detachable elements to the wood stove, it is best to remove them before you lift the woodstove. Every extra pound you remove makes a difference. You could easily unscrew parts and reattach them with a screwdriver once you’ve reached the new location. This is especially helpful if you move the wood stove to another location versus within your home.

See Also: How To Prepare For A Long Distance Move

Moving the stove within the same room

Use your plywood sheets to your advantage here. Create an undisturbed pathway with the plywood sheets laid down on the floor. By arranging them one after the other, you are essentially creating a pathway to the other side of the room, and you will be able to slide the woodstove across on these sheets. By tilting the wood stove slightly backward (with helpers on either side), you can slip plywood sheets under it, and then as you slowly release the wood stove into its original standing position, it will be on the plywood sheet, ready to slide across. Remember that ‘sliding’ won’t be as quick as you would normally associate the action with. Take your time. 

See Also: Should You Move for a Shorter Work Commute?

Moving from one room to the other

Moving to another room is more challenging, and unless the rooms are directly opposite one another, with the doorways placed in a way that creates an uninterrupted pathway, you won’t be able to use the plywood sheets as effectively. In this case, it’s time to get the furniture dolly. First, wrap the woodstove with blankets and ensure they are securely strapped in place. Then you tilt the wood stove slightly back to place the furniture dolly as close as possible to the bottom. With the help of manpower, push the wood stove forward with a slight lift so that it releases and gets placed onto the furniture dolly. Once it’s on the dolly, you’ll have to secure it with moving straps. Then you are ready to move the wood stove to the next room.

Moving from one house to the other

Moving from one house to the other is probably the toughest of all these scenarios because it will likely involve some heavy lifting. While the initially moving part is the same as in the case of moving from one room to the other, what makes this more challenging is when it needs to be loaded onto a moving truck. Chances are there will be a loading ramp, which you can navigate with the furniture dolly or plywood sheets.

Conclusion

Some things are essential hurdles we all must overcome. Moving our homes, personal belongings, and items are some of these essential challenges. While it can be tiresome to carry out if you spread yourself over some time, have a schedule in place, and don’t leave your important tasks till the last minute, your wood stove relocation can be efficient, smooth, and peaceful, with only minor hiccups, if at all.

FAQs

How hard is it to move a stove?

Do not try to move the woodstove by yourself. Stoves are, in general, extremely heavy and dangerous to maneuver by yourself. Moving one can cause injuries and damage your floors with scratches. So it’s incredibly important to gear up yourself and any helping hands you’ve got with you and protect your floors from damage. You need floor-protecting sliders or anti-skid mats, moving planks, and an appliance dolly.

Where should I put my wood-burning stove?

While you are planning how to move your wood stove, you should also be ready beforehand with the exact location where it should eventually end up. Lifting and moving heavy stoves is not the best idea, and you would end up risking injuries and higher lifting and moving costs. So look at your new space and decide which area is suitable to set up your wood stove in. Ideally, you want to place it in the center of your house so that heat radiates all over the house.

How do you lift a wood stove into a truck?

Before you lift the wood stove onto a truck, you must ensure that it is secure and will not get damaged while the truck is on the move. So wrap it well with furniture blankets, and cord it with packing ropes or straps. With a furniture or appliance dolly and all the extra help you can get, you can slowly and gradually load the stove into the truck via a ramp.

Can you move a stove on its back?

Typically, when you are moving a wood stove, you need to remember that the positioning or angle at which it is moved is crucial. So if you want to avoid damaging the appliance, you can tilt it onto either side (left or right, not rear) before moving. Moving it on its back is not advisable.

See Also: How to Avoid Wall Damage During a Move

How much does a wood cookstove weigh?

The weight of a wood stove can vary, based on which company manufactures it and what model it is. Different usage requirements are catered to by different models available in different sizes and, therefore, weight brackets. But typically, the overall mass of a wood stove usually starts at around 300 pounds. The weight of the wood stove can go all the way up to about 800 pounds, depending on the make.

Written by
Alex Sherr

Alex Sherr is the founder of My Long Distance Movers, a blog that provides moving information and resources for people who are relocating. He has more than two decades of experience in the moving and relocation industry, and he is passionate about helping people relocate smoothly and efficiently. When he's not writing or blogging, Alex enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children.