Check the condition of the stove bodywork

Give the whole body of the stove a proper look over once a year, ideally when it's cold and cleaned down so you can actually see the metal. On cast iron stoves, run your eye along the joints and panels for cracks. Cast iron can crack from thermal shock, usually caused by overfiring or by throwing cold fuel or water onto a roaring fire. On steel stoves, look for warping, particularly around the top plate and door frame.

Pay attention to any joints sealed with fire cement, as these are the first places to open up. A hairline crack in a cast panel isn't always terminal, but it will grow, and once it starts drawing air or leaking smoke it needs addressing.

The most common cause of body damage is running the stove too hot. Stoves are designed to operate within a temperature range, and consistently exceeding it fatigues the metal. A stove thermometer on the flue or top plate pays for itself by telling you when to ease off. If you find a genuine crack in the body, stop using the stove and get it assessed before it becomes a safety issue.