How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

Wood stoves are a great way to save energy and heat the room. However, they require a certain amount of maintenance.

A majority of modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker either under or on the grate to ensure your stove doesn't create lots of harmful pollutants.

How to start a Wood Fire

The scent and sound of a fire made from wood can be a wonderful addition to any home. But it's important to learn how to properly create a fire on your stove. Incorrect techniques may lead to an unburned fire that doesn't burn efficiently, and produces smoke or creosote. The tips below can help you create an efficient fire that will warm your home quickly and efficiently.

Before you start an fire, make sure you check the condition of your logs and coals. If they're too damp they will choke the flame and stop it from burning properly. You might also want to open the flue to let out any ash that has been deposited into the stove.

Begin by placing a handful of small, dry pieces of newspaper in your stove. This will help to ignite the sparks. Once these begin to burn, add another layer of larger pieces of tinder to the top of the pile. This should be done in a crosshatch fashion so that there will be air between each piece of wood.

If your wood stove comes with an automatic combustion control, it will automatically supply air to the flame as it grows. This will enable the fire to burn at a consistent pace without the need to open the Stove wood burning's door to maintain it.

It's important to avoid using excessive tinder as this can lead to the fire burning at a high rate and doesn't make use of the fuel as efficiently as it can. If you have a solid bed of tinder and kindling in your stove, you can start the main fire by laying two large base logs on the grate. Next, place an additional layer of smaller logs that are perpendicular to them and on top of the base logs. This method of building the fire is called a "top-down" fire will result in an effective and long-lasting fire that will not overtake the larger base logs.

Once your fire is well established shut off the damper and keep it closed. The fire can be smothered by opening the damper before it is fully established. This can also affect the efficiency of the fire.

Add Wood

Stoves are not just beautiful home decor pieces they can also help you save money by providing efficient wood heating. They can be used on their own or in conjunction with a furnace or central heating system to provide the supplemental heat required in large houses or homes with many rooms. A lot of the stoves that burn clean use a superior combustion principle that separates the burning of volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar by providing air in two different stages. The first stage permits the vaporization of the volatile compounds and the second stage provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This enhances the combustion process and reduces the smell.

The amount of heat you get from a stove will depend on the species and moisture content of the wood, and also the size of logs. The logs must be stored in a well-ventilated area for stove wood burning several months prior to when you attempt to burn them, to give the wood time to dry. If the logs are not dry enough, they will produce a lot of steam that is in essence wasted energy.

It is best to add wood to the pile at intervals, not all at once. The addition of too much wood all at once could cause the temperature to rise in the firebox, creating a vortex which draws smoke and volatile compounds that are not burned back into the flames. This can reduce the efficiency of your stove.

Avoid using other combustibles in your stove, like cardboard or paper, because they are not wood. They have different physical properties and cannot be burned without causing dangerously high temperatures. You should not burn combustibles that are compressed, such as wood briquettes because they differ in physical and chemical composition from firewood. They are also not type-approved to be used in wood-burning stoves.

It is essential that a professional install and test your wood stove. A certified WETT technician can test your stove to ensure that it is safe and efficient. They will also check that your chimney is functioning properly. They provide maintenance services for your chimney and stove to ensure they remain in top condition. They will look for leaks in the areas connected to your chimney and fix any issues they spot. They will also make sure that all residents of the house understand and adhere to the fire evacuation procedures in case of an accident.

Adjusting the Damper

A damper regulates the amount of heat that is lost through the chimney when you aren't using your stove. Additionally, it can also help control the fire. If the flue opens but the damper is closed the fire won't ignite properly and smoke will erupt into your home. To ensure that you get the best fire with your damper set correctly, you should test different positions and observe how each affects the flames.

Typically, you'll want to keep the damper open enough to let air flow in and out of the flue when a fire is burning. This lets the fire get going and also helps keep it burning so that you can enjoy it for long periods of time. The right opening will also stop the fire from becoming starved of air and will keep it from blowing out smoke.

In order to properly adjust your damper you need to first ensure that the fireplace is preheated and the wood stove is warm. This will ensure that the chimney stays warm and has a good draft. Once these are done the damper on the wood stove can be adjusted.

After the fire has smolder slightly, you need to close the damper to about three-quarters of its full position. This will stop warm air in the room from escaping into the chimney, while still permitting smoke to escape.

This is the best method to prevent the fire from becoming too hot while still keeping it lit. The draft may be stopped if you close the damper too far, but a cold wind could be able to enter your home in the event that the damper is not closed.

You can check to see how much the damper is open by placing your hands near the top of the of the flue pipe. If you feel a slight draft pushing against your hand, it is probably in the open position.

The damper settings can differ between stoves and even among different types of wood. Experimenting with the various settings will give you an idea of what you should look for, but you might need to tweak it until you have found the ideal setting for your stove.

Clean Up

After a fire, it is important to clean the stove and flue. This will reduce the risk of an explosion in the chimney which is the main cause of fires that are caused by wood stoves. Creosote, a sticky material which can build up inside the stovepipe, is very dangerous. Moisture and unburned particles of wood that cannot escape the fire are the cause for this chemical. This can also occur by fires that are not properly lit.

A regular cleaning routine helps to prevent the buildup of creosote. The best way to do this is by sweeping the chimney at least once a year. It is recommended to have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected at least once per year.

It is also an excellent idea to clean out the ash tray and grate regularly. It is a good idea to only use seasoned wood for burning, as it will create less creosote and less ash. It is also recommended to avoid burning cardboard, paper plastic, and other waste items. They could release harmful chemicals for respiratory illnesses and the air, which could be released into your home.

It is also necessary to clean the glass of the wood stove on a regular basis. The majority of newer wood stoves have self-cleaning glass, meaning that they don't require a lot of cleaning. If you're unable to clean the glass of your wood burner fireplace stove as clean as you'd like, there are stove glass cleaners can be used on the window.

Some other helpful suggestions for maintaining your wood stove include turning the vent off when you're not using it and cracking windows or stove wood burning doors to increase the flow of air. This will ensure that the fire is burning longer and more efficiently. The wood stove will not have to be as active to circulate air. It is advisable not to stack logs or leave them on the fire for a long time. This can lead to splitting and warping. Finally, it is best to avoid using compressed combustible wood logs in your wood stove because the paraffin in them could melt and spill into the flue which could cause damage.