How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

Wood stoves are a comfortable method to heat a room and also save energy. However, they require some level of maintenance.

Many modern wood stoves are compliant with EPA emission guidelines. You can check for an EPA sticker on the grate or beneath it to make sure your stove doesn't emit harmful pollutants.

How to start a Wood Fire

The scent and sound of a woodfire is an enjoyable addition to any home. It's crucial to learn the proper way to build a fire in your stove. Improper techniques can result in a fire which does not burn efficiently, and produces smoke or creosote. The tips below will assist you in starting an fire that can heat your home with the least effort and maximum safety.

Examine the condition of your coals and logs before you begin the fire. If they're wet they will choke your fire and prevent the proper burning. You may also want to open the flue to let any ash out 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 ignite, add a layer of larger pieces 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 allow the fire to burn at a steady pace without the need to open the stove's door to maintain it.

Do not use too much tinder as this will cause the fire to burn at an extremely fast rate and will not be able to use the fuel effectively. If you have a solid fire and a bed of tinder in your stove, begin the main fire by placing two large base logs on the grate. Then, on the top of these base logs lay a layer parallel to them. This method of constructing the fire is called a "top-down" fire will result in a powerful and long-lasting fire that does not engulf the larger base logs.

Close the damper once the fire is established, and keep it shut. Opening the damper too soon could cause the fire to get smothered and not allow for proper airflow, which will lower the effectiveness of the fire.

Add Wood

Stoves can be used to heat your home efficiently and help you save money. They can be used together with central heating systems or furnace to provide supplemental heating for large wood burner homes. A lot of the clean burning stoves that are available today utilize advanced combustion principles that is able to separate the burning volatile compounds from combustible gasses and tar. This is accomplished by supplying air at two distinct stages. The first stage is to aid in the vaporization process, and the second is to supply fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves the process of combustion and helps to reduce odors.

The amount of heat you will get from a stove will depend on the species and moisture content of the wood you use and also the dimensions of the logs. The logs should be stored in a well-ventilated space for several months before you attempt to burn them, to give the wood a chance to dry out. If the logs are too wet they will release a lot of steam that is basically wasted energy.

You should add wood to the pile at intervals, not all at all at. Too much wood added at one time causes the temperature inside the firebox to rise and produces a vortex that sucks smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into the flame which can decrease your stove's efficiency.

It is recommended to stay clear of other combustibles like cardboard or paper in your stove, as they are not wood and have different physical properties that can't be burned without creating dangerously high temperatures and a lot of emissions. You should also not use compressed combustibles, such as wood briquettes because they have a distinct chemical and physical composition to real firewood and aren't approved for use in wood burning stoves.

It is important that you have a professional install and test your wood burning stove. A certified WETT technician will test the installation for proper operation and safety as well as ensure that your chimney is operating correctly. These professionals offer maintenance services for your chimney and stove to ensure they are in good shape. They can check the accessible areas of your chimney for leakage, and fix any issues that are discovered. They will also make sure that all residents of the home understand and follow the fire evacuation procedure in the event of an accident.

Adjusting the Damper

A damper controls how much heat is lost to the chimney when you aren't cooking on your stove. Additionally, it can also help manage the fire. If the flue opens but the damper is not closed the fire won't burn properly and smoke will billow into your home. To get the most efficient fire, with your damper set correctly, you must play around with different positions and observe how each affects the flames.

Typically, you want to keep the damper open enough to let air enter and out of the flue when the fire is burning. This will let the fire start and remain lit for a number of hours. The right opening can stop the fire from being deprived of air and stop it from blowing smoke.

To adjust your damper properly it is important to first make sure that the fireplace is heated and that the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney stays warm and has an adequate draft. After these steps are completed, the damper on the wood stove can be adjusted.

Once the fire has smolder a bit you should close the damper to about three-quarters of its maximum. This will prevent warm air in the room from getting into the chimney, while still allowing smoke to escape.

This is the best method to ensure that your fire is lit and keep it from getting too hot. The draft could be stopped if you close the damper too far however a cold breeze can enter your home when the damper is left open.

Placing your hand on the top of the flue pipe will inform you how much the damper has sunk. If you feel a slight breeze pushing against your palm The damper is most likely in an open position.

The damper's setting can vary a little from one stove to the next, and even between 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

It is essential to clean your flue and stove after the start of a fire. This will reduce the risk of a fire in the chimney which is the most common reason for fires caused by wood stoves. Creosote is a sticky substance that forms on the stovepipe's interior and can be extremely hazardous. It is caused by the moisture and wood particles that are not burned that cannot escape the fire. It can also be caused by poorly lit fires.

Regular cleaning helps stop the buildup of creosote. The best method to do this is by sweeping the chimney each year. It is also recommended to get your stove and dnpaint.co.kr fireplace professionally cleaned and checked at least yearly.

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 to burn, since it will create less creosote as well as ash. Avoid burning paper, cardboard and plastic. They can release harmful chemicals for respiratory illnesses and the air, and could be released into your home.

It is also essential to wash the glass of the wood stove on a regular basis. Many newer wood stoves have self-cleaning glass, meaning that they don't require a lot of cleaning. If you're not able to get the glass on your wood stove as clean as you would like you can use stove glass cleaners available that you can use on the window.

Other suggestions to keep your wood stove in good condition include lowering the vent when you're not using it, and cracking windows or doors to increase airflow. This will ensure that the fire is burning hotter, and more efficiently. The wood stove will not need to work as hard in order to circulate air. It is advisable not to stack logs or leave them on the fire for an extended time. This can cause warping and splits. It is recommended to avoid using combustible wood that has been compressed in your wood stove because the paraffin contained within the logs can melt and leak into the flue which could cause damage.