How to Properly Operate a Log Burning Stove

Log burners provide a low carbon, renewable heat and benefit the environment. They are simple to use and provide great heating for a room.

A stove's optimum efficiency is when it's stocked with well-seasoned wood. This is mature horse chestnut or hawthorn, that is chopped and stored for a whole year.

Burning logs

Log burning stoves provide a comfortable, warm and cost-effective alternative to oil and gas. They are also eco-friendly because they emit very little of carbon dioxide and provide a natural fire to enhance your living space. But, before purchasing a wood burner, it is vital to know if you live in a smoke control area since this could have an impact on the kind of fuel you can burn in your stove.

It is recommended to contact your local environmental protection agency for more information about the rules for those who reside in a smoking-control area. Also, you should ensure that your house is suitable for a log burning stove since it will require to have a robust chimney and a sufficient roof structure. It is also necessary to have an abundance of dry logs to fuel your stove. It is crucial to select kiln dried firewood that has low moisture content or well-seasoned wood as it has less impact on the environment than green wood. Green wood is rich in moisture, which means it requires a lot of energy to evaporate the water. Well-seasoned and kiln dried wood will burn hotter and produce fewer smoke emissions.

The first step is building an ember bed using small twigs or pieces of wood. Once the tepee-like arrangement has caught on, the larger logs can be added. They should be placed criss-cross (like playing tic-tac toe) so that there is plenty of room for air flow between the logs. After the fire has been established it is possible to use the automatic control of combustion to supply the logs with oxygen.

The logs should be dried and seasoned, and the dimensions should be matched to your stove. This will assist in the burning process. It is also a great idea to select only Woodsure approved logs. The logs are dried in kilns and come from sustainable forests.

The lighting of a fire

It is essential to ensure that you light the fire correctly in a wood stove or any other type of log burner. This will not only increase the efficiency of your stove, but it will also reduce smoke and creosote in your chimney as well as in your house. Begin by opening the damper, typically a lever located near the top of your stove. Once the fire is established, you can close this to control airflow and the output of heat.

Find a few small- to medium-sized clefts, and make sure they are dry. (Ideally you want the moisture content should be below 20 percent). Use a handful or newspaper or another combustible materials such as cardboard to make a layer of tinder at the base of your fireplace or log burner. Do not pack the tinder tightly as this can restrict oxygen flow and cause the fire to go out. Put a few firelighters that are crisscrossed on the tinder.

Then, place a few pieces of fine kindling on top of the tinder of the newspaper, leaving enough space for air to circulate. You could also include a couple of Eco firelighters at this stage to aid the pieces of kindling to get ignited and burn more quickly. Then, place some larger pieces of wood on top of the kindling. It is best to lay these flat on the firebed or grate rather than leaning them against each other because this aids in draught and airflow, and allows the flames to penetrate the logs below.

The upside down fire-lighting method is more efficient and produces less emissions of particulate matter than the traditional method of lighting the fire. The logs that are on top of the pile are heated faster and provide more oxygen to the flames. It also stops the draught of the logs at the bottom of the stack from cooling down, which would otherwise slow ignition and cause the fire to go out of control. This method also ensures that an enthralling, full-throttle fire starts right from the beginning, and you will not be waiting for long to enjoy your cozy stove.

Cleaning the firebox

The firebox inside your log burning stove has to be cleaned regularly. If it is not cleaned the accumulation of ash can reduce airflow and cause the fireplace to produce smoke instead of a hot flame. This is especially dangerous, so it is essential to clean your wood multifuel stove regularly. You should ensure that the stove is cool and then remove any large ash pieces before you begin cleaning. Wear gloves as ash is extremely hot. You can also place an old newspaper on the floor in front of the stove to prevent ashes from falling onto your carpet.

There are many ways to clean the glass on your wood burner. You can use a piece of newspaper to rub away the soot, but you can buy oven cleaners or cleaning sprays. There's even a product specifically designed to clean wood stoves that is available at a variety of hardware stores.

Cleaning your stove in spring will help prevent creosote buildup. Creosote is flammable, and could cause serious fire hazards, which is why it is crucial to keep your stove clean. You can use a flashlight for an inspection of the chimney and flue. If the creosote buildup is greater than 1/8" it is recommended to clean the flue and chimney.

To clean the firebox, you should first ensure that the stove is completely cool. Then, remove all large ash particles and eliminate them in a safe manner. After removing the ash, you can employ a wire bristle clean the inside of your stove. Wire brushes can be used to scrub the grate, irons, as well as remove any soot. You can also employ a cloth slightly dampened with water to scrub the glass and the firebox.

After you've cleaned the firebox, close the flue and shut the door of your wood stove. You should have someone hold the ladder while you climb the ladder to open the flue. This could be a difficult task.

Ventilation

Ventilation in a wood burning stove is vital to the proper operation of the appliance and also to stop smoke from entering your home. Ventilation allows fresh air to enter the space replacing the old and stale air that could have been drawn into the stove. A properly designed ventilation system can prevent your stove from overheating and creating damage. All stoves must have ventilation.

Start with wood that has been placed in a stack for at least a month and dried. It will burn longer and more hot than fresh wood. Avoid using man-made wood materials such as ply wood, particle boards, and painted timber since they can release toxic gases and leave residues in the flue that could cause an explosion in the chimney. Also, do not add more than one log at a time because they can partially smother the flames and leave fuel unburned which can create lots of smoke and creosote.

It is recommended that you open both air vents while lighting the fire and keep them open until the flames are established. Once the fire is fully lit, slowly close the air vent levers until they are both closed about one third. If your fireplace is in an area that is not able to be regulated it might be necessary to open a window or door slightly to ensure that there is enough air circulation. When using a wood-burning stove, it's best to combine wood with briquettes of fuel that are smokeless. This will keep the flames burning for longer and allow you the option to add more logs after the fire has been established.

If you are planning to install a wood burning stove or moving it to a different location, check with your Local Authority to find out what ventilation requirements they will need to comply with. To ensure compliance with the regulations it is possible to install a chimney or change your existing flue. You should also check with your insurance provider to see whether they require that you have the work certified in order to keep your home insurance.