How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

Wood stoves are a warm way to heat a space and also save energy. They require some care.

Many modern wood stoves meet EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker under or beside the grate to make sure your stove won't produce a lot of harmful pollutants.

How to Start a Wood Fire

The smell and the sound of a woodfire is an enjoyable addition to any home. However, it is important to know the correct method to make a fire on your stove. Incorrect methods can result in the fire not burning efficiently and creates smoke or creosote. The following tips will help you begin a safe fire that can heat your home quickly and effectively.

Before you start a fire, you should check the condition of your logs and coals. If they are too wet they will choke the fire and prevent it from burning properly. You may want to open the chimney to get rid of any ash that's fallen into the stove.

Start by placing some small, dry newspaper pieces in the stove. This will help to ignite the tinder and ignite the kindling. When they begin to burn, add a layer of larger pieces to the top of the pile. This should be done in a crosshatch fashion so that there is air between each piece of wood.

If your wood stove is equipped 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 rate without having to constantly open the stove's door to keep it in check.

It is essential to avoid using excessive tinder as this can lead to a fire that burns at a high rate and doesn't use the fuel as efficiently as it could. If you have a solid pile of tinder and some kindling in your stove, begin the main fire by laying two large wood burner base logs across the grate. Then, add an additional layer of smaller logs perpendicular to these and on the top of the base logs. This method of creating the fire is called a "top-down" fire can result in a successful and long-lasting fire that will not completely consume the larger base logs.

Once the fire is established Close the damper and ensure it stays closed. Opening the damper too soon can cause the fire to get smothered and not allow for the correct airflow, which will decrease the efficiency of the fire.

Adding Wood

Stoves can be used to efficiently heat your home and save you money. They can be used on their own or together with central heating or a furnace system to provide the extra heating required in large homes or homes with many rooms. A lot of the stoves that are clean-burning use a superior combustion principle that differentiates the burning process of volatile compounds from the combustion of combustible gases and tar by providing air in two distinct stages. The first stage is for the vaporization process, and the second is to provide fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves the combustion process and reduces odors.

The amount of heat you get from a stove is contingent upon the species and the moisture content of the wood used and also the dimensions of logs. The logs should be stored in a well-ventilated area for several months prior to when you attempt to burn them to allow the wood to dry out. If the logs are too wet, they will produce lots of steam, which is basically wasted energy.

While you're burning the fire, it is recommended to add more wood to the pile at intervals, but not all at one time. Too much wood added at one time causes the temperature in the firebox to increase and creates a vortex, which draws smoke and unburnt volatile compounds back into the flame which can decrease your stove's efficiency.

Avoid burning other combustibles in your stove, like cardboard or paper, because they are not wood. They have different physical properties and can't be burned without causing dangerously high temperatures. You should also not use compressed combustibles such as wood briquettes, as they have a very different physical and chemical composition from real firewood, and are not suitable for burning in outdoor wood burning stove burning stoves.

It is essential that a professional install and test your wood burning stove. A certified WETT technician will test the installation to ensure proper operation and safety, as well as make sure that your chimney is operating properly. They provide maintenance services for your chimney and stove to keep them in top condition. They can inspect the areas accessible to your chimney to determine if there is leakage and fix any issues found. They will also make sure that all house occupants understand and comply with the evacuation procedures for fire in case of an emergency.

Adjusting the Damper

A damper controls how much heat escapes up the chimney when you're not using your stove. It can also be used to control the fire. If the flue is not open but the damper is closed too much the fire won't be able to burn properly and it will release smoke into your living area. You can adjust the damper to ensure the best flames by testing different positions.

Typically, you should keep the damper open enough to let air enter and out of the flue while the fire is burning. This will allow the fire to start and remain lit for a number of hours. The proper opening will stop the fire from becoming depleted of air and prevent it from blowing smoke.

To properly adjust your damper, you have to first ensure that the fireplace is preheated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney is warm and also that it has an adequate draft. Once these are done the wood stove damper can be adjusted.

After the fire has been burning for some time, you need to close the damper about three quarters of the way. This will stop warm air in the room from venturing into the chimney, while still allowing smoke to escape.

This is the best method to stop the fire from becoming too hot while keeping it lit. If you shut the damper too far it could block the draft from working, however should it be too open, a cold wind could blow into your home.

You can test how much the damper is opened by holding your hand near the top of the inside of the flue pipe. If you feel a slight breeze pushing against your palm The damper is most likely to be open.

The damper setting can vary slightly from one stove to another and even between different types of wood. Experimenting with the various settings will give you an idea of what to look for, but you might need to adjust it until you have found the perfect setting for your stove.

Clean Up

It is crucial to clean your flue and stove after the start of a fire. This can reduce the chance of a fire in the chimney which is the main reason for fires caused by wood stoves. Creosote is a sticky substance that forms on the stovepipe's interior and can be very dangerous. Moisture and unburned particles of wood that cannot escape the fire are the cause for this chemical. It can also happen when fires aren't lit properly.

Regular cleaning can help stop the buildup of creosote. This can be accomplished by sweeping your chimney at least once a year. It is recommended that you have your fireplace and stove professionally inspected and cleaned at least once per year as well.

It is also recommended to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is a good idea to only use seasoned wood for burning, as this will produce less creosote and less ash. It is also an excellent idea to avoid burning cardboard, paper plastic, and other waste items. These items can release dangerous chemicals for the flue and air, which can be released into your home.

It is also important to clean the glass of the wood-burning stove on a regular basis. Many modern wood stoves come with self-cleaning windows, which means they do not require as much 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 can be used on the window.

Other ways to maintain your wood stove include turning down the vent when you're not using it, and cracking windows or doors to allow more airflow. This will ensure that the fire is burning more hot and efficiently. The wood stove won't have to be as active to circulate air. It is recommended not to stack logs, or leave them on the fire for an extended period of time. This can lead to warping and splits. It is advised to avoid using combustible wood that has been compressed in your wood stove since the paraffin contained within them can melt and flow into the flue, which could cause damage.