How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

Wood stoves are a comfortable way to heat a room and save energy. They do require some maintenance.

Many modern wood stoves conform to EPA emissions guidelines. You can check for an EPA sticker on the grate or underneath it to ensure that your stove isn't releasing harmful pollutants.

How to Start a Wood Fire

The scent and sound of a wood fire can be a welcome addition to any house. It is essential to know how to create a fire on your stove. Improper techniques can result in the fire not burning efficiently and creates smoke or creosote. The tips below will help you begin a fire that is safe and will heat up your home quickly and efficiently.

Check the condition of your coals and logs before you start the fire. If they're wet they will choke your fire and prevent the proper burning. You might also want to open the flue to let out any ash that has fallen into the stove.

Begin by putting a handful of small dry pieces of newspaper into your stove. This will help to ignite the tinder and kindling. When the tinder and the kindling have begun to burn, you can put an additional layer of larger pieces on the top. This should be done in a crosshatch pattern so there will be air between each piece of wood.

If you own a wood stove with an automatic control for combustion that will automatically deliver an air stream controlled to your fire as it builds. This will enable the fire to burn at a steady pace without having to constantly open the stove's door to keep it in check.

Be careful not to use too much tinder as it will cause the fire to burn at a rapid rate and will not be able to use the fuel effectively. Once you've got a good foundation in your stove that is made of tinder, kindling and embers begin the main flame by laying two large base logs on the grill. On the top of these base logs, place a layer perpendicularly to them. This method of constructing the fire is known as a "top-down" fire will result in an effective and long-lasting fire that doesn't engulf the larger base logs.

Close the damper when your fire has been established and keep it closed. If you open the damper too early, it can cause the fire smother and will not allow for the proper air flow, which will reduce its efficiency.

Adding Wood

Stoves can be used to heat your home efficiently and also save you money. They can be used together with a central heating system or furnace to provide supplemental heat in large houses. Many of the latest clean burning stoves that are available on the market use an advanced combustion principle which separates the burning volatile compounds from combustible gasses as well as tar. This is done by supplying air in two distinct stages. The first stage allows the vaporization of the volatile compounds, while the second step provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and decreases the odors.

The amount of heat you will get from your stove is contingent on the type of wood and the amount of moisture, as well as the size of the logs. To let the wood dry, the logs should be stored in a well ventilated location for a couple of months prior to burning. If the logs are not dry enough they will create a lot of steam that is basically wasted energy.

While you're burning the fire, add more fireplaces wood burning stoves (our source) to the pile at intervals, and not all at once. Too much wood added at once causes the temperature inside the firebox to increase and creates a vortex that draws smoke and unburnt volatile compounds back into the flame which can reduce the efficiency of your stove.

It is recommended to stay clear of other combustibles, like cardboard or paper in your stove, because they are not wood and possess different physical properties that cannot be burned without causing dangerously high temperatures and a lot of emissions. You should not burn compressed combustibles such as wood briquettes since they are different in chemical and physical composition from firewood. They are also not approved by the type to be burned in wood burning stoves.

It is important that a professional install and test your wood burning stove. A certified WETT technician will test your installation to ensure it is safe and reliable. They can also make sure whether your chimney is working properly. These experts can also provide maintenance services to keep your stove and chimney in tip-top shape. They can inspect the areas accessible to your chimney for leaks, and fix any issues that are discovered. They will also ensure that all occupants of the house are aware of and follow the fire evacuation procedure in case of an accident.

Adjusting the Damper

When you're not making use of your stove, a damper can control the amount of heat that is lost through the chimney. It can also be used to manage the fire. If the flue is open but the damper is not closed enough, the fire will not burn as efficiently and it will billow out smoke into your living area. You can adjust the damper to achieve the most effective flames by playing around with different locations.

It is important to keep your damper open to let air flow into and out of the flue while a fire is burning. This allows the fire to start a fire and helps it stay lit so you can enjoy it for long periods of time. The right opening can stop the fire from being starved of air and keep it from blowing smoke.

To properly adjust your damper first, make sure that the fireplace is preheated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney is warm, and Fireplaces Wood Burning Stoves also that it has a good draft. After this the damper on the wood stove can be adjusted.

Once the fire has smolder for a while, you can shut the damper down to about three-quarters of its maximum. This will stop the warm room air from escaping through the chimney, while allowing smoke to escape from the wood stove.

This is the best way to keep your fire burning and keep it from getting too hot. If you close the damper too tightly, it could stop the draft from working, however should it be too open, a cold wind could blow through your home.

You can determine how much the damper is opened by holding your hand near the top of the of the flue pipe. If you feel a small breeze pushing against your hand The damper is most likely in an open position.

The damper settings can differ a little from one stove to the next, and even between different types of wood. You can experiment with different settings to get an idea of the ideal setting for your stove.

Clean Up

After an incident, it is important to clean the stove and flue. This will help reduce the risk of a chimney fire which is the main cause of wood stove related fires in homes. Creosote is a sticky substance that forms on the stovepipe's interior and can be extremely hazardous. It is caused by moisture and unburned corner wood burning stove particles that are unable to escape from the fire. This can also occur by fires that are not lit properly.

Regular cleaning helps to prevent creosote buildup. This can be done by sweeping your chimney at least once every year. It is recommended to have your fireplace and stove professionally inspected and cleaned at least once per year as well.

It is also recommended to clean out the Ash tray and Fireplaces Wood Burning Stoves grate frequently. It is best to burn only seasoned wood, as it will produce less creosote. Avoid burning paper, cardboard and plastic. These materials can release harmful chemicals into the air and flue, which could be released in your home.

It is also essential to clean the glass of the wood burner stoves uk burning stove on a regular basis. Many modern wood stoves come with self-cleaning windows, so they do not require as much scrubs. You can apply stove glass cleaners to the window if you're able get the glass as clean as you want on your wood stove.

Other tips to keep your wood stove in good condition include turning down the vent when you aren't using it, and cracking windows or doors to allow more airflow. This keeps the fire burning hotter, and more efficiently. The wood stove will not need to be as active to circulate air. It is advisable not to stack logs or place them on the fire for a long time. This can lead to warping and splits. In addition, it is a good idea to not use compressed combustible logs in your wood stove because the paraffin in them could melt and spill into the flue which could cause damage to the stove.