Dos and Don'ts When Using a Log Burner Fire

Log burners are the ideal opportunity to relax and enjoy a fire's ambience. They also provide a powerful heating source for your home.

To get the best heat out of your log burner, ensure that the wood is dry prior to using it. The loss of moisture as well as higher temperatures than required in the stove and emissions of unburnt fuel can all contribute to poor performance.

Burning logs

It is important to make use of Ready To Burn certified logs for wood stove. This will improve the efficiency of your stove. When used properly the logs will burn at the optimal heat levels and reduce the amount of creosote build in your chimney. This will reduce the cost of energy and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

If you are using greenwood or unseasoned wood it could cause harm to your chimney and stove. Unseasoned wood is more moist of moisture than kiln-dried wood that can cause issues when it is burned. Wet logs create plenty of smoke when they're burned, and this can affect your heating performance. It can also cause creosote to build up in your chimney, which poses an important fire risk and can cause chimney fires.

Logs that are not seasoned or wet will also take longer to burn than dried kiln-fired wood. It is best to only use wood that is seasoned to avoid damaging your flue and overheating your stove. To determine the moisture content of your logs, pound two sticks together and listen to how they sound. Dry logs can crackle loudly while damp wood will produce a a dull sound. The wood that has been seasoned will also be darker than freshly cut dampwood.

Once you have established a small log burner uk flame and an air flow that is good through your stove, you can begin adding larger logs. It is essential to not add more than one log at a time because this can smother flames and prevent them catching. It's also a good idea to distribute the logs evenly around your fire, and to keep some of your kindling in between them.

Opening your stove door often can affect the rate of combustion. This could cause your log burner to go out, which will also reduce the efficiency of your appliance and can increase the amount of smoke emitted. It is also crucial to ensure that the area surrounding your appliance is free of combustible material and that all furniture is placed far enough away from the appliance in order to comply with the distance-to-combustible requirements for your particular model.

Ventilation

To ensure that fireplaces, log burners, and stoves work efficiently, they require ventilation. The English Building Regulations require that combustion appliances such as log burners are supplied with a sufficient supply. This is due to the fact that smoke can leak into the home if the stove doesn't have enough ventilation, especially when the fire isn't working effectively.

To avoid this it is essential to make sure that the flue or chimney is not blocked. It is also essential to ensure that the space that surrounds your stove or fireplace has enough ventilation. Smoke and soot can escape through the chimney and into the home. Ventilation also helps to ensure that the fire is burning effectively so that you get most heat out of your wood and minimises emissions.

To get the most efficient results, make sure to use lumber that is seasoned. This means that it was cut, split and stacked for a set amount of time to allow the moisture to evaporate generally between six to 12 months. Ideally, the logs should be dried in a kiln to make them even easier to burn.

When you light the fire, only add some small logs at first, to let the flames get established. After they've completed this you can add larger logs. Do not add too many logs at a time since this can smother the fire and leave unburned wood to be left behind, which will create smoke and creosote.

It is essential to keep the fire going till all the logs are reduced to embers or soot. You may also reduce the effectiveness of the fire if you remove the logs before they have completely burned.

Avoid touching the flame with your fingers because this releases smoke into the room and could cause the wood to catch on the flame. If you open the stove door too quickly when the fire is hot, it will suck out smoke and spit embers into the room.

Cleanliness

Cleaning is essential for a successful log-burner fire, both in terms of aesthetics as well as efficiency of heating. A dirty stove produces less heat, use more fuel and release unpleasant smells. It could also pose an hazard to fire and can block up the flue, which results in an inefficient venting system for smoke and fumes.

In addition to regular cleaning of the ash pan, there are several other items that require attention periodically. The bottom burner plate and riddling grates, for example, should be cleaned of soot particles. The baffle plate and ash bucket should be checked for wear, and so should the gaskets around the door and glass.

It is crucial to wear protective goggles and a gloves before starting any maintenance task. Soot and ash particles can cause painful scratches. It is recommended to create a safe area for the work, and away from any potential hazards. It is also recommended to lay an tarpaulin sheet on the floor, in order to catch any falling debris and make the cleanup process much more easy.

When you empty the ashes, it is important to remove them from the fireplace using a metal container and to leave the container open until they are completely cold. Ashes act as insulation and can hold heat for several hours or days after the fire is extinguished. They can also be used as fertiliser, provided they are made of clean, untreated wood.

Another important point to consider is the kind of firewood you use. It is recommended to use well-seasoned firewood that has been split and stored away from weather. Allow it to dry to a moisture content of between 20 to 25 percent. This will help stop the build-up of creosote and will also help to keep the chimney clean of tar and soot.

As an alternative to a traditional log fire, we also have a selection of DEFRA approved wood burning stoves that are incredibly energy efficient and produce less carbon emissions than open fires. It is estimated that between 25% and 33% of London's fine particle pollution comes from wood burning in the home, so switching to a stove could be a significant improvement for the environment.

Safety

Log burners can be a comfortable and efficient method to heat your log cabin. The log burners are relatively simple devices consisting of stove-pipes, stove-doors and a firebox. They also have air vents to control the fire. However, they do require some maintenance and knowledge of how to use them properly. Here are some dos & dos when using a wood stove.

Use seasoned and dry wood for your tiger log burner-burner. It will produce more efficiently and more heat while producing less smoke. Green wood that isn't seasoned and seasoned could cause deposits of tar to form in the flue or chimney. This will block the air flow and decrease the efficiency of your heating. It can also cause danger to fire, possibly causing chimney or flue fires. You should purchase kiln-dried wood that is marked "Ready to Burn" as this will ensure it is safe to burn.

Additionally, you should not be using any other fuels in your log burner such as paraffin firelighter logs or charcoal lighter fluid. These substances are extremely flammable and can create fireballs in the stove, releasing harmful gasses. If you are using a log burner in an area that has a Smoke Control Area it is recommended to only use fuels that are smoke-free.

Pellet stoves require less effort to operate than traditional wood burners. Most only require plugging the appliance in and pressing the ignition button. It's still necessary to read the instructions given by the manufacturer and remember to clean the combustion chamber on a regular basis. This isn't a major task but it does take some time and effort. A good idea is to put an open-top clarke log burner (read full article) holder near your stove so that you can easily get rid of debris and ash whenever you need to. You can also buy the stove with a self-cleaning chamber to facilitate cleaning. It is still required that you empty the ash tray regularly. The primary benefit of this is that it will reduce the amount of time and effort cleaning out your log burner.