How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

Wood stoves are a cozy way to heat a room and conserve energy. However, they require some level of maintenance.

Many modern fireplaces wood burning stoves stoves meet EPA emissions guidelines. You can look for an EPA sticker on the grate or underneath it to ensure your stove doesn't emit harmful pollutants.

How to Start a Wood Fire

The smell and sound of a woodfire is a welcome addition in any home. But it's important to learn the correct method to build a fire in your stove. Incorrect techniques can lead to a fire that doesn't burn efficiently and creates creosote or smoke. These tips will help you begin a fire that is safe and will heat up your home quickly and efficiently.

Make sure to check the condition of your coals and logs before you start the fire. If they are wet it will dampen your fire and hinder proper burning. It is possible to open the chimney to get rid of any ash that's fallen into the stove.

Start by placing several small newspaper pieces that are dry and clean in the stove. This will help ignite the tinder and ignite the kindling. When the tinder and the kindling have begun to burn, you can put the larger kindling pieces on top. This should be done in a crosshatch pattern so there is air between each piece of wood.

If your wood stove comes with an automatic combustion control, it will automatically feed air to the fire as it grows. This will enable the fire to burn at a steady rate without having to constantly open the stove's doors to keep it in check.

Do not use excessive tinder since it will cause the fire to burn at a rapid rate and will not be able to use the fuel effectively. After you've built a solid foundation in your stove that is made of sparks, tinder and kindling, start the main flame by laying two large logs of the base on the grate. On the top of these base logs lay a layer parallel to them. This "top-down" method of building a fireplace will result in a long-lasting and effective fire that doesn't engulf larger base logs.

Close the damper once the fire is established, and keep it closed. The fire could be smothered if you open the damper before it is fully established. It will also reduce the efficiency of the fire.

Adding Wood

Stoves can be used to heat your home efficiently and save you money. They can be used together with central heating systems or furnace to provide additional heat in large homes. Many of the new stoves that are clean-burning utilize a superior combustion method that differentiates the burning process of volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar by supplying air in two distinct stages. The first stage is for the vaporization and the second step is to supply pre-heated fresh air. This enhances the combustion process and helps reduce odors.

The amount of heat you can get from your stove is contingent on the type of wood used and the amount of moisture in it as well as the size of the logs. The logs should be stored in a well-ventilated space for several months before you attempt to burn them to allow the wood to dry. If the logs are not dry enough, they will produce plenty of steam that is in essence wasted energy.

When you are burning the fire, you should add more wood to the stack at intervals, not all at all at. Addition of too much wood all at once could cause the temperature to rise in the firebox, creating an air vortex that draws smoke and volatile compounds that are not burned back into flames. This could reduce the effectiveness of your stove.

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

It is essential that a professional install and test your wood stove. A certified WETT technician will test the installation for safe operation and safety, as well as make sure that your chimney is working correctly. They offer maintenance services for Burner your stove and chimney to ensure they are in good shape. They can look for leaks in the areas connected to your chimney and repair any problems they find. They will also make sure that the 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 using your stove, a damper regulates the amount of heat that is lost through the chimney. It can also be used to manage the flame. If the flue is not open but the damper is closed too much 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 experimenting with different positions.

Typically, you'll 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 stay lit for several hours. A proper opening will keep the fire from being starved of air, and also prevent it from blowing out smoke.

To properly adjust your damper, you must first ensure that the fireplace has been heated and that the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney is warm and also that it has an adequate draft. After these steps are completed, the wood stove damper can be adjusted.

Once the fire has smolder slightly, you need to close the damper to about three-quarters of its maximum. This will stop warm room air from escaping into the chimney, while allowing smoke to escape out of the wood stove.

This is the most effective way to prevent the fire from becoming too hot while still keeping it lit. If you shut the damper too far it could block the draft from working, but should it be too open, a cold wind could blow through your home.

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

The damper settings can differ from one stove to another and even among different types of wood. You can experiment with various settings to get an idea of the best setting for your stove.

Clean Up

It is important to clean your flue and burner stove after the start of a fire. This will lower the risk of a chimney fire which is the most common reason for wood stove-related fires in homes. Creosote, a sticky substance that can build up in the stovepipe, is very dangerous. Unburned and moist particles of wood that cannot escape the flame are the reason for this substance. It can also be caused by improperly lit fires.

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

It is also an excellent idea to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is recommended to use only wood that is seasoned to burn, since it will create less creosote and ash. It is also an excellent idea to avoid burning paper, cardboard plastic, and other waste items. They can release chemicals that can be dangerous for the respiratory tract and the air, and could be released into your home.

The glass in the wood burning stove needs to be regularly cleaned as well. Most newer wood stoves have self-cleaning windows, so they don't require as much scrubs. If you are not able to get the glass on your wood stove as clean as you'd like you can use stove glass cleaners available that can be used on the window.

Other tips to maintain your wood stove include lowering the vent when you aren't using it, and opening doors or windows to increase airflow. This will keep the fire burning hotter and more efficiently, as it won't have to be as active to circulate the air. It is recommended not to stack logs, or leave them on the fire for a long period of time. This can lead to warping and splits. It is recommended to avoid using combustible wood that has been compressed in your wood stove as the paraffin contained within the wood can melt and then flow into the flue and cause damage.