How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

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

Many modern wood stoves are compliant with EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker under or beside the grate to ensure your stove doesn't create a lot of harmful pollutants.

How to Start a Wood Fire

The scent and sound of a wood fire could be a pleasant addition to any home. It's crucial to learn the proper way to build a fire in your stove. Improper techniques can result in a fire which does not burn well, and may produce smoke or creosote. These tips will aid you in starting the fire that will warm your home with minimum effort and with the highest security.

Examine the condition of your logs and wood burners coals before you start an fire. If they're too damp they will choke the fire and prevent it from burning properly. You may also want to open the flue to let out any ash that has fallen into the stove.

Begin by placing a handful of small, dry pieces of newspaper in your stove. This will help spark the tinder and ignite your kindling. When the tinder and the kindling are beginning to burn, you can put an additional layer of larger pieces on top. This should be done using a crosshatch design so that there is air between each piece.

If your wood stove is equipped with an automatic combustion control it will automatically pump air into the fire as it expands. This will allow the fire to burn for a long time without you having to open the stove door often to keep it in check.

Avoid using too much tinder as it will cause the fire to burn at a rapid rate and not utilize the fuel effectively. After you've built a solid bed in your stove of sparks, tinder and kindling begin the main flame by laying two large base logs on the grate. On the top of these base logs lay a layer parallel to them. This method of creating an ember called a "top-down" fire will result in a powerful and long-lasting fire that does not completely consume the larger base logs.

Once your fire is well established Close the damper and keep it closed. Doing this too soon can cause the fire get smothered and not allow for proper airflow, which will reduce its efficiency.

Adding Wood

Stoves aren't just beautiful home decor pieces They can also help you save money by supplying efficient wood heat. They can be used alone or together with a furnace or central heating system to provide the extra heat required in large houses or homes with multiple rooms. A lot of the clean-burning stoves on the market use a superior combustion principle that differentiates the burning process of volatile compounds from the combustion of combustible gases and tar by supplying air in two different stages. The first stage is to aid in the vaporization and the second stage is to supply fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves the combustion process and reduces odors.

The amount of heat that you get from your stove will depend on both the species of wood burning stove modern and the amount of moisture, as well as the size of the logs. The logs must be stored in a well-ventilated space for several months prior to when you attempt to burn them, to allow the wood to dry. If the logs are too wet they will release plenty of steam that is basically wasted energy.

While you're burning the fire, it is recommended to add more wood to the stack in intervals, not all at one time. In addition, adding too much wood all at once can cause the temperature to rise within the firebox, causing an air vortex that draws smoke and unburned volatile compounds back into the flames. This could decrease the efficiency of your stove.

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

If you're planning to install wood-burning stoves into your home, it is important to have it properly installed and tested by a professional. A certified WETT technician will test your stove to ensure it is safe and functional. They can also make sure that your chimney works correctly. They offer maintenance services for your chimney and stove to keep them in top condition. They can look for leaks in the areas accessible to your chimney, and fix any issues they discover. They will also make sure that all house occupants know and follow the fire evacuation guidelines in case of an emergency.

Adjusting the Damper

A damper regulates how much heat is lost to the chimney when you aren't cooking on your stove. In addition to this it can help you control the fire. If the flue is open but the damper is closed the fire won't burn properly and smoke will erupt into your home. You can adjust the damper to get the best flames by experimenting with different locations.

You should keep your damper open to allow air to enter and exit the flue when a flame is burning. This will allow the fire to begin and stay lit for several hours. A proper opening will stop the fire from becoming starved of air and prevent it from blowing smoke.

In order to properly adjust your damper, you have to first ensure that the fireplace is heated and the wood stove is warm. This will ensure that the chimney is warm and has a good draft. After this, the wood stove damper may be adjusted.

After the fire has smolder for a while, you can close the damper to about three-quarters of its original position. This will stop warm room air from escaping into the chimney, while allowing smoke to escape out of the wood stove.

This is the best way to stop the fire from getting too hot while still keeping it lit. If you close the damper too tightly, it may stop the draft from working, however should it be too open a cold breeze could blow into 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 can feel a small draft pressing against your hand, it's probably in the open position.

The damper settings can differ from one stove to the next and even between different kinds of wood. You can experiment with various settings to get a sense of the most suitable setting for your stove.

Clean up

After a fire, it is essential to clean the stove and flue. This will reduce the risk of an ensuing fire in the chimney which is the most common cause of fires that are caused by wood stoves. Creosote, a sticky material that can build up within the stovepipe, can be extremely hazardous. It is caused by moisture and unburned wood particles that are unable to escape the fire. This can also be caused by fires that are not properly lit.

Regular cleaning can help stop the buildup of creosote. The best method to do this is by sweeping the chimney each year. It is also recommended that you have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year.

It is also a good idea to clean the Ash tray and grate frequently. It is best to burn only wood that is well-seasoned since it will create less creosote. It is also a good idea to avoid burning cardboard, paper plastic, and other waste items. These items can release dangerous chemicals into the flue and air, which can be released into your home.

It is also important to clean the glass of the wood burners stove on a regular basis. The majority of modern wood stoves have self-cleaning windows, so they don't require as much cleaning. You can apply stove glass cleaners to the window if you're getting the glass as clean as you would like on your wood stove.

Other helpful tips for maintaining your wood stove are to turn the vent off when you are not using it and cracking windows or doors to increase air flow. This will ensure that the fire is burning hotter, and more efficiently. The wood stove will not have to be as active to circulate air. It is also a good idea not stack logs or leave them in the fire for long periods of time, as this can lead to splitting and warping. Finally, it is recommended to not use compressed combustible logs in your wood stove, because the paraffin in them can melt and then flow down into the flue, which could damage it.