How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

Wood stoves can be a great method to reduce energy consumption and also heat rooms. However, they need an amount of care.

A majority of modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker either under or on the grate to ensure your stove doesn't create many harmful pollutants.

How to start a Wood Fire

The scent and sound of a woodfire can be a welcome addition in any house. But it's important to learn how to properly make a fire on your stove. Incorrect techniques can lead to a fire that doesn't burn effectively and can cause smoke or creosote. These tips will help you begin a safe fire that will warm your home quickly and effectively.

Examine the condition of your logs and coals before you begin an fire. If they're damp, it will smother your fire and prevent the proper burning. You might want to open the chimney to eliminate any ash that falls into the stove.

Begin by placing some small, dry newspaper pieces in your stove. This will help to ignite the fire. Once the tinder and kindling have begun to burn, you can add a layer of larger kindling pieces on the top. This should be done with a crosshatch design so that there is air between each piece.

If you own a wood stove that has an automatic control for combustion it will automatically supply an air stream that is controlled to the fire as it grows. This will enable the fire to burn at a consistent pace without having to open the stove door to keep it in check.

Do not use too much tinder as it will cause the fire to burn at a fast rate and will not be able to use the multi fuel wood burning stoves efficiently. Once you've got a good foundation in your stove that is made of sparks, tinder and kindling begin the main flame by placing two large base logs on the grill. Then, you can lay small logs parallel to these and on top of the base logs. This method of constructing a fire known as a "top-down" fire will result in an effective and long-lasting fire that will not overtake the larger base logs.

Close the damper after your fire has been established, and keep it closed. The fire can be smothered by opening the damper prior to it being fully established. It can also decrease the effectiveness of the fire.

Add Wood

Stoves can be used to efficiently heat your home and help you save money. They can be utilized together with a central heating system or furnace to provide additional heating in large houses. Many of the latest clean burning stoves that are available use advanced combustion technology that can separate the burning volatile substances from combustible gasses as well as tar. This is done by supplying air at two different stages. The first stage permits the vaporization of the volatile compounds and the second provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and decreases smells.

The amount of heat you get from a stove depends on the species and moisture content of the wood used and also the dimensions of the logs. The logs should be stacked in a well-ventilated area for several months prior to when you attempt to burn them to allow the wood to dry. If the logs are soaked with too much moisture, they will create steam which is essentially wasted power.

It is best to add wood to the pile at intervals, not all at once. Adding too much wood at one time can cause the temperature of the firebox to rise and produces a vortex that sucks smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into the flame, which can reduce the efficiency of your stove.

Avoid using other combustibles in your stove such as cardboard or paper, because they are not wood. They have different physical properties and are unable to 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 aren't type-approved for use in wood burning stoves.

If you're planning to install wood-burning stoves into your home, it is crucial to have it installed and tested by a professional. A certified WETT technician will test the stove for proper operation and safety as well as make sure that your chimney is working correctly. These professionals can also offer maintenance services to keep your stove and chimney in top condition. They can check for leaks in the areas connected to your chimney, and fix any issues they spot. They will also ensure that the occupants of your home are aware of and adhere to the evacuation procedures for fire in the event of an emergency.

Adjusting the Damper

A damper regulates how much heat escapes to the chimney when you aren't using your stove. It can also be used to manage the flame. If the flue opens but the damper is closed, the fire will not burn properly and smoke will billow into your home. You can adjust your damper to ensure the best flames by playing around with different locations.

Typically, you'll want to keep the damper open enough to let air flow in and out of the flue when a fire is burning. This will allow the fire to start and stay lit for many hours. A proper opening will stop the fire from becoming starved of air and prevent it from blowing out smoke.

To adjust your damper correctly it is important to first make sure that the fireplace is preheated and that the wood stove is hot. This will ensure the chimney is warm, and also that it has an adequate draft. After these steps are completed, the wood stove damper can be adjusted.

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

This is the best method to ensure that your fire is lit and to prevent it from becoming too hot. The draft could be stopped if you close the damper to far but a cold wind can enter your home in the event that the damper is not closed.

Holding your hand at the top of the flue pipe will show you how much the damper has opened. If you feel a slight breeze pushing against your palm the damper is probably in the open position.

The damper's setting can vary a little from one stove to another and even between different types of wood. Playing around with different settings will give you an idea of what to look for, but you might need to adjust it until you find the perfect setting for your stove.

Clean Up

After a fire, it is important to clean the stove and flue. This will help lower the risk of a chimney fire, which is the most common cause of indoor wood burner stove stove related fires in homes. Creosote, a sticky material which can build up inside the stovepipe, is extremely dangerous. Moisture and unburned particles of wood that are unable to escape the fire are the cause for this chemical. It can be caused by improperly lit fires.

Regular cleaning helps to stop the buildup of creosote. This can be accomplished by sweeping your chimney at least once every year. It is also recommended to have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and examined at least yearly.

Also, it is an excellent idea to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is recommended to burn only seasoned wood because it produces less creosote. It is also an excellent idea to avoid burning cardboard, paper or plastic items. These can release chemicals that are dangerous for the respiratory tract and the air, which could be released into your home.

It is also necessary to wash the glass of the wood-burning stove on a regular basis. The majority of modern wood stoves have self-cleaning windows, so they do not require as much scrubs. If you are not able to get the glass on your wood stove as clean as you'd like There are stove glass cleaners that can be used on the window.

Other helpful tips for maintaining your wood stove are to turn the vent off when you are not using it, and opening the door or window to increase air flow. This keeps the fire burning longer and more efficiently. The wood stove will not have to perform as hard to circulate air. It is advisable not to stack logs or leave them on the fire for Wood Burner Stoves a long time. This can cause splits and warping. It is best to avoid using combustible Wood burner stoves that has been compressed in your wood stove as the paraffin in the logs can melt and leak into the flue which could cause damage.