How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

Wood stoves are a comfortable way to heat a room and save energy. However, they need some level of maintenance.

A majority of Modern wood burning stove wood stoves comply with EPA emissions guidelines. You can check for an EPA sticker on the grate or under it to ensure that your stove doesn't release harmful pollutants.

How to start a Wood Fire

The scent and sound of a wood fire could be a pleasant addition to any house. It's essential to understand how to build an effective fire on your stove. Improper techniques can result in a fire that doesn't burn efficiently and creates creosote or smoke. These tips will help you start an fire that can heat your home with the least effort and ensure your security.

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

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

If you own wood stoves that have an automatic combustion control that will automatically deliver a controlled stream of air to the fire as it builds. This will allow the fire to burn continuously without the need to open the stove door constantly to tend to it.

Be careful not to use excessive tinder since this will cause the fire to burn at an extremely fast rate and not use the fuel efficiently. When you have a good fire and a bed of tinder in your stove, you can start the main fire by laying two large base logs on the grill. Then, you can lay small logs parallel to these and on the top of the base logs. This "top-down" method of building a fireplace will produce an effective and long-lasting fire that doesn't consume larger logs from the base.

When your fire is established shut off the damper and keep it shut. The fire can be smothered if the user opens the damper prior to it being fully established. It can also decrease the effectiveness of the fire.

Add Wood

Stoves aren't only beautiful pieces of home decor - they can help you save money by providing efficient wood heating. They can be used together with a central heating system or furnace to provide additional heat in large wood burning stove homes. A lot of the clean burning stoves that are available use an advanced combustion principle which is able to separate the burning volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar. This is done by providing air at two distinct stages. The first stage is for the vaporization process, and the second is to supply fresh air that is pre-heated. This enhances the combustion process and helps reduce odors.

The amount of heat you will get from a stove will depend on the type and amount of moisture of the wood as well as the size of the logs. The logs should be stacked in a ventilated area for several months prior to when you try to burn them, to allow the wood to dry out. If the logs are too wet they will create plenty of steam that is basically wasted energy.

While you're burning the fire, add more cheap wood burners for sheds to the stack in intervals, not all at one time. The addition of too much wood all at once can cause the temperature to rise in the firebox, creating the formation of a vortex that draws smoke and unburned volatile compounds back into flames. This can reduce the effectiveness of your stove.

Avoid burning other combustibles in your stove such as paper or cardboard, as they are not wood. They have different physical properties and cannot be burned without creating dangerously high temperatures. You should not burn combustibles that are compressed, such as wood briquettes since they differ in chemical and physical composition from firewood. They are also not approved to be burned in wood burning stoves.

It is essential that you have a professional install and test your wood stove. A certified WETT technician can examine your stove to make sure that it is safe and efficient. They can also make sure that your chimney is functioning properly. They provide maintenance services for your stove and chimney to ensure they are in good condition. They can check for leaks in the areas accessible to your chimney and repair any problems they find. They will also ensure that the occupants of your home are aware of and adhere to the fire evacuation procedures in case in the event of an emergency.

Adjusting the Damper

A damper controls how much heat escapes to the chimney when you aren't cooking on your stove. It can also be used to manage the flame. If the flue is open but the damper is not closed enough, the fire will not burn as efficiently and will release smoke into your living space. You can adjust your damper to achieve the most effective flames by experimenting with different positions.

Typically, you should keep the damper open enough to let air enter and out of the flue when the fire is burning. This lets the fire get going and helps it stay burning so that you can enjoy it for long periods of time. A proper opening will prevent the fire from starving of air, and also prevent it from blowing smoke.

To adjust your damper correctly, you must first ensure that the fireplace has been preheated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney stays warm and has a good draft. After these steps are completed, the wood stove damper can be adjusted.

After the fire has smolder slightly, you need to reduce the damper to around three-quarters of its full position. This will stop the warm air in the room from getting into the chimney, while still allowing smoke to escape.

This is the best method to keep your fire lit and prevent it from getting too hot. If you close the damper too tightly, Modern wood burning Stove it may stop the draft from working, however when it's too wide, a cold breeze could blow through your home.

By placing your hands on the top of the flue pipe will tell you how much the damper has opened. If you can feel a small draft pushing on your hand it is probably in the open position.

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

Clean Up

It is essential to clean your chimney and stove after a fire. This reduces the chance of a fire in the chimney, which is the primary reason for fires caused by wood stoves. Creosote, a sticky substance which can build up within the stovepipe, can be extremely hazardous. It is caused by moisture and unburned wood particles that are unable to escape from the fire. This can also be caused when fires aren't lit properly.

Regular cleaning helps to stop the buildup of creosote. The best way to do this is by sweeping the chimney each year. It is recommended to have your stove and fireplace professionally inspected and cleaned at least once per year.

It is also a good idea to clean out the ash tray and grate it regularly. It is recommended to use only wood that is seasoned to burn, since it will create less creosote as well as ash. Avoid burning cardboard, paper and plastic. These items can release dangerous chemicals for the flue and air, that could end up in your home.

It is also necessary to wash the glass of the wood-burning stove regularly. The majority of newer wood stoves are designed with self-cleaning glass, which means that they do not require much scrubbing. 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 you can use on the window.

Other tips to keep your wood stove in good condition include lowering the vent when you're not using it and slamming doors or windows to increase airflow. This will keep the fire burning hotter and more efficiently since it will not need to be as active to circulate the air. It is also a good idea to not stack logs or keep them in the fire for long periods of time as this can lead to warping and splitting. It is also best to avoid using compressed combustible logs in your wood stove as the paraffin they contain could melt and spill down the flue which could damage it.