How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

Wood stoves are a warm way to heat a space and also save energy. However, they need some level of maintenance.

Many modern wood stoves are compliant with EPA emission guidelines. You can look for an EPA sticker on the grate or underneath it to ensure that your stove isn't releasing harmful pollutants.

How to Start a Wood Fire

The scent and sound of a fire made from wood can be a wonderful feature in any home. However, it is important to know the correct method to make a fire on your stove. Unintentional methods can lead to a fire which does not burn efficiently, and produces creosote or smoke. The following tips can help you create a safe fire that will warm your home quickly and efficiently.

Before you begin a fire, check the condition of your logs and coals. If they are too wet they could smother the fire and prevent it from burning properly. It is possible to open the chimney to get rid of any ash that's fallen into the stove.

Begin by putting a few small dry pieces of newspaper in your stove. This will help ignite the tinder. Once these begin to ignite, add a layer of larger pieces of tinder to the top of the pile. This should be done in a crosshatch pattern, so that there will be air between each piece of wood.

If you have a wood stove that has an automatic control for combustion it will automatically supply a controlled stream of air to your flame as it heats. This will enable the fire to burn at a consistent pace without having to constantly open the stove's doors to tend it.

Avoid using too much tinder as it can cause the fire to burn at a fast rate and will not be able to use the fuel effectively. Once you've got a good bed in your stove of sparks, tinder and kindling begin the main flame by placing two large wood burner base logs on the grate. On the top of these base woods lay a layer parallel to them. This method of constructing the fire is known as a "top-down" fire will result in a powerful and long-lasting fire that doesn't completely consume the larger base logs.

When your fire is established Close the damper and ensure it stays closed. The fire may be smothered if you open the damper prior to it being fully established. It can also decrease the efficiency of the fire.

Add Wood

Stoves are not only beautiful pieces of home decor stove wood Burning - they can help you save money by supplying efficient wood heat. They can be used in conjunction with a central heating system or furnace to provide supplemental heating for large homes. Many of the latest stoves that are clean burning available on the market use advanced combustion technology that separates the burning volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar. This is accomplished by providing air at two distinct stages. The first stage allows for the combustion of volatile compounds and the second stage offers fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and reduces smells.

The amount of heat that you can get from a stove depends on the type and amount of moisture of the wood used and also the dimensions of logs. The logs must be stored in a ventilated area for a period of time before you attempt to burn them to allow the wood to dry. If the logs are wet, they will produce a lot of steam that is essentially wasted energy.

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

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

If you are installing wood-burning stoves into your home, it's essential 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 ensure that your chimney is functioning properly. These experts can also provide maintenance services to keep your stove and chimney in good condition. They can inspect the areas accessible to your chimney to determine if there is leakage and fix any issues discovered. They will also ensure that the occupants of your home know and follow the fire evacuation procedures in case in the event of an emergency.

Adjusting the Damper

When you're not using your stove, a damper can control the amount of heat lost through the chimney. It can also be used to control the fire. If the flue is not open but the damper is too closed, the fire will not burn as efficiently and will release smoke into your living space. To ensure that you get the best fire with your damper set correctly, you have to test different locations and observe how each affects the flames.

Typically, you should keep the damper open enough to let air in and out of the flue while a fire is burning. This will let the fire start and stay lit for several hours. The proper opening will stop the fire from being deprived of air and prevent it from blowing smoke.

To adjust your damper correctly it is important to first make sure that the fireplace is preheated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney stays warm and has a good draft. Once these are done the damper for wood stoves can be adjusted.

After the fire has burned for an extended period, close the damper approximately three quarters of the way. This will prevent warm air in the room from getting into the chimney, but still allowing smoke to escape.

This is the most effective way to prevent the fire from becoming too hot while keeping it lit. If you close the damper too much, it could block the draft from working, but if it is too wide, a cold breeze could blow through your home.

By placing your hands on the top of the flue pipe will show you how much the damper has sunk. If you feel a slight draft pushing on your hand it's likely to be in the open position.

The damper setting can vary slightly from one stove to another and even between different kinds of wood. You can experiment with various settings to get an idea of the best setting for your stove.

Clean Up

After an incident, it is essential to clean the Stove wood Burning and flue. This can reduce the chance of an explosion in the chimney, which is the primary cause of fires caused by wood stoves. Creosote, a sticky substance which can build up in the stovepipe, is extremely dangerous. Unburned and moist particles of wood that cannot escape the fire are responsible for this substance. This can also be caused by fires that are not properly lit.

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

It is also recommended to clean the ash tray and grate it regularly. It is recommended to only burn wood that has been seasoned since it will create less creosote. It is also an excellent idea to avoid burning cardboard, paper, plastic and other trash items. These can release chemicals that can be dangerous for the flue and air, which could be released into your home.

The glass on the wood burning stove has to be regularly cleaned as well. Many newer wood stoves have self-cleaning glass, which means they do not require any cleaning. You can use stove glass cleaners on the window if you're not capable of getting the glass as clean as you would like on your wood stove.

Other helpful tips to maintain your wood stove are to turn the vent off when you are not using it and cracking the door or window to allow more air flow. This will help keep the fire burning longer and more efficiently, since it will not need to be as active to circulate air. It is a good idea not to stack logs, or leave them on the fire for an extended duration. This can lead to warping and splits. It is best to avoid using combustible compressed wood burners near me in your wood stove since the paraffin in the wood can melt and then flow into the flue and cause damage.