How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

Wood stoves are an excellent option to conserve energy and warm rooms. They will require some maintenance.

A majority of modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. You can check for an EPA sticker on the grate or beneath 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 welcome feature in any house. It's essential to know how to create a fire on your stove. Incorrect methods can result in a fire that doesn't burn efficiently and creates smoke or creosote. These tips will assist you in starting an fire that can heat your home with minimal effort and maximum security.

Before you begin a fire, check the condition of your coals and logs. If they are wet it will dampen your fire and prevent the proper burning. You might also want to open the flue to let out any ash that has been deposited into the stove.

Begin by placing a handful of small, dry pieces of newspaper in your stove. This will help to ignite the tinder and kindling. Once they start to burn, add another layer of larger pieces of kindling to the top of the pile. This should be done with 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 your flame as it heats. This allows the fire to burn steadily without having to open the stove door constantly to tend to it.

It's important to avoid using too much tinder, as this can lead to an unburned fire that burns at an excessive rate and doesn't utilize the multi fuel wood burning stoves as efficiently as it can. When you have a good pile of tinder and some kindling in your stove, begin the main fire by placing two large base logs across the grate. Then, add a layer of smaller logs that are perpendicular to them and on top of the base logs. This method of building a fire known as a "top-down" fire will result in a powerful and long-lasting fire that will not overtake the larger base logs.

When your fire is established shut off the damper and keep it shut. Opening the damper too soon could cause the fire to get smothered and not allow for proper air flow, which can lower the effectiveness of the fire.

Adding Wood

Stoves can be used to efficiently heat your home and help you save money. They can be used alone or in conjunction with central heating or furnace system to provide the extra heat required in large houses or homes with many rooms. Many of the new stoves that are clean burning available today utilize an advanced combustion principle which separates the burning volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar. This is accomplished by supplying air in two different stages. The first stage permits the burning of volatile compounds, while the second step offers fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and decreases smells.

The amount of heat you get from a stove will depend on the species and the moisture content of the wood used as well as the size of the logs. The logs should be stored in a well-ventilated area for several months before you attempt to burn them, to give the outdoor wood burner a chance to dry. If the logs are too wet they will release plenty of steam that is basically wasted energy.

During the burning of the fire, add more wood to the stack at intervals, not all at once. Too much wood added at once causes the temperature in the firebox to increase and creates a vortex, which draws smoke and unburnt volatile compounds back into the flame, which could reduce your stove's efficiency.

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 creating dangerously high temperatures. Also, avoid using compressed combustibles, such as wood briquettes as they have a very different chemical and physical properties from real firewood, and are not approved for burning in wood-burning stoves.

It is crucial that you have a professional install and test your wood stove. A certified WETT technician will test the installation for proper operation and safety and also ensure that your chimney is functioning properly. These professionals can also offer maintenance services to keep your stove and chimney in top condition. They will inspect the areas accessible to your chimney to determine if there is leakage and repair any problems discovered. They will also make sure that all occupants of the home understand and follow the evacuation procedure in the event of an accident.

Adjusting the Damper

A damper controls how much heat is lost through the chimney when you aren't cooking on your stove. In addition, it can help you to control the flame. If the flue is open but the damper is not closed enough, the fire won't burn properly and will release smoke into your living area. You can adjust your damper to ensure the best flames by playing around with different locations.

Typically, you should keep the damper open enough to let air flow in and out of the flue while the fire is burning. This will allow the fire to begin and remain lit for a number of hours. A proper opening will keep the fire from being starved of air and prevent it from blowing out smoke.

To adjust your damper properly, 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 it also has an adequate draft. Once this is accomplished the damper on the wood stove can be adjusted.

After the fire has burned for some time, you need to close the damper approximately three quarters of the way. This will stop warm air in the room from escaping into the chimney, while still permitting smoke to escape.

This is the best way to keep your fire lit and keep it from getting too hot. The draft might be stopped if you close the damper too tightly however a cold breeze could enter your home in the event that the damper is left open.

You can test how much the damper is opened by placing your hand on the top of the of the flue pipe. If you feel a slight breeze pushing against your palm the damper is probably in an open position.

The damper settings may differ from one stove to the next and even among different types of wood. Playing around with different settings will give you an idea of what you should look for, but you may have to keep adjusting it until you find the ideal setting for your woodburner stove wood burning (Discover More).

Clean up

It is crucial to clean your chimney and stove after a fire. This can lower the risk of a chimney fire, which is the main reason for wood burner stove-related fires in homes. Creosote is a sticky material that forms on the inside of the stovepipe and can be extremely hazardous. The moisture and the unburned parts of wood that cannot escape the fire are responsible for this substance. It can also be caused by poorly lit fires.

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

It is also an excellent idea to clean the Ash tray and grate frequently. It is recommended to only use seasoned wood for burning, as it will create less creosote and less ash. Avoid burning cardboard, paper and plastic. They could release harmful chemicals for the flue and air, which could be released into your home.

The glass on the wood burning stove needs to be cleaned frequently too. Most newer wood stoves have self-cleaning windows, so they don't require as much scrubbing. If you're not able to make the glass on your wood stove as clean as you'd like, there are stove glass cleaners can be used on the window.

Some other helpful suggestions for maintaining your wood stove include turning the vent off when you are not using it and slamming a window or door to increase the flow of air. This will help keep the fire burning longer and more efficiently, as it won't have to work as hard to circulate air. It is recommended to not stack logs or place them in the fire for Wood burning stove outdoor long durations of time, since this could lead to warping and splitting. It is advised to avoid using compressed combustible wood in your wood stove since the paraffin that is contained in the wood can melt and then flow into the flue, which could cause damage.