How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

Wood stoves are a warm way to heat a space and save energy. They do require some maintenance.

Many modern wood stoves meet EPA emissions guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker under or beside the grate to make sure your stove doesn't create lots of harmful pollutants.

How to Start a Wood Fire

The smell and sound of a woodfire can be a welcome addition in any home. It's essential to know how to build a fire on your stove. Improper techniques can result in a fire which does not burn effectively, and Wood Burner Stoves can produce creosote or smoke. The following tips can assist you in starting the fire that will warm your home with minimal effort and maximum safety.

Examine the condition of your logs and coals before you begin a fire. If they are too wet they could smother the flame and stop it from burning properly. You might also want to open the flue to let any ash out that has been deposited into the stove.

Begin by putting some small newspaper pieces that are dry and clean into your stove. This will help to ignite the tinder and ignite the kindling. When the tinder and the kindling are beginning to burn, you can add the larger kindling pieces on top. This should be done in a crosshatch pattern, so that there is air between each piece of wood.

If your wood stove wood burning (one-time offer) comes with an automatic combustion control it will automatically supply air to the fire as it grows. This will allow the fire to burn steadily without having to open the stove's door constantly to tend to it.

Be careful not to use too much tinder, as this will cause the fire to burn at a fast rate and not use the fuel efficiently. Once you've made a solid bed in your stove of tinder, kindling and embers to start the main flame, you can do this by laying down two large logs of the base on the grill. Next, place a layer of smaller logs that are perpendicular to them and on the top of the base logs. This method of constructing the fire is called a "top-down" fire can result in a successful and long-lasting fire that will not completely consume the larger base logs.

Once your fire is well established, close the damper and ensure it stays closed. The fire may be smothered if you open the damper before it has fully established. It will also reduce the efficiency of the fire.

Adding Wood

Stoves aren't just beautiful home décor pieces They can also help you save money by providing efficient wood heating. They can be used together with a central heating system or furnace to provide additional heating for large houses. Many of the new stoves that burn clean use a superior combustion principle that differentiates the by issues they spot. They will also make sure that the residents of the house know and follow the evacuation procedures for fire in case of an emergency.

Adjusting the Damper

When you're not making use of your stove, a damper controls the amount of heat that is lost through the chimney. It can also be used to manage the fire. If the flue opens, but the damper is closed the fire won't be able to burn as it should and smoke will billow into your home. You can adjust your damper to get the best flames by experimenting with different locations.

You should keep your damper open to allow air to flow into and out of the flue while a fire is burning. This allows the fire to get a good fire going and helps it stay in good shape so that you can enjoy it for long periods of time. The right opening will prevent the fire from being starved of air and prevent it from blowing smoke.

To adjust your damper correctly, 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 has a good draft. After these steps are completed, the damper for wood stoves can be adjusted.

After the fire has burned for a while, you should shut the damper around three quarters of the way. This will stop warm air in the room from venting into the chimney, while allowing the smoke to escape from the wood stove.

This is the best way to keep your fire burning and prevent it from getting too hot. If you shut the damper too far it could stop the draft from working, but should it be too open a cold breeze could blow into your home.

You can check to see how much the damper is opened by placing your hands near the top of the inside of the flue pipe. If you feel a breeze pushing against your hand, the damper is likely in the open position.

The damper settings can differ a little from one stove to the next, 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 have found the ideal setting for your stove.

Clean Up

After the fire, it's essential to clean the flue and stove. This can lower the risk of a chimney fire, which is the primary reason for wood stove fires in homes. Creosote, a sticky substance that builds up on the inside of the stovepipe and is extremely dangerous. The moisture and the unburned parts of wood that cannot escape the fire are the cause for this chemical. It can also be caused by improperly lit fires.

A regular cleaning schedule can help keep the buildup of creosote at bay. The best way to do this is by sweeping the chimney every year. It is recommended that you have your stove and fireplace professionally inspected and cleaned at least once a year, too.

It is also recommended to clean out the ash tray and grate regularly. It is recommended to only burn wood that has been seasoned, as it will produce less creosote. Avoid burning cardboard, paper and plastic. These items could release dangerous chemicals for the flue and air, which could be released in your home.

The glass on the wood burning stove has to be cleaned regularly as well. The majority of newer wood stoves are made with self-cleaning glass, meaning that they do not require much scrubs. You can make use of stove glass cleaners on the glass if you aren't capable of getting the glass as clean as you'd like on your wood stove.

Other suggestions to keep your wood stove in good condition include lowering the vent when you're not using it, and slamming doors or windows to allow more airflow. This will help keep the fire burning more hot and more efficiently, since it won't have to be as active to circulate air. It is recommended not to stack logs or place them on the fire for a long period of time. This can lead to splits and warping. It is best wood burners to avoid using compressed combustible wood burners in your wood stove because the paraffin contained within the logs can melt and leak into the flue and cause damage.