How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

Wood stoves are a cozy way to heat a room and also save energy. They require some care.

Many modern wood stoves are compliant with EPA emission guidelines. You can check for an EPA sticker on the grate or under it to ensure that your stove doesn't emit harmful pollutants.

How to start a Wood Fire

The sound and smell of a wood fire can be a wonderful addition to any home. It's essential to know how to create an effective fire on your stove. Improper techniques can result in an unburned fire that doesn't burn effectively and can cause smoke or creosote. The tips below will help you begin a safe fire that can heat your home quickly and efficiently.

Before you begin an fire, make sure you check the condition of your coals and logs. If they are wet they will choke the fire and prevent it from burning efficiently. You may want to open the chimney to get rid of any ash that's fallen into the stove.

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

If your wood stove is equipped with an automatic combustion control it will automatically pump air into the flame as it grows. This will allow the fire to burn continuously without having to open the stove door frequently to check on it.

It is important to not use excessive tinder as this can lead to the fire burning at a high rate and doesn't make use of the fuel as efficiently as it can. When you have a good pile of tinder and some kindling in your stove, you can start the main fire by placing two large base logs across the grill. Next, place small logs perpendicular to these and on the top of the base logs. This method of creating a fire known as a "top-down" fire can result in a successful and long-lasting fire that will not overtake the larger base logs.

Once the fire is established shut off the damper and ensure it stays closed. Doing this too soon could cause the fire to be smothered, and it will not allow for the proper airflow, which will lower the effectiveness of the fire.

Add Wood

Stoves are not just beautiful home décor pieces they can also help you save money by providing efficient wood heating. They can be used together with central heating systems or furnace to provide additional heating in large homes. A lot of the stoves that are clean burning available today utilize advanced combustion technology that can separate the burning volatile substances from combustible gases and tar. This is accomplished by supplying air at two different stages. The first stage allows the vaporization of the volatile compounds and the second stage provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and reduces odors.

The amount of heat that you get from your stove is contingent on both the species of wood and the amount of moisture as well as the size of the logs. The logs must be stored in a well-ventilated space for several months before you try to burn them, to give the wood a chance to dry ouflue when a flame is burning. This lets the fire get going and helps it stay lit so you can enjoy it for a long time. The right opening will also prevent the fire from starving of air and prevent it from blowing smoke.

To properly adjust your damper first, make sure that the fireplace is heated and that the wood stove is hot. This will ensure the chimney is warm, and that it has a good draft. After that, the wood stove damper can be adjusted.

Once the fire has burned for a while, you can shut the damper down to about three-quarters of its original position. This will prevent warm air in the room from escaping into the chimney, while still allowing smoke to escape.

This is the best way to stop the fire from becoming too hot while still keeping it lit. If you close the damper too tightly, it may stop the draft from working, however if it is too open a cold breeze could blow into your home.

You can test how much the damper is opened by placing your hands near the top of the inside of the flue pipe. If you feel a small breeze pushing against your hand the damper is probably to be open.

The damper settings can differ from one stove to the next Versatile and Efficient Outdoor Wood Burning Stove even among different types of wood. You can experiment with various settings to get a sense of the ideal setting for your stove.

Clean Up

After an incident, it is important to clean the stove and flue. This will reduce the risk of a fire in the chimney, which is the primary cause of fires that are caused by wood stoves. Creosote, a sticky substance that accumulates on the stovepipe's interior and can be extremely hazardous. It is caused by moisture and unburned wood particles that are unable to escape from the fire. It can also be caused by poorly lit fires.

A regular cleaning schedule can help keep the buildup of creosote at bay. This can be accomplished by cleaning your chimney once a year. It is also recommended to have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and examined at least year.

Also, it's an excellent idea to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is recommended to burn only seasoned wood, as it will produce less creosote. Avoid burning paper, cardboard and plastic. These items can release dangerous chemicals into the flue and air, which can be released into your home.

It is also important to clean the glass of the wood-burning stove regularly. Many newer wood stoves have self-cleaning glass, which means they do not require much scrubbing. If you're unable to get the glass on your wood stove as clean as you'd like There are stove glass cleaners you can use on the window.

Other suggestions to keep your wood stove in good condition include turning down the vent when you aren't using it, and cracking windows or doors to allow more airflow. This will keep the fire burning hotter, and more efficiently. The wood stove won't have to be as active to circulate air. It is advisable not to stack logs, or let them sit on the fire for a long duration. This can cause splits and warping. It is also best to avoid using compressed combustible Versatile Outdoor Wood Burning Stove For Adventure! logs in your wood stove, because the paraffin they contain can melt and then flow down into the flue, which could cause damage to the stove.