How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

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

A majority of modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker under or beside the grate, to ensure that your stove won't produce lots of harmful pollutants.

How to start a Wood Fire

The smell and sound of a fire can be an enjoyable addition to any house. It's crucial to learn the correct method to make a fire on your stove. Incorrect methods can result in an unburned fire that doesn't burn effectively and produces creosote or smoke. The tips below will assist you in starting an fire that can heat your home with the least effort and with the highest security.

Check the condition of your logs and coals before you start an fire. If they are too wet they will choke the flame and stop it from burning properly. It is possible to open the chimney to eliminate any ash that falls into the stove.

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

If your indoor wood burner stove stove is equipped with an automatic combustion control, it will automatically supply air to the fire as it expands. This will help the fire to burn at a consistent pace without the need to open the stove's doors to tend it.

Do not use excessive tinder since it can cause the fire to burn at an extremely fast rate and will not be able to use the fuel effectively. Once you've made a solid base in your stove with tinder, kindling and embers to start the main flame, you can do this by laying two large logs of the base on the grill. Next, place a layer of smaller logs that are perpendicular to them and on top of the base logs. This "top-down" method of creating a fireplace will result in a long-lasting, efficient fire that doesn't consume larger base logs.

Close the damper when your fire is established, and keep it shut. Opening the damper too soon can cause the fire smother and will not allow for the correct air flow, which can reduce its efficiency.

Add Wood

Stoves are not just beautiful home décor stove wood burning pieces - they can help you save money by providing efficient wood heating. They can be used in conjunction with a central heating system or furnace to provide supplemental heating in large homes. A lot of the stoves that burn cleanly available on the market use advanced combustion principles that can separate the burning volatile substances from combustible gases and tar. This is done by supplying air in two distinct stages. The first stage allows the combustion of volatile compounds and the second provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and reduces odors.

The amount of heat that you will get from your stove will depend on the kind of wood and the amount of moisture and the size of the logs. The logs should be stacked in a well-ventilated area for a period of time before you try to burn them, to give the wood a chance to dry. If the logs contain excessive moisture, they will produce steam that is in essence wasted power.

During the burning of the fire, it is recommended to add more wood to the stack in intervals, not all at one time. The addition of too much wood all at once could cause the temperature to rise within the firebox, creating a vortex which pulls smoke and unburned volatile compounds back into flames. This can reduce the effectiveness of your stove.

Avoid using other combustibles inside your stove, like cardboard or paper, because they are not wood. They have different physical properties and cannot be burned without causing dangerously high temperatures. Also, avoid using compressed combustibles, such as wood briquettes as they have a distinct chemical and physical composition to actual firewood and are not suitable for use in wood burning stoves.

If you're planning to install wood-burning stoves into your home, it's crucial to have it installed and tested by a professional. A certified WETT technician can examine your stove to make sure it is safe and reliable. They will also check that your chimney is functioning properly. They offer maintenance services for your chimney and stove to ensure they remain in top shape. They can inspect the areas accessible to your chimney for leaks, and fix any issues discovered. They will also make sure that all house occupants know and follow the fire evacuation guidelines in the event of an emergency.

Adjusting the Damper

A damper controls how much heat is lost up the chimney when you aren't using your stove. It can also be used to regulate the fire. If the flue is open but the damper is closed too much the fire won't be able to burn properly and will release smoke into your living area. To ensure that you get the most effective fire using the damper properly adjusted, you should experiment with different locations and observe how each affects the flames.

It is important to keep your damper open to allow air to be able to enter and exit the flue when a flame is burning. This will allow the fire to begin and stay lit for many hours. A proper opening will prevent the fire from starving of air and will keep it from blowing smoke.

To properly adjust your damper you need to first make sure the fireplace is heated and the wood stove is warm. This will ensure the chimney is warm and also that it has a strong draft. Once these are done the wood stove damper can be adjusted.

Once the fire has burned for a while, you can reduce the damper to around three-quarters of its original position. This will stop the warm air in the room from venting into the chimney, while allowing smoke to escape out of the wood stove.

This is the most effective way to ensure that your fire is lit and prevent it from getting too hot. If you shut the damper too far it may stop the draft from working, however when it's too open a cold breeze could enter your home.

You can test how much the damper is opened by placing your hands near the top of the of the flue pipe. If you feel a slight breeze pushing against your palm, Stove wood burning the damper is likely to be open.

The damper settings can differ a little from one stove to the next and even between different kinds of wood. You can experiment with various settings to get a sense of the ideal setting for your stove.

Clean Up

After a fire, it is essential to clean the stove wood burning and flue. This will help reduce the risk of a chimney fire which is the primary reason for wood stove fires in homes. Creosote is a sticky substance which can build up within the stovepipe, can be very dangerous. The moisture and the unburned parts of wood that are unable to escape the fire are responsible for this substance. It could also be caused by poorly lit fires.

A regular cleaning routine can help keep the buildup of creosote at bay. This can be accomplished by sweeping your chimney at least once a year. It is also recommended that you have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and checked at least yearly.

Also, it's an excellent idea to clean the ash tray and grates regularly. It is recommended to burn only seasoned wood since it will create less creosote. Avoid burning cardboard, paper and plastic. They could release chemicals that are dangerous for the respiratory tract and the air, and could be released into your home.

The glass that is used on the wood burning stove needs to be cleaned regularly as well. Many newer wood stoves are made with self-cleaning glass, which means that they don't require a lot of scrubs. If you are not able to get the glass on your wood stove as clean as you would like, there are stove glass cleaners that you can use on the window.

Other suggestions to keep your wood stove in good condition include lowering the vent when you're not using it and opening doors or windows to allow more airflow. This keeps the fire burning hotter, and more efficient. The wood stove won't have to be as active to circulate air. It is also a good idea not stack logs or place them in the fire for long periods of time as this could lead to warping and splitting. It is advised to avoid using compressed combustible wood in your wood stove because the paraffin contained within them can melt and flow into the flue which could cause damage.