How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove

wood burners stoves are a cozy way to heat a room and save energy. They will require some maintenance.

Many modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. You can check for an EPA sticker on the grate or under it to make sure your stove isn't releasing harmful pollutants.

How to Start a Wood Fire

The scent and sound of a wood fire could be a welcome feature in any home. However, it is important to know how to properly make a fire on your stove. Incorrect techniques can lead to the fire not burning efficiently and creates creosote or smoke. The following tips can help you create a fire that is safe and will warm your home quickly and efficiently.

Examine the condition of your logs and coals before you begin the fire. If they are too wet they could smother the fire and prevent it from burning efficiently. It is possible to open the chimney to eliminate any ash that's fallen into the stove.

Begin by putting some small, dry newspaper pieces in your stove. This will help ignite the tinder and ignite the kindling. When the tinder and the kindling have started to burn, you can put 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 you have a wood stove wood burning that has an automatic combustion control it will automatically supply an air stream controlled to the fire as it builds. This will enable the fire to burn at a consistent pace without the need to open the stove's doors to maintain it.

Be careful not to use too much tinder as it can cause the fire to burn at a rapid rate and will not be able to use the fuel efficiently. After you've built a solid foundation in your stove that is made of tinder, kindling and embers begin the main flame by laying down two large base logs on the grate. Then, you can lay a layer of smaller logs that are perpendicular to them and on the top of the base logs. This "top-down" method of creating a fireplace will produce a long-lasting and effective fire that doesn't consume larger logs from the base.

Once the fire is established shut off the damper and keep it closed. Opening the damper too soon can cause the fire to get smothered and not allow for the correct air flow, which can decrease the efficiency of the fire.

Adding Wood

Stoves are not just beautiful home décor pieces - they can help you save money by supplying efficient wood heat. They can be utilized together with a central heating system or furnace to provide additional heat in large homes. Many of the new stoves that burn cleanly available on the market use an advanced combustion principle which can separate the burning volatile substances from combustible gasses as well as tar. This is accomplished by supplying air at two distinct stages. The first stage allows the vaporization of the volatile compounds, while the second step offers fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves the combustion process and helps to reduce the odors.

The amount of heat you get from a stove is contingent upon the species and the moisture content of the wood you use and also the dimensions of logs. The logs should be stored in a ventilated area for a period of time before you attempt to burn them, to give the wood time to dry. If the logs have too much moisture, they will create steam which is essentially wasted energy.

While you're burning the fire, add more wood to the stack at intervals, but not all at one time. Too much wood added at once causes the temperature in the firebox to increase and produces a vortex that sucks smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into the flame which can reduce your stove's efficiency.

Avoid burning other combustibles in your stove, such as paper or cardboard, as they are not wood. They have different physical properties and are unable to be burned without creating dangerously high temperatures. Also, you should not use compressed combustibles like wood briquettes as they have a completely different chemical and physical composition to real firewood and aren't type-approved for burning in wood-burning stoves.

It is crucial that a professional install and test your wood burning stove. A certified WETT technician will test the stove for proper operation and safety, and also ensure that your chimney is working correctly. These professionals offer maintenance services for your stove and chimney to ensure they remain in top condition. They can check the areas that are accessible to your chimney for leaks, and repair any problems found. They will also ensure that the residents of the house understand and comply with the fire evacuation guidelines in the event in the event of an emergency.

Adjusting the Damper

When you're not cooking on your stove, a damper can control the amount of heat that is lost through the chimney. It can also be used wood burning stoves to manage the flame. If the flue opens but the damper is not closed the fire won't ignite properly and smoke will billow into your home. To ensure you have the best fire with your damper adjusted properly you must play around with different locations and observe how each one affects the flames.

You should keep your damper open to allow air to be able to enter and exit the flue when a fire is burning. This lets the fire start a fire and keeps it lit so you can enjoy it for long periods of time. The right opening will prevent the fire from becoming depleted of air and prevent it from blowing smoke.

In order to properly adjust your damper you need to first make sure the fireplace is heated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure the chimney is warm and that it has a good draft. After this, the wood stove damper may be adjusted.

Once the fire has smolder slightly, you need to reduce the damper to around three-quarters of its maximum. This will prevent the warm air in the room from venting into the chimney, while allowing smoke to escape out of the wood stove.

This is the best method to keep the fire from getting too hot, while also keeping it burning. The draft may be stopped if you close the damper to far, but a cold wind could be able to enter your home if the damper is not closed.

By placing your hands on the top of the flue pipe will inform you how much the damper has opened. If you feel a breeze rubbing against your hand the damper is probably in the open position.

The damper settings can differ from one stove to the next and even between different kinds of wood. You can experiment with different settings to get an idea of the most suitable setting for your stove.

Clean Up

After a fire, it is important to clean the stove and flue. This will to reduce the chance of a chimney fire which is the primary cause of wood stove related fires in homes. Creosote, a sticky material that can accumulate within the stovepipe, can be extremely hazardous. It is caused by moisture and unburned wood particles that are unable to escape the fire. It could be caused by improperly lit fires.

A regular cleaning routine helps prevent the buildup of creosote. The best method to do this is by sweeping the chimney at least once a year. It is also recommended to have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a every year.

Also, it is an excellent idea to clean the ash tray and grates regularly. It is recommended to only burn wood that has been seasoned, as it will produce less creosote. It is also an excellent idea to avoid burning paper, cardboard plastic, and other waste items. They can release chemicals that can be dangerous for the flue and air, and could be released into your home.

It is also necessary to clean the glass of the wood stove regularly. Many modern wood stoves come with self-cleaning windows, which means they don't require as much cleaning. You can use stove glass cleaners on the window if you're not able get the glass as clean as you want on your wood stove.

Other helpful suggestions for maintaining your wood stove are to turn the vent down when you are not using it and cracking the door or window to increase air flow. This will keep the fire burning hotter and more efficiently since it won't have to exert as much effort to circulate air. It is also a good idea not stack logs or keep them in the fire for prolonged periods of time, as this can lead to splitting and warping. It is recommended to avoid using combustible wood that has been compressed in your wood stove as the paraffin in them can melt and flow into the flue and cause damage.