How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves can be a great method to reduce energy consumption and also heat the room. They will require some maintenance.
A majority of modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. You can look for an EPA sticker on the grate or underneath it to make sure your stove isn't releasing harmful pollutants.
How to Start a Wood Fire
The smell and sound of a wood fire can be a pleasant feature in any house. It is essential to know how to build a fire on your stove. Incorrect methods can result in the fire not burning efficiently and creates smoke or creosote. The tips below will help you start the fire that will warm your home with minimum effort and with the highest safety.
Check the condition of your coals and logs before you begin an fire. If they're wet they will choke your fire and prevent the proper burning. contemporary wood burning stoves may want to open the chimney to get rid of any ash that falls into the stove.
Begin by placing a handful of small dry pieces of newspaper in the stove. This will help ignite the tinder. After the tinder and kindling are beginning to burn, you can add a layer of larger kindling pieces on top. This should be done with an arc pattern so that there is air between each piece.
If you have a wood stove with an automatic control for combustion it will automatically supply an air stream controlled to your fire as it grows. This will help the fire to burn at a consistent pace without the need to open the stove door to maintain it.
Avoid using too much tinder as it can cause the fire to burn at a rapid rate and not use the fuel efficiently. After you've built a solid base in your stove with sparks, tinder and kindling to start the main flame, you can do this by placing two large base logs on the grill. On top of these base logs, place a layer perpendicularly to them. This method of constructing the fire is 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. The fire may be smothered if you open the damper before it has fully established. It will also reduce the effectiveness of the fire.
Add Wood
Stoves can be used to heat your home efficiently and save you money. They can be used together with a central heating system or furnace to provide supplemental heating for large houses. Many of the new clean burning stoves that are available on the market use an advanced combustion principle which is able to separate the burning volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar. This is achieved by supplying air in two different stages. The first stage allows for the combustion of volatile compounds and the second stage supplies fresh air that has been pre-heated. This improves combustion and decreases smells.
The amount of heat that you can get from a stove will depend on the type and amount of moisture of the wood, and also the size of the logs. The logs should be stacked in a ventilated area for several months before you attempt to burn them, to allow the wood to dry. If the logs contain too much moisture, they will produce steam which is essentially wasted power.
When you are burning the fire, add more wood to the pile at intervals, but not all at all at. Adding too much wood at one time can cause the temperature of the firebox to rise and creates a vortex that draws smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into the flame, which could reduce the efficiency of your stove.
Avoid using other combustibles in your stove such as cardboard or paper, because they are not wood. They have different physical properties and can't be burned without creating dangerously high temperatures. It is not recommended to burn compressed combustibles such as wood briquettes because they differ in physical and chemical composition from firewood. They are also not type-approved to be used in wood-burning stoves.
It is important that a professional install and test your wood burning stove. A certified WETT technician will test the installation for safe operation and safety, as well as ensure that your chimney is functioning properly. They also provide maintenance services to keep your chimney and stove in good condition. They can check the areas that are accessible to your chimney for leaks, and fix any issues that are discovered. They will also make sure that the occupants of your home know and follow the fire evacuation procedures in case of an emergency.
Adjusting the Damper
A damper regulates how much heat is lost through the chimney when you're not using your stove. Additionally, it can also help you control the fire. If the flue opens, but the damper is too closed the fire will not be able to burn as it should and smoke will billow into your home. To ensure that you get the best fire with the damper properly adjusted, you should experiment with different locations and observe how each affects the flames.
Typically, you should keep the damper open enough to let air enter and out of the flue while a fire is burning. This lets the fire get a good fire going and keeps it lit so you can enjoy it for hours. The right opening will also keep the fire from being starved of air, and also prevent it from blowing out smoke.
To be able to adjust your damper, you need to first ensure that the fireplace is heated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney stays warm and has good draft. Once these are done the damper on the wood stove can be adjusted.
Once the fire has smolder slightly, you need to close the damper to about three-quarters of its full position. This will stop the warm air from the room from venturing into the chimney, while still permitting smoke to escape.
This is the best way to ensure that your fire is lit and keep it from getting too hot. The draft might be stopped if one closes the damper to far but a cold wind could enter your home if the damper is left open.
By placing your hands on the top of the flue pipe will show you how much the damper has sunk. If you feel a slight breeze pushing against your palm the damper is probably to be open.
The damper setting can vary a little from one stove to the next and even between different types of wood. Experimenting with the various settings will give you an idea of what to look for, but you will have to keep adjusting it until you find the perfect setting for your stove.
Clean Up
After a fire, it is important to clean the flue and stove. This will reduce the risk of an explosion in the chimney, which is the primary reason for fires caused by wood stoves. Creosote, a sticky substance that forms on the inside of the stovepipe and can be extremely hazardous. It is caused by moisture and unburned wood particles that cannot escape the fire. This can also be caused by fires that are not lit properly.
A regular cleaning schedule can help keep the buildup of creosote at bay. This can be done by cleaning your chimney once every year. It is recommended to have your stove and fireplace professionally inspected and cleaned at least once per year as well.
It is also an excellent idea to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is a good idea to only use seasoned wood for burning, as this will result in less creosote as well as ash. It is also a good idea to avoid burning paper, cardboard or plastic items. They could release harmful chemicals for the flue and atmosphere, which may be released into your home.
It is also essential to wash the glass of the wood burning stove regularly. Many modern wood stoves come with self-cleaning windows, which means they do not require as much scrubbing. You can apply stove glass cleaners to the glass if you aren't getting the glass as clean as you'd like on your wood stove.
Other tips to keep your wood stove in good condition include turning down the vent when you're not using it, and slamming doors or windows to increase airflow. This will ensure that the fire is burning more hot and efficient. The wood stove won't have to perform as hard to circulate air. It is advisable not to stack logs or place them on the fire for an extended period of time. This can cause splits and warping. Finally, it is recommended to not use compressed combustible logs in your wood stove because the paraffin in them can melt and then flow down into the flue, which could cause damage.