How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves are a comfortable way to heat a space and also save energy. They require some care.
Many modern wood stoves conform to EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker either under or on the grate to make sure your stove won't produce a lot of harmful pollutants.
How to Start a Wood Fire
The smell and sound of a wood fire could be a wonderful feature in any house. But it's important to learn how to properly create a fire on your stove. Improper techniques can result in a fire which does not burn efficiently, and produces smoke or creosote. These tips will help you begin an efficient fire that will heat up your home quickly and effectively.
Check the condition of your coals and logs before you start the fire. If they're wet it will dampen your fire and prevent the proper burning. You may want to open the chimney to remove any ash that's fallen into the stove.
Begin by placing a handful of small dry pieces of newspaper in the stove. This will help ignite the tinder. Once the tinder and kindling have begun to burn, you can put an additional layer of larger pieces on the top. This should be done in a crosshatch pattern so there will be air between each piece of wood.
If you own a wood stove that has an automatic combustion control, it will automatically feed an air stream controlled to the flame as it heats. This will enable the fire to burn at a steady rate without having to open the stove's door to maintain it.
It is essential to avoid using too much tinder, since this could result in a fire that burns at an excessive rate and doesn't use the fuel as efficiently as possible. After you've built a solid foundation in your stove that is made of tinder, kindling and embers to start the main flame, you can do this by placing two large logs of the base on the grill. On the top of these base logs, place a layer perpendicularly to them. This "top-down" method of creating the fireplace will create an effective and long-lasting fire that doesn't consume larger logs from the base.
Close the damper once the fire is established and kept it shut. The fire can be smothered if the user opens the damper before it has fully established. It will also reduce the effectiveness of the fire.
Add Wood
Stoves can be used to efficiently heat your home and save you money. They can be utilized together with a central heating system or furnace to provide additional heat in large homes. A lot of the stoves that are clean-burning employ a superior combustion process that separates the burning of volatile compounds from the combustion of combustible gases and tar by providing air in two distinct stages. The first stage allows for the burning of volatile compounds, while the second step provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and reduces the odors.
The amount of heat that you can get from your stove is contingent on both the species of wood used and the amount of moisture and the size of the logs. The logs should be stacked in a ventilated area for a period of time before you try to burn them, to give the wood a chance to dry. If the logs are too wet they will create plenty of steam that is in essence wasted energy.
When you are burning the fire, it is recommended to add more wood to the stack in intervals, and not all at all at. Adding too much wood at once can cause the temperature of the firebox to rise and produces a vortex that sucks smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into the flame, which can decrease your stove's efficiency.
It is recommended to stay clear of other combustibles, like cardboard or paper in your stove, since they are not wood and have very different physical properties that cannot be burned without creating dangerously high temperatures and a lot of emissions. You should not burn compressed combustibles such as wood briquettes since they differ in chemical and physical composition from firewood. They are also not approved by the type to be used in wood burning stoves.
If you're installing a wood burning stove in your home, it's essential to have it installed and tested by a qualified. A certified WETT technician can test your stove to ensure it is safe and functional. They can also make sure whether your chimney is working properly. They provide maintenance services for your chimney and stove to keep them in top condition. They will look for leaks in the areas that are accessible to your chimney, and fix any issues they spot. They will also ensure that all residents of the home understand and follow the fire evacuation procedure in case of an accident.
Adjusting the Damper
A damper regulates the amount of heat that is lost to the chimney when you're not cooking on your stove. In addition to this it can also help to control the flame. If the flue is open but the damper is closed, the fire will not burn properly and smoke will erupt into your home. You can adjust the damper to get the best flames by playing around with different positions.
It is important to keep your damper open to allow air to flow into and out of the flue while a fire is burning. This will let the fire start and remain lit for a number of hours. The proper opening will prevent the fire from starving of air and will keep it from blowing smoke.
To adjust your damper correctly first, make sure that the fireplace is preheated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney is warm, and it also has a good draft. After this, the wood stove damper can be adjusted.
After the fire has burned for a while, you should close the damper about three quarters of the way. This will stop warm air from the room from getting into the chimney, while still permitting smoke to escape.
This is the best way to stop the fire from becoming too hot while still keeping it lit. The draft might be stopped if you shut the damper too tightly however a cold breeze can enter your home if the damper is left open.
You can determine how much the damper is open by holding your hand near the top of the inside of the flue pipe. If you feel a slight breeze pressing against your hand, it's probably in the open position.
The damper setting can vary a little 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 ideal setting for your stove.
Clean up
After the fire, it's crucial to clean the flue and stove. This can lower the risk of a chimney fire which is the most common reason for wood stove fires in homes. Creosote, a sticky substance that forms on the inside of the stovepipe and can be very dangerous. Moisture and unburned particles of wood that cannot escape the flame are the reason for this chemical. This can also be caused when fires are not properly lit.
Regular cleaning can help prevent creosote buildup. 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 examined at least yearly.
fireplaces wood burning stoves is also recommended to clean the ash tray and grate regularly. It is a good idea to only use seasoned wood to burn, since this will result in less creosote and less ash. Avoid burning cardboard, paper and plastic. These materials can release harmful chemicals into the air and flue that could end up in your home.
The glass on the wood burning stove has to be cleaned regularly as well. The majority of newer wood stoves have self-cleaning glass, which means they do not require any scrubbing. You can apply stove glass cleaners to the window if you're able get the glass as clean as you want on your wood stove.
Other helpful suggestions for maintaining your wood stove include turning the vent off when you're not using it, and opening a window or door to allow more air flow. This will keep the fire burning more hot and efficiently. The wood stove will not have to work as hard in order to circulate air. It is also a good idea not stack logs or place them in the fire for prolonged periods of time as this can lead to splitting and warping. Finally, it is a good idea to not use compressed combustible logs in your wood stove, because the paraffin they contain can melt and flow into the flue which could cause damage to the stove.