How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves are a comfortable way to heat a room and save energy. They require some care.
Many modern wood stoves are compliant with EPA emission guidelines. You can look for an EPA sticker on the grate or underneath it to make sure your stove doesn't emit harmful pollutants.
How to Start a Wood Fire
The smell and sound of a wood fire could be a welcome addition to any home. But it's important to learn the proper way to make a fire on your stove. Incorrect methods can result in a fire that doesn't burn effectively and can cause smoke or creosote. These tips will help you begin a safe fire that will heat up your home quickly and efficiently.
Before you start a fire, check the condition of your logs and coals. If they're wet it will dampen your fire and prevent the proper burning. It is also possible to open the flue to let any ash out that has fallen into the stove.
Begin by putting a handful of small, dry pieces of newspaper in your stove. This will help ignite the tinder and ignite the kindling. When they begin to ignite, add a layer of larger pieces of tinder to the top of the pile. This should be done in a crosshatch fashion so that there will be air between each piece of wood.
If your wood stove has an automatic combustion control, it will automatically feed air to the flame as it grows. This allows the fire to burn steadily without having to open the door of your stove often to keep it in check.
It is important to not use too much tinder, as it can cause a fire that burns at a high rate and doesn't use the fuel as efficiently as it could. If you have a nice fire and a bed of tinder in your stove, start the main fire by placing two large base logs on the grill. Next, place an additional 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 produce an effective and long-lasting fire that doesn't engulf larger logs from the base.
Close the damper once the fire is established and keep it shut. The fire can be smothered if the user opens the damper prior to it being fully established. It will also reduce the efficiency of the fire.
Adding Wood
Stoves are not just beautiful home decor pieces they can also help you save money by supplying efficient wood heat. They can be used together with a central heating system or furnace to provide supplemental heating for large homes. The latest stoves that are clean-burning use a superior combustion principle that differentiates the burning process of volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar by supplying air in two different stages. The first stage allows the burning of volatile compounds, while the second step provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and decreases odors.
The amount of heat you get from a stove is contingent upon the type and amount of moisture of the wood you use, and also the size of logs. The logs should be stacked in a well-ventilated space for several months prior to when you try to burn them, to give the wood a chance to dry out. If the logs are soaked with excessive moisture, they will produce steam that is in essence wasted energy.
It is best to add wood to the pile at intervals, not all at one time. The addition of too much wood all at once can cause the temperature to rise within the firebox, causing an air vortex that draws smoke and volatile compounds that are not burned back into flames. This could decrease the effectiveness of your stove.
You should avoid the use of other combustibles such as paper or cardboard in your stove, because they are not wood and have very different physical properties that can't be burned without causing dangerously high temperatures and exorbitant emissions. Also, avoid using compressed combustibles, such as wood briquettes, as they have a distinct chemical and physical composition to real firewood and aren't suitable for burning in wood-burning stoves.
It is important that a professional install and test your wood stove. A certified WETT technician will test the stove for proper operation and safety, as well as make sure that your chimney is functioning correctly. They provide maintenance services for your stove and chimney to keep them in top shape. They can check for leaks in the areas accessible to your chimney and fix any issues they spot. They will also ensure that all occupants of the home understand and adhere to the fire evacuation procedures in the event of an accident.
Adjusting the Damper
A damper regulates how much heat escapes up the chimney when you're not using your stove. In addition, it can also help you manage the fire. If the flue opens but the damper is not closed the fire will not ignite properly and smoke will pour into your home. To ensure you have the best fire with your damper adjusted properly you must experiment with different positions and observe how each one affects the flames.
Typically, you should keep the damper open enough to let air flow in 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 right opening will prevent the fire from being deprived of air and stop it from blowing smoke.
To properly adjust your damper, you need to first make sure the fireplace is preheated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure the chimney is warm and also that it has a good draft. After cast iron wood burning stove for the wood stove can be adjusted.
After the fire has burned for an extended period, shut the damper around three quarters of the way. This will stop the warm air in the room from venturing into the chimney, but still permitting smoke to escape.
This is the most effective way to keep your fire lit and keep it from getting too hot. If you shut the damper too tightly, it may stop the draft from working, however should it be too open a cold breeze could enter your home.
You can check to see how much the damper is opened by holding your hand near the top of the of the flue pipe. If you feel a breeze rubbing against your hand, the damper is likely in the open position.
The damper setting can vary slightly from one stove to another and even between different types of wood. The process of experimenting with the various settings will give you an idea of what you should look for, but you will need to tweak it until you have found the ideal setting for your stove.
Clean Up
After the fire, it's essential to clean the stove and flue. This can reduce the chance of an explosion in the chimney which is the most common 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 the moisture and wood particles that are not burned that are unable to escape from the fire. This can also occur when fires aren't properly lit.
Regular cleaning helps keep away the buildup of creosote. This can be done by cleaning your chimney once a year. It is recommended to have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected at least once per year.
It is also recommended to clean the ash tray and grates regularly. It is recommended to burn only seasoned wood since it will create less creosote. It is also a good idea to avoid burning cardboard, paper plastic, and other waste items. These can release harmful chemicals for respiratory illnesses and the air, which could be released into your home.
It is also essential to wash the glass of the wood burning stove regularly. The majority of newer wood stoves are designed with self-cleaning glass, which means they do not require any cleaning. You can use stove glass cleaners on the window if you're able get the glass as clean as you would like on your wood stove.
Some other helpful tips to maintain your wood stove include turning the vent down when you are not using it, and opening windows or doors to increase air flow. This keeps the fire burning longer and more efficient. The wood stove will not have to work as hard in order to circulate air. It is also a good idea to not stack logs or keep them in the fire for long periods of time as this could lead to warping and splitting. It is recommended to avoid using compressed combustible wood in your wood stove since the paraffin in the logs can melt and leak into the flue and cause damage.