How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves are a comfortable way to heat a space and conserve energy. However, they need an amount of care.
Many modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. You can look for an EPA sticker on the grate or beneath it to make sure your stove doesn't release harmful pollutants.
How to Start a Wood Fire
The sound and smell of a wood fire can be a pleasant addition to any home. It's important to know how to create a fire on your stove. Incorrect techniques may lead to an unburned fire that doesn't burn efficiently, and produces smoke or creosote. These tips will help you start a fire that will heat your home with minimum effort and maximum safety.
Before you begin a fire, check the condition of your coals and logs. If they are too wet they will choke the flame and stop it from burning properly. It is also possible to open the flue to let any ash that has fallen into the stove.
Begin by putting a handful of small, dry pieces of newspaper in the stove. This will help to spark the tinder and ignite your kindling. After the tinder and kindling are beginning to burn, you can add the larger kindling pieces on top. This should be done in a crosshatch fashion so that there will be air between each piece of wood.
If you own wood stoves that have an automatic control of combustion that will automatically deliver an air stream controlled to your fire as it grows. This will allow the fire to burn at a consistent pace without the need to open the stove's door to tend it.
It is important to not use too much tinder, as it can cause an unburned fire that burns at a high rate and doesn't use the fuel as efficiently as possible. When you have a good fire and a bed of tinder in your stove, begin the main fire by placing two large base logs across the grill. Then, add an additional layer of smaller logs perpendicular to these and on top of the base logs. This method of constructing a fire called a "top-down" fire will result in an effective and long-lasting fire that doesn't engulf the larger base logs.
Close the damper after the fire is established and keep it shut. Opening the damper too soon can cause the fire to smother and will not allow for the correct air flow, which can decrease the efficiency of the fire.
Add Wood
Stoves aren't just beautiful home décor pieces - they can help you save money by providing efficient wood heat. They can be used alone or together with central heating or furnace system to provide the supplemental heat needed in large homes or houses with a lot of rooms. A lot of the stoves that burn clean utilize a superior combustion method that separates the burning of volatile compounds from combustible gasses and tar by supplying air in two distinct stages. The first stage allows for the burning of volatile compounds and the second stage provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves the combustion process and helps reduce the odors.
The amount of heat you will get from a stove will depend on the species and the moisture content of the wood you use and also the dimensions of the logs. To allow the wood to dry, logs should be stored in a well ventilated location for a couple of months prior to burning. If the logs are too wet they will release a lot of steam that is basically wasted energy.
While you're burning the fire, it is recommended to add more wood to the stack in intervals, not all at once. Addition of too much wood all at once could cause the temperature to rise in the firebox, creating the formation of a vortex that pulls smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into flames. This can reduce the efficiency of your stove.
It is recommended to stay clear of other combustibles like cardboard or paper in your stove, as they are not wood and possess different physical properties and cannot be burned without creating dangerously high temperatures and a lot of emissions. You should not burn combustibles that are compressed, 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.
wood burning stoves near me is important that you have a professional install and test your wood stove. A certified WETT technician will examine your stove to make sure it is safe and reliable. They will also check that your chimney works correctly. These experts can also provide maintenance services to keep your chimney and stove in top condition. They can inspect the areas that are accessible to your chimney for leakage, and fix any issues found. They will also make sure that the occupants of your home are aware of and adhere to the fire evacuation guidelines in case in the event of an emergency.
Adjusting the Damper
A damper regulates how much heat escapes through the chimney when you're not cooking on your stove. It can also be used to manage the flame. If the flue is open but the damper is too closed, the fire will not burn properly and smoke will pour into your home. You can adjust your damper to get the best flames by experimenting with different locations.
You want 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 stay lit for many hours. The right opening will prevent the fire from being deprived of air and prevent it from blowing smoke.
To be able to adjust your damper, you need to ensure that the fireplace is heated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure the chimney is warm, and that it has an adequate draft. After this, the wood stove damper may be adjusted.
Once the fire has burned for a while, you can shut the damper down to about three-quarters of its full position. This will stop the warm air from the room from going into the chimney, while allowing smoke to escape out of the wood stove.
This is the most effective way to prevent the fire from becoming too hot while still keeping it lit. If you close the damper too much, it could block the draft from working, but when it's too open, a cold wind could blow through your home.
You can test how much the damper is opened by holding your hand near the top of the of the flue pipe. If you feel a slight breeze pushing against your hand, the damper is likely in an open position.
The damper's setting can vary a little from one stove to another 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
It is essential to clean your flue and stove after an incident. 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 inside the stovepipe, is extremely hazardous. Moisture and unburned particles of wood that are unable to escape the fire are the cause for this chemical. This can also be caused by fires that are not lit properly.
Regular cleaning helps to prevent creosote buildup. The most effective method for doing this is to sweep the chimney each year. It is recommended to have your fireplace and stove professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year, too.
It is also a good idea for you to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is recommended to only burn wood that has been seasoned, as it will produce less creosote. Avoid burning paper, cardboard and plastic. They can release harmful chemicals for respiratory illnesses and the atmosphere, which may be released into your home.
The glass in the wood burning stove needs to be cleaned frequently as well. Most newer wood stoves have self-cleaning windows so they don't require as much scrubbing. If you are not able to make the glass on your wood stove as clean as you would like There are stove glass cleaners that can be used on the window.
Some other helpful tips for maintaining your wood stove include turning the vent down when you're not using it, and opening a window or door to increase the flow of air. This will keep the fire burning hotter and more efficiently, as it won't have to exert as much effort to circulate air. It is advisable not to stack logs or leave them on the fire for a long period of time. This can lead to splitting and warping. In addition, it is a good idea to not use compressed combustible logs in your wood stove, as the paraffin they contain can melt and then flow down the flue which could damage it.