How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves can be an excellent option to conserve energy and also heat a room. They will require some maintenance.
Many modern wood stoves are compliant with EPA emission guidelines. You can check for an EPA sticker on the grate or under it to make sure your stove doesn't release harmful pollutants.
How to Start a Wood Fire
The smell and the sound of a fire can be a welcome addition in any house. It's crucial to learn the correct method to build a fire in your stove. Unintentional methods can lead to a fire which does not burn effectively, and can produce smoke or creosote. These tips can help you create a safe fire that will heat up your home quickly and effectively.
Before you begin an fire, make sure you check the condition of your coals and logs. If they are wet, they will smother the flame and stop it from burning properly. It is possible to open the chimney to get rid of any ash that falls into the stove.
Begin by putting a handful of small dry newspaper pieces in your stove. This will help to ignite the tinder and ignite the kindling. Once they start to burn, add another layer of larger pieces of kindling to the top of the pile. 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 a controlled stream of air to the fire as it builds. This will help the fire to burn at a consistent pace without the need to open the stove's door to tend it.
Avoid using excessive tinder since this will cause the fire to burn at a rapid rate and will not be able to use the fuel effectively. When you have a good fire and a bed of tinder in your stove, begin the main fire by placing two large base logs on the grate. Then, on top of these base logs lay a layer parallel to them. This method of building 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.
Close the damper when the fire is established and kept it closed. If you open the damper too early, it can cause the fire to get smothered and not allow for proper airflow, which will reduce its efficiency.
Adding Wood
Stoves aren't only beautiful pieces of home decor They can also help you save money by providing efficient wood heat. They can be utilized in conjunction with central heating systems or furnace to provide supplemental heating in large homes. log burning stoves near me of the new stoves that burn clean use a superior combustion principle that separates the burning of volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar by supplying air in two different stages. The first stage allows for the burning of volatile compounds, while the second step provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves the combustion process and helps to reduce odors.
The amount of heat you get from a stove is contingent upon the type and amount of moisture of the wood and also the dimensions of logs. To allow the wood to dry, the logs should be stored in a well ventilated space for a few months before burning. If the logs are too wet they will create plenty of steam that is in essence wasted energy.
It is best to add wood to the pile at intervals, not all at all at. Adding too much wood at once causes the temperature in 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 the efficiency of your stove.
You should avoid the use of any other combustibles, like cardboard or paper in your stove, as they are not wood and have very different physical properties and cannot be burned without causing dangerously high temperatures and exorbitant emissions. You should not burn combustibles that are compressed, such as wood briquettes since they are different in physical and chemical composition from firewood. They are also not approved to be used in wood burning stoves.
It is crucial that you have a professional install and test your wood burning stove. A certified WETT technician can test your stove to ensure it is safe and functional. They will also check that your chimney is functioning properly. These experts can also provide maintenance services to keep your stove and chimney in tip-top shape. They can check for leaks in the areas accessible to your chimney, and fix any issues they discover. They will also make sure that all occupants of the house are aware of and follow the evacuation procedure in the event of an accident.
Adjusting the Damper
When you're not cooking on your stove, a damper regulates the amount of heat lost through the chimney. It can also be used to regulate the flame. If the flue is open but the damper is not closed, the fire will not ignite properly and smoke will billow into your home. You can adjust the damper to get the best flames by playing around with different locations.
Typically, you'll want to keep the damper open enough to let air flow in and out of the flue while a fire is burning. This will allow the fire to start and remain lit for a number of hours. The right opening can stop the fire from being starved of air and prevent it from blowing smoke.
To properly adjust your damper first, make sure that the fireplace is preheated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney stays warm and has a good draft. After that, the damper on the wood stove can be adjusted.
Once the fire has smolder for a while, you can shut the damper down to about three-quarters of its original position. This will stop the warm air in the room from venting through the chimney, while allowing the smoke to escape from the wood stove.
This is the most effective way to keep your fire burning and prevent it from getting too hot. The draft could be stopped if you close the damper too far but a cold wind could be able to enter your home in the event that the damper is not closed.
You can test how much the damper is open by placing your hands near the top of the inside of the flue pipe. If you can feel a slight draft pushing on your hand it's probably in the open position.
The damper settings may differ between stoves and even among different types of wood. You can play around with different settings to get a sense of the most suitable setting for your stove.
Clean Up
After a fire, it is crucial to clean the stove and flue. This will help reduce the risk of a chimney fire which is the most common reason for wood stove fires in homes. Creosote is a sticky substance that accumulates on the stovepipe's interior and is extremely dangerous. It is caused by moisture and unburned wood particles that are unable to escape from the fire. It could be caused by improperly lit fires.
A regular cleaning routine helps prevent the buildup of creosote. This can be done by cleaning your chimney once every year. It is also recommended that you have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year.
Also, it is recommended to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is best to only burn wood that has been seasoned because it produces less creosote. It is also a good idea to avoid burning cardboard, paper or plastic items. They could release chemicals that are dangerous for the flue and air, and could be released into your home.
The glass on the wood burning stove needs to be cleaned regularly too. The majority of newer wood stoves are designed with self-cleaning glass, meaning that they don't require a lot of scrubs. If you're not able to get the glass on your wood stove as clean as you'd like, there are stove glass cleaners that can be used on the window.
Other suggestions to keep your wood stove in good condition include turning down the vent when you're not using it, and opening doors or windows to allow more airflow. This will keep the fire burning longer and more efficiently, as it won't have to exert as much effort to circulate the air. It is advisable not to stack logs or place them on the fire for an extended duration. This can lead to splitting and warping. In addition, it is best to avoid using compressed combustible logs in your wood stove because the paraffin in them could melt and spill down the flue which could cause damage to the stove.