How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves are a warm way to heat a space and conserve energy. They will require some maintenance.
Many modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker on the underside or next to the grate, to ensure that your stove won't produce lots of harmful pollutants.
How to Start a Wood Fire
The smell and sound of a wood fire could be a pleasant addition to any house. It's important to know how to create an effective fire on your stove. Incorrect methods can result in the fire not burning efficiently and creates creosote or smoke. These tips can help you start a safe fire that will heat up your home quickly and efficiently.
Make sure to 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. You might also want to open the flue to let out any ash that has fallen into the stove.
Begin by placing several small newspaper pieces that are dry into your stove. This will help ignite the tinder. When they begin to burn, add a layer of larger pieces of kindling to the top of the pile. This should be done with the crosshatch pattern to ensure that there is air between each piece.
If you own a wood stove with an automatic combustion control, it will automatically feed an air stream controlled to the flame as it heats. This allows the fire to burn for a long time without the need to open the stove's door often to keep it in check.
It's important to avoid using too much tinder, as it can cause the fire burning at a high rate and doesn't use the fuel as efficiently as possible. Once you've made a solid foundation in your stove that is made of tinder, kindling and embers begin the main flame by placing two large logs of the base on the grate. Then, on the top of these base woods lay a layer parallel to them. This method of constructing the fire is called a "top-down" fire will result in an effective and long-lasting fire that does not overtake the larger base logs.
Close the damper once your fire is established and kept it closed. Doing this too soon can cause the fire to smother and will not allow for the correct air flow, which will decrease the efficiency of the fire.
Adding Wood
Stoves can be used to heat your home efficiently and help you save money. They can be used by themselves or together with central heating or a furnace system to provide the supplemental heating required in large homes or houses with a lot of rooms. A lot of the stoves that are clean-burning use a superior combustion principle that differentiates the burning process of volatile compounds from combustible gasses and tar by providing air in two different stages. The first stage allows the vaporization of the volatile compounds, while the second step offers fresh air that is pre-heated. This enhances the combustion process and helps to reduce odors.
The amount of heat you get from your stove is contingent on the type of wood used as well as the amount of moisture, as well as the size of the logs. To allow the wood to dry, logs must be stored in a well ventilated location for a couple of months prior to burning. If the logs are too wet, they will produce a lot of steam that is basically wasted energy.
It is best to add wood to the pile in intervals and not all at once. log burning stoves for sale Fireplaces And Stove added at once causes the temperature in the firebox to increase and produces a vortex that sucks smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into the flame, which could reduce your stove's efficiency.
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 that cannot be burned safely without creating dangerously high temperatures and a lot of emissions. Also, you should not use compressed combustibles such as wood briquettes, as they have a distinct physical and chemical composition from actual firewood and are not suitable for burning 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 proper operation and safety as well as ensure that your chimney is functioning correctly. These experts can also provide maintenance services to keep your stove and chimney in good condition. They can check the areas that are accessible to your chimney for leakage, and repair any problems discovered. They will also ensure that the occupants of your home are aware of and adhere to the fire evacuation procedures in the event in the event of an emergency.
Adjusting the Damper
A damper controls the amount of heat that is lost up the chimney when you're not using your stove. It can also be used to regulate the fire. If the flue is not open but the damper is not closed enough, the fire will not burn as efficiently and it will release smoke into your living area. You can adjust the damper to get the best flames by playing around with different settings.
Typically, you want to keep the damper open enough to let air enter and out of the flue when the fire is burning. This will allow the fire to start and remain lit for a number of hours. The proper opening will stop the fire from being starved of air and prevent it from blowing smoke.
To be able to adjust your damper you need to first ensure that the fireplace is preheated and the stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney stays warm and has a good draft. After that, the damper for wood stoves can be adjusted.
After the fire has been burning for a while, you should shut the damper around three quarters of the way. This will stop the warm air from the room from getting into the chimney, but still allowing smoke to escape.
This is the best way to ensure that your fire is lit and keep it from getting too hot. The draft may be stopped if you close the damper too tightly but a cold wind can enter your home when the damper is not closed.
Holding your hand at the top of the flue pipe will show you how much the damper has opened. If you feel a small draft pushing against your hand, it's likely to be in the open position.
The damper settings can vary from one stove to another and even among different types of wood. You can experiment with different settings to get an idea of the most suitable setting for your stove.
Clean Up
It is crucial to clean your chimney and stove after the start of a fire. This will reduce the risk of an explosion in the chimney, which is the primary cause of fires caused by wood stoves. Creosote is a sticky material that accumulates on the inside of the stovepipe and can be very dangerous. The moisture and the unburned parts of wood that are unable to escape the fire are the cause for this substance. It can be caused by improperly lit fires.
Regular cleaning helps to prevent creosote buildup. The most effective method for doing this is to sweep the chimney every year. It is also recommended to get your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year.
It is also recommended to clean out the Ash tray and grate frequently. It is recommended to use only wood that is seasoned to burn, since this will result in less creosote and ash. It is also recommended to avoid burning paper, cardboard or plastic items. These items can release dangerous chemicals into the air and flue, that could end up in your home.
The glass on the wood stove has to be regularly cleaned as well. Most newer wood stoves have self-cleaning windows, which means they do not require as much cleaning. You can make use of stove glass cleaners on the window if you're able get the glass as clean as you want on your wood stove.
Other suggestions for maintaining your wood stove include turning the vent off when you are not using it and cracking the door or window to allow more air flow. This keeps the fire burning longer and more efficient. The wood stove will not have to be as active to circulate air. It is a good idea not to stack logs, or let them sit on the fire for an extended duration. This could cause splitting and warping. It is best to avoid using combustible wood that has been compressed in your wood stove as the paraffin in them can melt and flow into the flue, which could cause damage.