How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves can be an ideal option to conserve energy and heat the room. They require some care.
A majority of modern wood stoves comply with EPA emissions guidelines. You can check for an EPA sticker on the grate or beneath it to ensure that your stove doesn't emit harmful pollutants.
How to start a Wood Fire
The scent and sound of a wood fire could be a pleasant addition to any home. It's important to know how to build a fire in your stove. Improper techniques can result in a fire that doesn't burn effectively and can cause smoke or creosote. The following tips can help you start an efficient fire that will warm your home quickly and effectively.
Before you begin a fire, check the condition of your logs and coals. If they're too damp, they will smother the flame and stop it from burning efficiently. You might also want to open the flue to let any ash that has been deposited into the stove.
Begin by putting a few small, dry pieces of newspaper in the stove. This will help ignite the tinder. Once they start to ignite, add a layer of larger pieces of tinder to the top of the pile. This should be done in a crosshatch pattern, so that there is 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 that is controlled to your fire as it grows. This will allow the fire to burn at a steady pace without the need to open the stove door to keep it in check.
Be careful not to use excessive tinder since this will cause the fire to burn at an extremely fast rate and not utilize the fuel efficiently. If you have a nice pile of tinder and some kindling in your stove, start the main fire by laying two large base logs across the grate. Next, place small logs parallel to these and on the top of the base logs. This method of creating the fire is known as a "top-down" fire will result in an effective and long-lasting fire that does not engulf the larger base logs.
Once the fire is established shut off the damper and keep it closed. If you open the damper too early, it could cause the fire to be smothered, and it will not allow for the proper airflow, which will decrease the efficiency of the fire.
Adding Wood
Stoves can be used to efficiently heat your home and save you money. They can be utilized in conjunction with a central heating system or furnace to provide additional heat in large houses. A lot of the clean-burning stoves on the market employ a superior combustion process that separates the burning of volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar by providing air in two different stages. The first stage permits the vaporization of the volatile compounds and the second provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves the combustion process and helps to reduce odors.
The amount of heat you will get from your stove is contingent on the kind of wood used and the amount of moisture in it as well as the size of the logs. The logs must be stored in a well-ventilated space for several months prior to when you try to burn them, to allow the wood to dry out. If the logs contain too much moisture, they'll produce 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, not all at once. Too much wood added at one time causes the temperature inside the firebox to rise, and creates a vortex, which draws smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into the flame which could reduce your stove's efficiency.
Avoid the use of other combustibles, such as paper or cardboard in your stove, since they are not wood and possess different physical properties that cannot be burned without creating dangerously high temperatures and a lot of emissions. You should also not use compressed combustibles such as wood briquettes as they have a distinct physical and chemical composition from real firewood, and are not approved for burning in wood burning stoves.
It is important that a professional install and test your wood stove. A certified WETT technician will examine your stove to make sure that it is safe and efficient. They will also ensure whether your chimney is working properly. They provide maintenance services for your chimney and stove to ensure they are in good condition. They will inspect the areas that are accessible to your chimney for leakage, and repair any problems discovered. They will also ensure that all occupants of the house are aware of and adhere to the fire evacuation procedures in the event of an accident.
Adjusting the Damper
If you're not using your stove, a damper can control how much heat is lost through the chimney. In addition, it can help you control the fire. If the flue is open but the damper is too closed, the fire won't be able to burn properly and it will release smoke into your living space. To ensure that you get the best fire with your damper set correctly, you should play around with different positions and observe how each affects the flames.
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 lets the fire get a good fire going and keeps it in good shape so that you can enjoy it for a long time. The right opening will prevent the fire from becoming depleted of air and stop it from blowing smoke.
To be able to 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 strong draft. After this the damper on the wood stove can be adjusted.
After the fire has burned for some time, you need to shut the damper around three quarters of the way. This will stop the warm air from the room from going through the chimney, while allowing the smoke to escape from the wood stove.
This is the best way to keep your fire lit and prevent it from getting too hot. The draft may be stopped if you shut the damper to far however a cold breeze could be able to enter your home in the event that the damper is not closed.
You can check to see how much the damper is open by placing your hands near the top of the inside of the flue pipe. If you feel a slight breeze pushing against your hand the damper is probably in an open position.
The damper setting can vary a little from one stove to another and even between different kinds of wood. You can experiment with various settings to get a sense of the ideal setting for your stove.
Clean Up
It is essential to clean your chimney and stove after a fire. This will help to reduce the chance of a chimney fire which is the most common cause of wood stove related fires in homes. Creosote is a sticky substance which can build up inside the stovepipe, is extremely dangerous. It is caused by moisture and unburned wood particles that are unable to escape the fire. This can also occur when fires aren't properly lit.
A regular cleaning schedule can help to prevent the buildup of creosote. The most effective method for doing this is to sweep the chimney at least once a year. It is also recommended that you have your fireplace and stove professionally cleaned and checked at least every year.
It is also an excellent idea to clean the ash tray and grates regularly. It is a good idea to use only seasoned wood for burning, as it will create less creosote and ash. Avoid burning cardboard, paper and plastic. These items could release dangerous chemicals to the air and flue that could end up in your home.
It is also essential to clean the glass of the wood burning stove on a regular basis. Many newer wood stoves have self-cleaning glass, which means that they do not require any scrubbing. If wood burning stoves small 're not able to get the glass on your wood stove as clean as you'd like you can use stove glass cleaners that can be used on the window.
Other tips 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 improve airflow. This will keep the fire burning longer and more efficient. The wood stove will not need to perform as hard to circulate air. It is also a good idea to not stack logs or place them in the flame for long periods of time as this could cause warping and splitting. It is also a good idea to not use compressed combustible logs in your wood stove because the paraffin in them can melt and then flow down the flue which could damage it.