How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves can be a great way to save energy and heat rooms. They require some care.
Many modern wood stoves are compliant with EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker either under or on the grate, to ensure that your stove doesn't generate a lot of harmful pollutants.
How to start a Wood Fire
The smell and sound of a fire can be an excellent addition to any house. It is essential to know how to build a fire on your stove. Improper techniques can result in a fire which does not burn effectively, and can produce creosote or smoke. The following tips will help you begin a fire that is safe and will warm your home quickly and efficiently.
Check the condition of your coals and logs before you start the fire. If they're too damp they could smother the fire and prevent it from burning efficiently. You may want to open the chimney to remove any ash that falls into the stove.
Begin by putting several small, dry newspaper pieces in your stove. This will help to ignite the tinder and ignite the kindling. Once they start to burn, add a layer of larger pieces of kindling to the top of the pile. This should be done in a crosshatch pattern so there is air between each piece of wood.
If you own a wood stove that has an automatic control for combustion that will automatically deliver a controlled stream of air to the fire as it grows. This will enable the fire to burn at a steady pace without having to open the stove door to tend it.
Do not use excessive tinder since it can cause the fire to burn at an extremely fast rate and will not be able to use the fuel efficiently. If you have a solid pile of tinder and some kindling in your stove, start the main fire by laying two large logs of the base across the grate. On top of these base logs lay a layer parallel to them. This method of constructing the fire is known as a "top-down" fire can result in a successful and long-lasting fire that will not engulf the larger base logs.
Close the damper when the fire is established, and keep it closed. The fire may be smothered if you open the damper prior to it being fully established. It will also reduce the efficiency of the fire.
Adding Wood
Stoves aren't just beautiful home décor pieces they can also help you save money by supplying efficient wood heat. They can be used alone or in conjunction with central heating or furnace system to provide the additional heat needed in large homes or homes with multiple rooms. Many of the new clean burning stoves that are available on the market use an advanced combustion principle which separates the burning volatile compounds from combustible gasses as well as tar. This is achieved by supplying air at two distinct stages. The first stage permits the combustion of volatile compounds and the second provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and reduces smells.
The amount of heat that you will get from your stove is contingent on the type of wood and the amount of moisture in it, as well as the size of the logs. To allow the wood to dry, logs should be stored in a ventilated space for a couple of months prior to burning. If the logs have excessive moisture, they will produce steam, which is basically wasted power.
It is best to add wood to the pile at intervals, not all at one time. 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 have not been burned back into flames. This could reduce the effectiveness of your stove.
Avoid the use of other combustibles, such as paper or cardboard in your stove, because they are not wood and have different physical properties that can't be burned without creating dangerously high temperatures and excessive emissions. Also, avoid using compressed combustibles like wood briquettes, as they have a distinct chemical and physical composition to real firewood, and are not 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 working properly. They also provide maintenance services to keep your stove and chimney in tip-top shape. They can check for leaks in the areas connected to your chimney and repair any issues they spot. They will also ensure that all house occupants know and follow the fire evacuation procedures in case in the event of an emergency.
Adjusting the Damper
If you're not making use of your stove, a damper controls the amount of heat lost through the chimney. In addition to this it can also help to control the flame. If the flue is not open but the damper is closed too much the fire will not burn as efficiently and will release smoke into your living area. cheap wood burning stoves can adjust the damper to get the best flames by experimenting with different locations.
Typically, you want to keep the damper open enough to let air in and out of the flue while the fire is burning. This will allow the fire to begin and stay lit for many hours. The right opening will prevent the fire from being starved of air and prevent it from blowing smoke.
To adjust your damper correctly it is important to first make sure that the fireplace has been preheated and that the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney is warm and has an adequate draft. After these steps are completed, the damper on the wood stove can be adjusted.
Once the fire has smolder for a while, you can reduce the damper to around three-quarters of its full position. This will stop warm air from the room from going up the chimney while still allowing the smoke to escape out of the wood stove.
This is the best way to keep your fire lit and prevent it from getting too hot. If you shut the damper too tightly, it could block the draft from working, however if it is too wide, a cold breeze could enter your home.
Holding your hand at the top of the flue pipe will inform you how much the damper has opened. If you feel a slight breeze pushing against your palm, the damper is likely in the open position.
The damper settings can differ from one stove to another and even between different kinds 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 an incident, it is important to clean the flue and stove. This will to reduce the chance of a chimney fire which is the primary reason for wood stove-related fires in homes. Creosote is a sticky substance that accumulates on the stovepipe's interior and can be very dangerous. It is caused by the moisture and wood particles that are not burned that are unable to escape the fire. This can also occur when fires are not properly lit.
A regular cleaning schedule can help to prevent the buildup of creosote. The best way to do this is by sweeping the chimney every year. It is also recommended to have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and examined at least year.
Also, it is an excellent idea to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is best to burn only seasoned wood since it will create less creosote. It is also recommended to avoid burning paper, cardboard plastic, and other waste items. They can release chemicals that can be dangerous for the flue and atmosphere, which may be released into your home.
The glass on the wood stove has to be cleaned regularly too. A lot of modern wood stoves are made with self-cleaning glass, meaning that they don't require a lot of scrubs. If you're not able to make the glass on your wood stove as clean as you'd like There are stove glass cleaners you can use on the window.
Other tips to maintain your wood stove include lowering the vent when you're not using it, and opening doors or windows to improve airflow. This will help keep the fire burning hotter and more efficiently since it won't need to be as active to circulate air. It is recommended not to stack logs, or let them sit on the fire for an extended duration. This can cause warping and splits. It is also a good idea to avoid using compressed combustible logs in your wood stove, because the paraffin in them can melt and then flow down into the flue, which could cause damage to the stove.