How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves are a comfortable way to heat a room and also save energy. However, they require some level of maintenance.
Many modern wood stoves are compliant with EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker on the underside or next to the grate, to ensure that your stove doesn't generate lots of harmful pollutants.
How to start a Wood Fire
The scent and sound of a wood fire can be a wonderful addition to any house. However, it is important to know how to properly make a fire on your stove. Incorrect techniques may lead to a fire which does not burn well, and may produce creosote or smoke. These tips can help you create a fire that is safe and will warm your home quickly and effectively.
Make sure to check the condition of your coals and logs before you begin a fire. If they are wet they will choke your fire and hinder proper burning. You may want to open the chimney to remove any ash that falls into the stove.
Begin by putting a handful of small dry newspaper pieces into your stove. This will help ignite the fire. When the tinder and the kindling have started to burn, you can add the larger kindling pieces on top. This should be done using a crosshatch design so that there is air between each piece.
If you have a wood stove that has an automatic control for combustion, it will automatically feed an air stream controlled to the fire as it builds. This will help the fire to burn at a consistent pace without having to constantly open the stove door to keep it in check.
Do not use too much tinder, as this will cause the fire to burn at a 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 base logs across the grate. Then, you can lay a layer of smaller logs that are perpendicular to them and on top of the base logs. This "top-down" method of creating a fireplace will produce a long-lasting, efficient fire that doesn't consume larger logs from the base.
Close the damper once your fire has been established and kept it shut. The fire could be smothered if the user opens the damper prior to it being fully established. It will also reduce the effectiveness of the fire.
Add Wood
Stoves can be used to heat your home efficiently and help you save money. They can be used in conjunction with central heating systems or furnace to provide additional heat in large houses. Many of the new clean burning stoves that are available today utilize advanced combustion principles that is able to separate the burning volatile compounds from combustible gasses and tar. This is done by providing air at two distinct stages. The first stage allows the vaporization of the volatile compounds, while the second step provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and decreases smells.
The amount of heat that you can get from your stove will depend on the type of wood used and the amount of moisture, as well as the size of the logs. The logs must be stored in a ventilated area for several months prior to when you attempt to burn them, to give the wood time to dry out. If the logs are not dry enough they will release a lot of steam that is basically wasted energy.
When you are burning the fire, it is recommended to add more wood to the stack in intervals, but not all at one time. Too much wood added at one time causes the temperature inside the firebox to rise, and creates a vortex that draws smoke and unburnt volatile compounds back into the flame, which can reduce the efficiency of your stove.
Avoid using other combustibles inside your stove such as cardboard or paper, because they are not wood. They have different physical properties and can't be burned without producing dangerously high temperatures. It is not recommended to burn combustibles that are compressed, such as wood briquettes since they are different in physical and chemical composition from firewood. They are also not type-approved to be used in wood burning stoves.
It is important that you have 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 operating properly. These experts can also provide maintenance services to keep your chimney and stove in top condition. They can inspect the areas accessible to your chimney for leakage, and fix any issues that are discovered. They will also ensure that the occupants of your home are aware of and adhere to the fire evacuation procedures in the event of an emergency.
Adjusting the Damper
A damper controls the amount of heat that is lost through the chimney when you aren't using your stove. It can also be used to manage the fire. If the flue opens but the damper is closed the fire won't burn properly and smoke will pour into your home. You can adjust your damper to achieve the most effective flames by experimenting with different settings.
Typically, you should keep the damper open enough to let air enter and out of the flue when a fire is burning. This will let the fire start and stay lit for several hours. The proper opening will prevent the fire from starving of air and will keep it from blowing smoke.
To be able to adjust your damper, you need to ensure that the fireplace is preheated and the wood stove is warm. This will ensure that the chimney is warm, and that it has a good draft. Once these are done the wood stove damper can be adjusted.
After the fire has burned for some time, you need to close the damper approximately three quarters of the way. This will prevent warm air from the room from escaping into the chimney, while still allowing smoke to escape.
This is the best way to ensure that your fire is lit and prevent it from getting too hot. The draft might be stopped if one closes the damper to far but a cold wind can enter your home in the event that the damper is not closed.
By placing your hands on the top of the flue pipe will inform you how much the damper has opened. If you feel a slight breeze rubbing against your hand The damper is most likely in an open position.
The damper settings can vary from one stove to another and even among different types of wood. The process of experimenting with the various settings will give you an idea of what you should look for, but you may need to adjust it until you find the perfect setting for your stove.
Clean Up
It is essential to clean your flue and stove after a fire. This will help 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 extremely hazardous. Unburned and moist particles of wood that cannot escape the fire are the cause for this chemical. It could be caused by improperly lit fires.
outdoor wood stove helps stop the buildup of creosote. The best method to do this is by sweeping the chimney each year. It is also recommended to have your fireplace and stove professionally cleaned and checked at least yearly.
It is also recommended to clean out the ash tray and grate it regularly. It is best to burn only wood that is well-seasoned since it will create less creosote. It is also an excellent idea to avoid burning cardboard, paper, plastic and other trash items. These can release chemicals that can be dangerous for respiratory illnesses and the atmosphere, which may be released into your home.
It is also important to clean the glass of the wood stove regularly. Many modern wood stoves come with self-cleaning windows so they don't require as much scrubs. You can apply stove glass cleaners to the glass if you aren't capable of getting the glass as clean as you would like on your wood stove.
Some other helpful suggestions for maintaining your wood stove include turning the vent down when you're not using it, and opening windows or doors to increase air flow. This keeps the fire burning hotter, and more efficient. The wood stove will not need to work as hard in order to circulate air. It is recommended not to stack logs or leave them on the fire for an extended duration. This could cause splitting and warping. Finally, it is a good idea to avoid using compressed combustible wood logs in your wood stove because the paraffin they contain could melt and spill down into the flue, which could cause damage to the stove.