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How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove Wood stoves are a warm way to heat a room and conserve energy. However, they require some level of maintenance. Many modern wood stoves conform to EPA emissions guidelines. You can look for an EPA sticker on the grate or under it to make sure your stove doesn't emit harmful pollutants. How to Start a Wood Fire The scent and sound of a fire can be a welcome addition in any home. It's essential to know how to create a fire on your stove. Unintentional methods can lead to a fire which does not burn well, and may produce smoke or creosote. These tips will help you begin a fire that is safe and can heat your home quickly and efficiently. Make sure to check the condition of your logs and coals before you begin a fire. If they are wet they will choke your fire and prevent the proper burning. You might also want to open the flue to let any ash that has fallen into the stove. Begin by putting a few small dry newspaper pieces in your stove. This will help to spark the tinder and ignite your kindling. When they begin to burn, add a layer of larger pieces of kindling to the top of the pile. This should be done in a crosshatch fashion so that there will be air between each piece of wood. If you own wood stoves that have an automatic control of combustion it will automatically supply an air stream controlled to your flame as it heats. This will enable the fire to burn at a steady rate without the need to open the stove's doors to tend it. Be careful not to use too much tinder as it can cause the fire to burn at a fast rate and not use the fuel effectively. Once you've got a good bed in your stove of tinder, kindling and embers to start the main flame, you can do this by laying two large base logs on the grill. On the top of these base logs put a layer of wood perpendicular to them. This method of constructing an ember called a “top-down” fire can result in a successful and long-lasting fire that will not engulf the larger base logs. Close the damper after the fire is established and kept it shut. Doing this too soon can cause the fire to be smothered, and it will not allow for the proper air flow, which will lower the effectiveness of the fire. Add Wood Stoves are not only beautiful pieces of home decor – they can help you save money by providing efficient wood heating. They can be utilized in conjunction with a central heating system or furnace to provide additional heating in large houses. A lot of the stoves that burn clean utilize a superior combustion method that separates the burning of volatile compounds from the combustion of combustible gases and tar by providing air in two distinct stages. The first stage is for the vaporization, while the second is to supply fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and decreases smells. The amount of heat you will get from a stove is contingent upon the species and the moisture content of the wood you use as well as the size of the logs. To let the wood dry, logs must be kept in a ventilated location for a few months before burning. If the logs are wet they will create a lot of steam that is essentially wasted energy. While you're burning the fire, it is recommended to add more wood to the stack in intervals, but not all at once. In addition, adding too much wood all at once could cause the temperature to rise in the firebox, causing an air vortex that draws smoke and volatile compounds that are not burned back into flames. This could decrease the effectiveness of your stove. Avoid using other combustibles inside your stove such as paper or cardboard because they are not wood. They have different physical properties and can't be burned without creating dangerously high temperatures. Also, you should not use compressed combustibles such as wood briquettes because they have a very different chemical and physical properties from actual firewood and are not suitable for use in wood burning stoves. It is important to have a professional install and test your wood stove. A certified WETT technician will test the installation to ensure safe operation and safety, as well as ensure that your chimney is working properly. They also provide maintenance services to keep your chimney and stove in tip-top shape. They can check the areas accessible to your chimney for leakage, and fix any issues found. They will also make sure that the occupants of your home understand and comply with the fire evacuation guidelines in case of an emergency. Adjusting the Damper A damper controls how much heat 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 open but the damper is not closed the fire won't burn properly and smoke will billow into your home. You can adjust your damper to get the best flames by experimenting with different locations. Typically, you'll want to keep the damper open enough to let air in and out of the flue while the fire is burning. This will let the fire start and remain lit for a number of hours. The right opening will also keep the fire from being starved of air, and also prevent it from blowing smoke. To adjust your damper properly, you must first ensure that the fireplace has been heated and that the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney stays warm and has an adequate draft. After these steps are completed, the wood stove damper can be adjusted. After the fire has smolder slightly, you need to close the damper to about three-quarters of its maximum. This will prevent warm air in the room from getting into the chimney, while still allowing smoke to escape. This is the most effective way to keep your fire lit and keep it from getting too hot. If you close the damper too far it could stop the draft from working, but when it's too wide, a cold breeze could blow into your home. Holding your hand at the top of the flue pipe will inform you how much the damper has sunk. If you can feel a small draft pushing on your hand it's probably in the open position. The damper setting can vary slightly from one stove to the next and even between different types of wood. You can experiment with various settings to get an idea of the ideal setting for your stove. Clean Up After a fire, it is crucial to clean the stove and flue. This will to reduce the chance of a chimney fire which is the main reason for wood stove fires in homes. Creosote, a sticky material which can build up within the stovepipe, can be extremely hazardous. Moisture and unburned particles of wood that cannot escape the flame are the reason for this substance. This can also occur when fires are not lit properly. A regular cleaning routine can help to prevent the buildup of creosote. log burning stoves near me to do this is by sweeping the chimney at least once a year. It is also recommended that you have your fireplace and stove professionally cleaned and checked at least yearly. It is also recommended to clean the ash tray and grate regularly. It is a good idea to use only seasoned wood to burn, since this will result in less creosote and ash. It is also a good idea to avoid burning cardboard, paper plastic, and other waste items. They can release chemicals that can be dangerous for the respiratory tract and the atmosphere, which may be released into your home. It is also important to wash the glass of the wood stove on a regular basis. Most newer wood stoves have self-cleaning windows so they don't require as much cleaning. You can use stove glass cleaners on the window if you're able get the glass as clean as you'd like on your wood stove. Other suggestions to maintain your wood stove include lowering the vent when you aren't using it, and cracking windows or doors to improve airflow. This will keep the fire burning longer and more efficient. The wood stove will not need to be as active to circulate air. It is recommended not to stack logs, or place them on the fire for a long duration. This can lead to warping and splits. It is advised to avoid using combustible wood that has been compressed in your wood stove because the paraffin contained within them can melt and flow into the flue, which could cause damage.