How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves are a cozy way to heat a space and save energy. They do require some maintenance.
Many modern wood stoves conform to EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker under or beside the grate, to ensure that your stove doesn't generate a lot of harmful pollutants.
How to Start a Wood Fire
The smell and the sound of a woodfire can be a welcome addition in any home. It's important to understand how to build a fire in your stove. Unintentional methods can lead to an unburned fire that doesn't burn effectively, and can produce creosote or smoke. The tips below will help you begin an efficient fire that can heat your home quickly and efficiently.
Before you begin a fire, you should check the condition of your logs and coals. If they are too wet they will choke the flame and stop it from burning properly. It is also possible to open the flue to let out any ash that has been deposited into the stove.
Begin by putting a few small newspaper pieces that are dry in the stove. This will help ignite the sparks. When they begin to ignite, add a layer of larger pieces of tinder 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 have wood stoves that have an automatic control for combustion it will automatically supply an air stream that is controlled to the fire as it builds. This will enable the fire to burn at a steady pace without the need to open the stove's doors to keep it in check.
Avoid using too much tinder, as it can cause the fire to burn at a rapid rate and not utilize the fuel effectively. Once you've made a solid foundation in your stove that is made of sparks, tinder and kindling begin the main flame by laying down two large logs of the base on the grill. Then, on the top of these base woods lay a layer parallel to them. This method of building a fire known as a "top-down" fire can result in a successful and long-lasting fire that does not overtake the larger base logs.
Close the damper once the fire is established and kept it shut. The fire can be smothered by opening the damper prior to it being fully established. It can also decrease the effectiveness of the fire.
Adding Wood
Stoves can be used to heat your home efficiently and save you money. They can be used in conjunction with a central heating system or furnace to provide additional heat in large homes. The latest clean-burning stoves on the market use a superior combustion principle that differentiates the burning of volatile compounds from the combustion of combustible gases and tar by providing air in two different stages. The first stage permits the burning of volatile compounds, while the second step offers fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and reduces smells.
The amount of heat you get from a stove depends on the type and amount of moisture of the wood as well as the size of the logs. To allow the wood to dry, the logs should be kept in a ventilated space for a couple of months prior to burning. If the logs are not dry enough they will release a lot of steam that is essentially wasted energy.
You should add wood to the pile at intervals and not all at once. Addition of too much wood at once could cause the temperature to rise within the firebox, causing the formation of a vortex that pulls smoke and unburned volatile compounds back into flames. This could reduce the efficiency of your stove.
Avoid burning other combustibles in your stove such as cardboard or paper, because they are not wood. They have different physical properties and are unable to be burned without producing dangerously high temperatures. You should also not use compressed combustibles, such as wood briquettes because they have a distinct physical and chemical composition from real firewood, and are not approved for burning in wood-burning stoves.
If you're planning to install wood-burning stoves in your home, it's important to have it properly installed and tested by a qualified. here are the findings certified WETT technician can test your installation to ensure it is safe and reliable. They can also make sure that your chimney is functioning properly. These experts can also provide maintenance services to keep your stove and chimney in tip-top shape. They can look for leaks in the areas connected to your chimney and fix any issues they spot. They will also make sure that all occupants of the house are aware of and follow the evacuation procedure in the event of an accident.
Adjusting the Damper
When you're not using your stove, a damper regulates the amount of heat lost through the chimney. It can also be used to control the fire. If the flue is opened but the damper is too closed, the fire won't burn properly and it will release smoke into your living area. You can adjust the damper to get the best flames by experimenting with different positions.
You want to keep your damper open to let air enter and exit the flue while a fire is burning. This will allow the fire to begin and stay lit for several hours. The right opening will prevent the fire from being deprived of air and prevent it from blowing smoke.
To be able to adjust your damper you need to ensure that the fireplace is heated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure the chimney is warm and also that it has a strong draft. Once this is done the damper for the wood stove may be adjusted.
After the fire has been burning for some time, you need to close the damper approximately three quarters of the way. This will stop the warm room air from escaping up the chimney while still allowing the smoke to escape out of the wood stove.
This is the best method to stop the fire from getting too hot while still keeping it lit. The draft might be stopped if you shut the damper too tightly, but a cold wind can enter your home if the damper is not closed.
Holding your hand at the top of the flue pipe will inform you how much the damper has sunk. If you feel a slight breeze pushing against your palm, the damper is likely to be open.
The damper settings can differ a little from one stove to another and even between different types of wood. The process of experimenting with the various settings will give you an idea of what to look for, but you may have to keep adjusting it until you have found the perfect setting for your stove.
Clean Up
It is essential to clean your flue and stove after an incident. This will help lower the risk of a chimney fire, which is the main reason for wood stove-related fires in homes. Creosote is a sticky material that forms on the stovepipe's interior and can be very dangerous. wood burning stoves is caused by the moisture and wood particles that are not burned that are unable to escape the fire. It could also be caused by poorly lit fires.
A regular cleaning routine helps to prevent the buildup of creosote. The best method to do this is by sweeping the chimney every year. It is also recommended that you have your fireplace and stove professionally cleaned and examined at least yearly.
It is also a good idea for you to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is a good idea to use only wood that is seasoned to burn, since it will create less creosote as well as ash. Avoid burning paper, cardboard and plastic. They could release chemicals that can be dangerous for the flue and air, and could be released into your home.
The glass that is used on the wood burning stove needs to be cleaned regularly too. Most newer wood stoves have self-cleaning windows so they don't require as much scrubs. You can use stove glass cleaners on the window if you're not capable of getting the glass as clean as you want on your wood stove.
Other tips to maintain your wood stove are to turn the vent down when you're not using it and cracking the door or window to allow more air flow. This will ensure that the fire is burning hotter, and more efficient. The wood stove will not need to work as hard in order 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. Finally, it is recommended to not use compressed combustible logs in your wood stove, because the paraffin they contain could melt and spill into the flue which could cause damage to the stove.