How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves are a comfortable way to heat a space and save energy. However, they need a certain amount of maintenance.
Many modern wood stoves conform to EPA emission guidelines. You can look for an EPA sticker on the grate or beneath it to make sure your stove doesn't release harmful pollutants.
How to Start a Wood Fire
The scent and sound of a wood fire can be a pleasant feature in any home. It's important to know how to create a fire in your stove. Incorrect methods can result in the fire not burning effectively and can cause smoke or creosote. These tips can help you start an efficient fire that can heat your home quickly and effectively.
Before you start a fire, check the condition of your logs and coals. If they're damp they will choke your fire and prevent the proper burning. 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 newspaper pieces into your stove. This will help to ignite the fire. When the tinder and the kindling have begun to ignite, you can add the larger kindling pieces on the top. This should be done in a crosshatch fashion so that there is air between each piece of wood.
If you own wood stoves that have an automatic combustion control it will automatically supply an air stream that is controlled to the flame as it heats. This will allow the fire to burn steadily without having to open the stove door frequently to check on it.
Do not use too much tinder as it can cause the fire to burn at a fast rate and not utilize the fuel efficiently. After you've built a solid bed in your stove of igniters, tinder, and embers begin the main flame by laying down two large logs of the base on the grate. Next, place a layer of smaller logs that are perpendicular to them and on the top of the base logs. This "top-down" method of building a fireplace will result in a long-lasting and effective fire that doesn't consume larger logs from the base.
Close the damper when your fire is established and keep it shut. If you open the damper too early, it could cause the fire to be smothered, and it will not allow for proper air flow, which will reduce its efficiency.
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 used in conjunction with central heating systems or furnace to provide supplemental heating for large houses. A lot of the stoves that burn clean use a superior combustion principle that differentiates the burning of volatile compounds from combustible gasses and tar by providing air in two different stages. The first stage is to aid in the vaporization process, and the second step is to provide fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and reduces smells.
The amount of heat that you will get from your stove will depend on both the species of wood and the moisture content, as well as the size of the logs. The logs must be stored in a well-ventilated space for a period of time before you attempt to burn them, to allow the wood to dry out. If the logs contain excessive moisture, they'll produce steam which is essentially wasted energy.
You should add wood to the pile at intervals, not all at one time. In addition, adding too much wood at once causes the temperature in the firebox to rise, and creates a vortex, which draws smoke and unburnt volatile compounds back into the flame which could reduce the efficiency of your stove.
Avoid using 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. It is not recommended to burn compressed combustibles such as wood briquettes as they differ in physical and chemical composition from firewood. They are also not type-approved to be burned in wood-burning stoves.
If you are installing wood-burning stoves into your home, it's essential to have it installed and tested by a qualified. A certified WETT technician will test your installation to ensure that it is safe and efficient. They will also ensure that your chimney works correctly. They provide maintenance services for your stove and chimney to ensure they are in good condition. They can check for leaks in the areas accessible to your chimney and repair any issues they spot. They will also ensure that the occupants of your home are aware of and adhere to the fire evacuation procedures in case of an emergency.
Adjusting the Damper
A damper regulates the amount of heat that is lost to the chimney when you aren't using your stove. In addition to this it can help you control the fire. If the flue is opened but the damper is closed too much the fire won't burn properly and will release smoke into your living area. To get the most effective fire using your damper set correctly, you have to test different positions and observe how each one affects the flames.
Typically, you should keep the damper open enough to let air flow in and out of the flue when the fire is burning. This allows the fire to get a good fire going and keeps it burning so that you can enjoy it for hours. The right opening will also stop the fire from becoming starved of air, and also prevent it from blowing smoke.
To properly adjust your damper, you have to ensure that the fireplace is heated and the stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney is warm and has good draft. After these steps are completed, the wood stove damper can be adjusted.
After 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 escaping into the chimney, but still allowing smoke to escape.
This is the best way to prevent the fire from becoming too hot while keeping it lit. The draft could be stopped if one closes the damper to far but a cold wind could be able to enter your home in the event that the damper is left open.
Holding your hand at the top of the flue pipe will inform you how much the damper has opened. If you can feel a slight draft pushing against your hand, it's probably in the open position.
The damper settings can differ from one stove to another and even between different kinds of wood. Playing around with different settings will give you an idea of what you should look for, but you may need to adjust until you get the perfect setting for your stove.
Clean Up
After a fire, it is important to clean the flue and stove. This will reduce the risk of an explosion in the chimney which is the main cause of fires caused by wood stoves. Creosote, a sticky material which can build up inside the stovepipe, is extremely hazardous. It is caused by the moisture and wood particles that are not burned that are unable to escape the fire. It could be caused by improperly lit fires.
A regular cleaning routine can help keep the buildup of creosote at bay. The best method to do this is by sweeping the chimney at least once a year. It is recommended that you have your fireplace and stove professionally inspected and cleaned at least once per year.
It is also recommended to clean the Ash tray and grate frequently. It is recommended to burn only wood that is well-seasoned because it produces less creosote. Avoid burning cardboard, paper and plastic. These can release chemicals that are dangerous for the respiratory tract and the atmosphere, which may be released into your home.
It is also necessary to clean the glass of the wood stove on a regular basis. A lot of modern wood stoves are designed with self-cleaning glass, which means that they do not require any scrubs. You can make use of stove glass cleaners on the glass if you aren't capable of getting the glass as clean as you want on your wood stove.
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 keeps the fire burning hotter, and more efficiently. The wood stove will not need to work as hard in order to circulate air. It is recommended to not stack logs or place them in the flame for long periods of time as this can lead to splitting and warping. It is also recommended to not use compressed combustible logs in your wood stove , because the paraffin in them could melt and spill down the flue which could damage it.