How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves can be an ideal option to conserve energy and warm rooms. They will require some maintenance.
A majority of modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission 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 wood fire could be a welcome feature in any home. It's crucial to learn how to properly build a fire in your stove. Improper techniques can result in a fire which does not burn well, and may produce smoke or creosote. The following tips can assist you in starting an fire that can heat your home with minimum effort and with the highest safety.
Before you start a fire, you should check the condition of your logs and coals. If they are wet, they will smother the flame and stop it from burning efficiently. You may also want to open the flue to let any ash that has been deposited into the stove.
Begin by placing several small, dry newspaper pieces into your stove. This will help to ignite the tinder and kindling. When they begin to burn, add a layer of larger pieces of kindling to the top of the pile. 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 of combustion it will automatically supply an air stream controlled to your fire as it grows. This allows the fire to burn continuously without having to open the stove's door frequently to check on it.
Do not use too much tinder as it can cause the fire to burn at an extremely fast rate and not use the fuel effectively. Once you've made a solid foundation in your stove that is made of tinder, kindling and embers begin the main flame by laying down two large logs of the base on the grill. Then, on top of these base logs put a layer of wood perpendicular to them. This method of building an ember called a "top-down" fire will result in an effective and long-lasting fire that will not overtake the larger base logs.
Once the fire is established, close the damper and keep it shut. If you open the damper too early, it can cause the fire to get smothered and not allow for the proper air flow, which will reduce its efficiency.
Adding Wood
Stoves can be used to efficiently heat your home and save you money. They can be used on their own or in conjunction with central heating or furnace system to provide the supplemental heat needed in large homes or homes with many rooms. Many of the latest stoves that are clean burning available on the market use advanced combustion principles that separates the burning volatile compounds from combustible gasses as well as tar. This is accomplished by providing air at two different stages. The first stage permits the burning of volatile compounds and the second stage offers fresh air that is pre-heated. This enhances the combustion process and helps to reduce the smell.
The amount of heat that you will get from your stove depends on the kind of wood used and the amount of moisture in it as well as the size of the logs. The logs must be stored in a well-ventilated area for a period of time before you attempt to burn them to give the wood a chance to dry out. If the logs are not dry enough, they will produce lots of steam, which is basically wasted energy.
You should add wood to the pile in intervals, not all at one time. Too much wood added at once causes the temperature in the firebox to increase and creates a vortex that draws smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into the flame, which can decrease your stove's efficiency.
You should 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 cannot be burned without causing dangerously high temperatures and excessive emissions. Also, you should not use compressed combustibles such as wood briquettes, as they have a distinct chemical and physical composition to real firewood and aren't type-approved for burning in wood burning stoves.
It is important to have a professional install and test your wood stove. A certified WETT technician can test your stove to ensure that it is safe and efficient. They can also make sure whether your chimney is working properly. These professionals offer maintenance services for your chimney and stove to ensure they remain in top shape. They can inspect the accessible areas of your chimney for leaks, and fix any issues that are found. They will also ensure that the occupants of your home know and follow the fire evacuation procedures in the event in the event of an emergency.
Adjusting the Damper
If you're not making use of your stove, a damper regulates the amount of heat lost through the chimney. It can also be used to manage the flame. If the flue opens but the damper is closed the fire won't be able to burn as it should and smoke will pour into your home. To ensure that you get the most effective fire using the damper properly adjusted, you should experiment with different settings and observe how each one affects the flames.
Typically, you want to keep the damper open enough to let air enter and out of the flue when a fire is burning. This will allow the fire to start and stay lit for several hours. The right opening will prevent the fire from being deprived of air and stop it from blowing smoke.
To adjust your damper properly first, make sure that the fireplace has been heated and that the wood stove is hot. This will ensure the chimney is warm, and it also has an adequate draft. Once this is done the damper on the wood stove can be adjusted.
After the fire has smolder for a while, you can shut the damper down to about three-quarters of its maximum. This will stop warm room air from escaping up the chimney while still allowing the smoke to escape out of the wood stove.
This is the best way to keep the fire from becoming too hot while keeping it lit. If you shut the damper too much, it could block the draft from working, but when it's too open, a cold wind could enter your home.
Holding your hand at the top of the flue pipe will show you how much the damper has sunk. If you can feel a slight draft pushing against your hand, it's likely to be in the open position.
small wood burning stove can vary a little from one stove to the next, and even between different types of wood. You can experiment with different settings to get a sense of the most suitable setting for your stove.
Clean up
After a fire, it is crucial to clean the stove and flue. This will reduce the risk of a fire in the chimney which is the main cause of fires caused by wood stoves. Creosote, a sticky substance that builds up on the inside of the stovepipe and can be very dangerous. Unburned and moist particles of wood that cannot escape the fire are responsible for this chemical. It could also be caused by poorly lit fires.
Regular cleaning helps to prevent creosote buildup. This can be accomplished by cleaning your chimney once every year. It is also recommended that you get your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and examined at least every year.
Also, it is a good idea for you to clean the ash tray and grates regularly. It is a good idea to use only wood that is seasoned for burning, as this will result in less creosote and less ash. It is also an excellent idea to avoid burning cardboard, paper plastic, and other waste items. These can release chemicals that are dangerous for the respiratory tract and the atmosphere, which may be released into your home.
The glass on the wood burning stove needs to be regularly cleaned as well. 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 want on your wood stove.
Other tips for maintaining your wood stove include turning the vent off when you are not using it and cracking windows or doors to increase the flow of air. This will help keep the fire burning hotter and more efficiently, as it will not need to work as hard to circulate the air. It is also a good idea not stack logs or place them in the flame for long durations of time, since this can lead to warping and splitting. It is best to avoid using combustible compressed wood in your wood stove as the paraffin that is contained in the logs can melt and leak into the flue which could cause damage.