How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves can be a great way to save energy and also heat a room. However, small wood burning stoves need a certain amount of maintenance.
Many modern wood stoves conform to EPA emissions guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker on the underside or next to the grate to make sure your stove won't produce many harmful pollutants.
How to start a Wood Fire
The sound and smell of a fire made from wood can be a welcome feature in any home. However, it is important to know the correct method to create a fire on your stove. Unintentional methods can lead to an unburned fire that doesn't burn well, and may produce creosote or smoke. The following tips can help you create a safe fire that will heat up your home quickly and efficiently.
Examine the condition of your coals and logs before you begin the fire. If they're wet it will dampen your fire and prevent the proper burning. It is possible to open the chimney to get rid of any ash that falls into the stove.
Begin by putting a handful of small, dry pieces of newspaper in your stove. This will help ignite the tinder and kindling. Once they start to burn, add another layer of larger pieces 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 combustion control that will automatically deliver an air stream that is controlled to your fire as it builds. This will allow the fire to burn steadily without you having to open the door of your stove frequently to check on it.
Avoid using excessive tinder since it can cause the fire to burn at an extremely fast rate and will not be able to use the fuel efficiently. Once you've got a good base in your stove with sparks, tinder and kindling, start the main flame by laying two large base logs on the grate. Then, on the top of these base logs put a layer of wood perpendicular to them. This "top-down" method of building a fireplace will produce an effective and long-lasting fire that doesn't completely engulf larger base logs.
Close the damper after your fire is established, and keep it closed. Doing this too soon could cause the fire to be smothered, and it will not allow for the proper air flow, which can reduce its efficiency.
Adding Wood
Stoves aren't just beautiful home decor pieces they can also help you save money by providing efficient wood heat. They can be used on their own or together with a furnace or central heating system to provide the extra heat required in large houses or homes with multiple rooms. The latest stoves that burn clean use a superior combustion principle that differentiates the burning process of volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar by supplying air in two distinct stages. The first stage permits the combustion of volatile compounds, while the second step provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and decreases smells.
The amount of heat you will get from your stove will depend on both the species of wood and the amount of moisture in it, as well as the size of the logs. To allow the wood to dry, the logs should be kept in a ventilated area for a few months before burning. If the logs are not dry enough they will create lots of steam, which is in essence wasted energy.
While you're burning the fire, it is recommended to add more wood to the stack in intervals, and not all at one time. The addition of 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 have not been burned back into the flames. This can reduce the effectiveness of your stove.
It is recommended to stay clear of other combustibles, like cardboard or paper in your stove, as they are not wood and have different physical properties that cannot be burned without creating dangerously high temperatures and exorbitant emissions. Also, avoid using compressed combustibles such as wood briquettes as they have a very different physical and chemical composition from actual firewood and are not approved for use in wood burning stoves.
If you are installing wood-burning stoves into your home, it's important to have it properly installed and tested by a professional. A certified WETT technician will test the installation for safe operation and safety, as well as ensure that your chimney is functioning correctly. These professionals offer maintenance services for your stove and chimney to keep them in top condition. They can inspect the areas that are accessible to your chimney to determine if there is leakage and fix any issues that are discovered. They will also make sure that the occupants of your home understand and comply with the fire evacuation guidelines in case in the event of an emergency.
Adjusting the Damper
A damper controls the amount of heat that 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 closed too much the fire won't be able to burn properly and will release smoke into your living space. To ensure that you get the most effective fire using your damper adjusted properly you should experiment with different positions and observe how each affects the flames.
You want to keep your damper open to allow air to enter and exit the flue while a fire is burning. This allows the fire to get a good fire going and helps it stay lit so you can enjoy it for a long time. The proper opening will prevent the fire from starving of air, and also prevent it from blowing smoke.
To adjust your damper properly it is important to first make sure that the fireplace is preheated and that the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney is warm and has an adequate draft. Once this is done the damper for the wood stove can be adjusted.
Once the fire has burned a bit you should close the damper to about three-quarters of its maximum. This will prevent the warm air from the room from going into the chimney, while allowing smoke to escape from the wood stove.
This is the most effective way to stop the fire from getting too hot while still keeping it lit. If you close the damper too tightly, it could block the draft from working, however should it be too open, a cold wind could blow into your home.
You can determine how much the damper is opened by placing your hand on the top of the of the flue pipe. If you feel a slight breeze rubbing against your hand The damper is most likely to be open.
The damper settings can differ slightly from one stove to another and even between different kinds of wood. The process of experimenting with the various settings will give you an idea of what to look for, but you might have to keep adjusting until you get the ideal setting for your stove.
Clean up
After the fire, it's important to clean the stove and flue. This can reduce the chance of a fire in the chimney, which is the primary cause of fires caused by wood stoves. Creosote, a sticky substance that forms on the stovepipe's interior and can be very dangerous. It is caused by the moisture and wood particles that are not burned that cannot escape the fire. It can also happen when fires aren't lit properly.
Regular cleaning helps prevent creosote buildup. The best way to do this is to sweep the chimney each year. It is also recommended to have your fireplace and stove professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a every year.
Also, it is a good idea for you to clean the ash tray and grates regularly. It is best to only burn wood that has been seasoned because it produces less creosote. Avoid burning paper, cardboard and plastic. These items can release dangerous chemicals into the air and flue that could end up in your home.
It is also important to wash the glass of the wood stove on a regular basis. The majority of newer wood stoves are designed with self-cleaning glass, meaning that they don't require a lot of scrubs. If you're not able to get the glass on your wood stove as clean as you would like There are stove glass cleaners that you can use on the window.
Other helpful tips for maintaining your wood stove include turning the vent down when you're not using it and slamming a window or door to increase air flow. This will keep the fire burning hotter, and more efficient. The wood stove won't have to perform as hard to circulate air. It is also a good idea to not stack logs or keep them in the fire for long periods of time, as this can lead to splitting and warping. It is recommended to avoid using compressed combustible wood in your wood stove as the paraffin contained within the wood can melt and then flow into the flue and cause damage.