How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves can be a great way to save energy and also heat rooms. However, they need some level of maintenance.
Many modern wood stoves meet EPA emissions guidelines. You can check for an EPA sticker on the grate or under it to ensure your stove isn't releasing harmful pollutants.
How to Start a Wood Fire
The scent and sound of a wood fire could be a wonderful addition to any home. It is essential to know how to build an effective fire on your stove. Incorrect techniques may lead to the fire not to burn effectively, and can produce smoke or creosote. The following tips can aid you in starting the fire that will warm your home with minimum effort and ensure your security.
Before you begin an fire, make sure you check the condition of your coals and logs. If they are wet they will choke 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 placing several small, dry newspaper pieces into your stove. This will help ignite the tinder and kindling. After the tinder and kindling are beginning to burn, you can put an additional layer of larger pieces on the top. This should be done with a crosshatch design so that there is air between each piece.
If your wood stove has an automatic combustion control it will automatically pump air into the fire as it expands. This will allow the fire to burn at a consistent pace without having to constantly open the stove's doors to tend it.
Do not use too much tinder, as this will cause the fire to burn at a rapid rate and not utilize the fuel effectively. When you have a good fire and a bed of tinder in your stove, start the main fire by placing two large base logs across the grate. On the top of these base woods put a layer of wood perpendicular to them. This "top-down" method of creating a fireplace will result in a long-lasting and effective fire that doesn't completely engulf larger logs from the base.
Close the damper once your fire is established and keep it closed. Doing this too soon can cause the fire get smothered and not allow for the correct air flow, which will decrease the efficiency of the fire.
Adding Wood
Stoves are not just beautiful home decor pieces They can also help you save money by providing efficient wood heat. They can be used by themselves or in conjunction with central heating or a furnace system to provide the supplemental heat required in large houses or houses with a lot of rooms. A lot of the clean-burning stoves on the market use a superior combustion principle that separates the burning of volatile compounds from the combustion of combustible gases and tar by supplying air in two distinct stages. The first stage allows for the combustion of volatile compounds, while the second step provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and decreases the odors.
The amount of heat you will get from a stove depends on the species and moisture content of the wood you use and also the dimensions of the logs. The logs should be stacked in a ventilated area for several months before you attempt to burn them to allow the wood to dry out. If the logs are too wet, they will produce plenty of steam that is basically wasted energy.
During the burning of the fire, it is recommended to add more wood to the pile at intervals, and not all at one time. Adding too much wood at one time can cause the temperature of the firebox to rise, and produces a vortex that sucks smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into the flame, which could reduce the efficiency of your stove.
Avoid using other combustibles in your stove, such as paper or cardboard, as they are not wood. They have different physical properties and are unable to be burned without creating dangerously high temperatures. It is not recommended to burn compressed combustibles like wood briquettes as they are different in physical and chemical composition from firewood. They are also not approved by the type to be used in wood burning stoves.
If you're planning to install a wood burning stove in your home, it is important to have it properly installed and tested by a qualified. A certified WETT technician can test your installation to ensure it is safe and reliable. They will also check whether your chimney is working properly. They also provide maintenance services to keep your chimney and stove in top condition. They can check the accessible areas of your chimney for leaks, and fix any issues discovered. They will also make sure that the occupants of the house understand and follow the fire evacuation procedure in case of an accident.
Adjusting the Damper
A damper regulates how much heat is lost to the chimney when you aren't using your stove. In addition, it can also help to control the flame. If the flue is open but the damper is too closed, the fire won't be able to burn properly and it will release smoke into your living space. To ensure you have the best fire with your damper adjusted properly you should experiment with different positions and observe how each affects the flames.
Typically, you should keep the damper open enough to let air enter and out of the flue when a fire is burning. This lets the fire get going and also helps keep it burning so that you can enjoy it for long periods of time. The proper opening will stop the fire from being starved of air and keep it from blowing smoke.
To properly adjust your damper, you must first ensure that the fireplace has been preheated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney stays warm and has good draft. Once this is done, the wood stove damper may be adjusted.
After the fire has burned for some time, you need to close the damper approximately three quarters of the way. This will prevent warm air from the room from venturing into the chimney, but still permitting smoke to escape.
This is the best way to keep your fire lit and keep it from getting too hot. If you close the damper too far it may stop the draft from working, however should it be too open, a cold wind could blow into your home.
By placing your hands on the top of the flue pipe will tell you how much the damper has sunk. If small wood burner feel a small breeze pushing against your hand the damper is probably in an open position.
The damper settings can vary from one stove to the next and even among different types of wood. You can experiment with different settings to get an idea of the ideal setting for your stove.
Clean up
It is important to clean your stove and flue after an incident. This will help lower the risk of a chimney fire which is the primary cause of wood stove related fires in homes. Creosote is a sticky substance that forms on the stovepipe's interior and is extremely dangerous. It is caused by moisture and unburned wood particles that cannot escape the fire. This can also occur when fires aren't lit properly.
Regular cleaning can help prevent creosote buildup. The best method to do this is by sweeping the chimney each year. It is also recommended that you get your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year.
Also, it's an excellent idea to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is best to only burn wood that has been seasoned since it will create less creosote. It is also an excellent idea to avoid burning paper, cardboard or plastic items. These can release chemicals that can be dangerous for respiratory illnesses and the atmosphere, which may be released into your home.
It is also important to wash the glass of the wood burning stove regularly. The majority of modern wood stoves have self-cleaning windows, so they do not require as much cleaning. You can apply stove glass cleaners to the glass if you aren't getting the glass as clean as you'd like on your wood stove.
Other helpful tips for maintaining your wood stove are to turn the vent down when you are not using it and cracking windows or doors to increase the flow of air. This will keep the fire burning longer and more efficiently, since it won't need to exert as much effort to circulate air. It is recommended not to stack logs, or leave them on the fire for a long duration. This could cause splitting and warping. It is recommended to avoid using combustible compressed wood in your wood stove because the paraffin that is contained in them can melt and flow into the flue and cause damage.