How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves are a comfortable way to heat a space and save energy. They will require some maintenance.
Many modern wood stoves meet EPA emissions guidelines. You can look for an EPA sticker on the grate or under it to ensure that your stove isn't releasing harmful pollutants.
How to start a Wood Fire
The scent and sound of a fire can be a welcome addition in any house. But it's important to learn the proper way to create a fire on your stove. Improper techniques can result in a fire that doesn't burn effectively and produces creosote or smoke. These tips will help you start the fire that will warm your home with the least effort and with the highest safety.
Before you start a fire, you should check the condition of your logs and coals. If they're too damp they will choke the fire and prevent it from burning properly. It is also possible to open the flue to let any ash out that has fallen into the stove.
Start by placing a few small newspaper pieces that are dry and clean in the stove. This will help ignite the tinder and kindling. After the tinder and kindling have started to burn, you can add an additional layer of larger pieces on the top. This should be done using a crosshatch design so that there is air between each piece.
If your wood stove comes with an automatic combustion control it will automatically supply air to the flame as it grows. This will allow the fire to burn continuously without having to open the stove's door frequently to check on it.
Avoid using too much tinder as it will cause the fire to burn at a fast rate and not utilize the fuel efficiently. When you have a good fire and a bed of tinder in your stove, you can start the main fire by laying two large base logs across the grill. Then, on the top of these base logs put a layer of wood perpendicular to them. This "top-down" method of creating the fireplace will create an effective and long-lasting fire that doesn't engulf larger logs from the base.
Close the damper after your fire has been established and keep it shut. Doing this too soon can cause the fire to smother and will not allow for the correct air flow, which will lower the effectiveness of the fire.
Adding Wood
Stoves aren't just beautiful home decor pieces they can also help you save money by providing efficient wood heating. They can be utilized together with central heating systems or furnace to provide additional heat in large houses. A lot of the stoves that are clean burning available today utilize advanced combustion technology that can separate the burning volatile substances from combustible gases and tar. This is achieved by supplying air in two different stages. The first stage is to aid in the vaporization, while the second is to provide fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and reduces odors.
The amount of heat that you can get from a stove depends on the type and amount of moisture of the wood, and also the size of logs. To let the wood dry, the logs should be kept in a ventilated space for a few months before burning. If the logs have too much moisture, they will create steam, which is basically wasted power.
While you're burning the fire, add more wood to the pile at intervals, not all at all at. In addition, adding too much wood at once could cause the temperature to rise in the firebox, causing the formation of a vortex that pulls smoke and unburned volatile compounds back into flames. This can reduce the efficiency of your stove.
Avoid using other combustibles inside your stove, like cardboard or paper, because they are not wood. They have different physical properties and are unable to be burned without creating dangerously high temperatures. You should not burn compressed combustibles like wood briquettes as they differ in chemical and physical composition from firewood. They are also not approved by the type to be burned in wood-burning stoves.
If you're planning to install wood-burning stoves into your home, it is crucial to have it installed and tested by a professional. A 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 professionals offer maintenance services for your stove and chimney to ensure they are in good shape. They will look for leaks in the areas that are accessible to your chimney and repair any issues they spot. They will also ensure that all residents of the house understand and follow the evacuation procedure in case of an accident.
Adjusting the Damper
When you're not cooking on your stove, a damper controls the amount of heat lost through the chimney. It can also be used to regulate the fire. If the flue is open but the damper is closed too much the fire will not burn as efficiently and will release smoke into your living area. You can adjust the damper to ensure the best flames by experimenting with different locations.
Typically, you'll want to keep the damper open enough to let air flow in and out of the flue when the fire is burning. This will allow the fire to begin and stay lit for many hours. The proper opening will stop the fire from being deprived of air and prevent it from blowing smoke.
In order to properly adjust your damper, you have to first make sure the fireplace is heated and the stove is hot. This will ensure the chimney is warm and also that it has a good draft. Once this is done the damper on the wood stove may be adjusted.
After the fire has been burning for a while, you should close the damper about three quarters of the way. This will prevent the warm air in the room from venting through the chimney, while allowing the smoke to escape from the wood stove.
This is the most effective way to ensure that your fire is lit and prevent it from getting too hot. The draft may be stopped if one closes the damper too far but a cold wind can enter your home when the damper is left open.
By placing your hands on the top of the flue pipe will inform you how much the damper has sunk. If you feel a slight breeze pushing on your hand it's probably in the open position.
The damper settings can differ between stoves and even among different types of wood. You can experiment with different settings to get a sense of the best setting for your stove.
Clean Up
wood burning stoves for sale near me is important to clean your stove and flue after the start of a fire. This reduces the chance of a fire in the chimney, which is the primary reason for fires caused by wood stoves. Creosote is a sticky substance that builds up on the inside of the stovepipe and can be very dangerous. Unburned and moist particles of wood that are unable to escape the fire are the cause for this chemical. This can also be caused when fires aren't properly lit.
Regular cleaning helps to keep away the buildup of creosote. The best way to do this is to sweep the chimney every year. It is also recommended that you have 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 the grates regularly. It is recommended 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 plastic, and other waste items. These can release harmful chemicals for respiratory illnesses and the air, and could be released into your home.
It is also important to wash the glass of the wood burning stove on a regular basis. Many newer wood stoves have self-cleaning glass, which means they do not require any scrubbing. If you are not able to clean the glass of your wood stove as clean as you'd like you can use stove glass cleaners that you can use on the window.
Other helpful tips to maintain your wood stove include turning the vent off when you are not using it and slamming the door or window to increase air flow. This will ensure that the fire is burning longer and more efficient. The wood stove won't have to be as active to circulate air. It is also a good idea not stack logs or place them in the fire for long periods of time, as this can lead to warping and splitting. In addition, it is recommended to avoid using compressed combustible logs in your wood stove, because the paraffin they contain can melt and flow down into the flue, which could cause damage.