How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves can be an ideal method to reduce energy consumption and also heat the room. They will require some maintenance.
Many modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. You can check for an EPA sticker on the grate or beneath it to ensure that your stove doesn't emit harmful pollutants.
How to start a Wood Fire
The scent and sound of a fire can be an excellent addition to any home. It is essential to know how to create an effective fire on your stove. Incorrect methods can result in the fire not burning effectively and can cause smoke or creosote. These tips will aid you in starting an fire that can heat your home with minimum effort and maximum safety.
Check the condition of your coals and logs before you start an fire. If they are wet they could smother 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.
Begin by putting several small newspaper pieces that are dry in your stove. This will help to ignite the fire. When they begin to burn, add another layer of larger pieces of tinder 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 your wood stove is equipped with an automatic combustion control it will automatically pump air into the flame as it grows. This will help the fire to burn at a steady rate without having to constantly open the stove's door to tend it.
It's important to avoid using too much tinder, as this can lead to the fire burning at a high rate and doesn't make use of the fuel as efficiently as it could. After you've built a solid foundation in your stove that is made of sparks, tinder and kindling begin the main flame by placing two large logs of the base on the grate. Then, you can lay an additional layer of smaller logs parallel to these and on the top of the base logs. This "top-down" method of creating a fireplace will produce a long-lasting, efficient fire that doesn't engulf larger base logs.
When your 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 airflow, which will decrease the efficiency of the fire.
Add Wood
Stoves can be used to efficiently heat your home and also save you money. They can be utilized in conjunction with central heating systems or furnace to provide additional heating in large houses. Many of the latest stoves that are clean burning available today utilize an advanced combustion principle which separates the burning volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar. This is done by supplying air at two distinct stages. The first stage is to aid in the vaporization process, and the second is to supply fresh air that has been pre-heated. This improves the combustion process and helps reduce odors.
The amount of heat that you will get from your stove is contingent on the kind of wood used and the moisture content and the size of the logs. To allow the wood to dry, the logs should be stored in a ventilated area for a couple of months prior to burning. If the logs are soaked with too much moisture, they will create steam, which is basically wasted energy.
You should add wood to the pile at intervals, not all at one time. The addition of too much wood at once can cause the temperature to rise within the firebox, causing the formation of a vortex that draws smoke and unburned volatile compounds back into the flames. This could decrease the effectiveness of your stove.
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 creating dangerously high temperatures and exorbitant emissions. It is not recommended to burn combustibles that are compressed, such as wood briquettes since they are different in chemical and physical composition from firewood. They are also not approved by the type to be burned in wood burning stoves.
It is crucial that you have a professional install and test your wood stove. A certified WETT technician will test your installation to ensure it is safe and functional. wood stove Fireplaces & Stove can also make sure whether your chimney is working properly. They also provide maintenance services to keep your stove and chimney in good condition. They can look for leaks in the areas accessible to your chimney and fix any issues they spot. They will also make sure that the occupants of your home understand and comply with the fire evacuation guidelines in case of an emergency.
Adjusting the Damper
When you're not using your stove, a damper regulates how much heat is lost through the chimney. In addition, it can also help to control the flame. If the flue opens, but the damper is too closed, the fire will not burn properly and smoke will erupt into your home. To get the most effective fire using your damper set correctly, you must experiment with different settings and observe how each one affects the flames.
You should keep your damper open to allow air to enter and exit the flue while a fire is burning. This allows the fire to get going and also helps keep it burning so that you can enjoy it for long periods of time. The right opening will also stop the fire from becoming starved of air and prevent it from blowing out smoke.
To be able to adjust your damper you need to first ensure that the fireplace is preheated and the stove is hot. This will ensure the chimney is warm and also that it has a good draft. Once these are done the wood stove damper can be adjusted.
After the fire has burned for an extended period, shut the damper around three quarters of the way. This will prevent warm air from the room from venturing into the chimney, while still permitting smoke to escape.
This is the best method to stop the fire from getting too hot while still keeping it lit. If you close the damper too far it could block the draft from working, but when it's too open a cold breeze could blow through your home.
You can check to see how much the damper is opened by holding your hand near the top of the of the flue pipe. If you feel a small breeze pushing against your hand the damper is probably in an open position.
The damper settings may differ from one stove to another and even between different kinds of wood. You can play around with different settings to get an idea of the ideal setting for your stove.
Clean up
After a fire, it is essential to clean the flue and stove. This can reduce the chance of an ensuing fire in the chimney which is the main cause of fires that are caused by wood stoves. Creosote, 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 be caused when fires are not lit properly.
Regular cleaning helps to keep away the buildup of creosote. This can be done by sweeping your chimney at least once every year. It is also recommended that you have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and examined at least every year.
It is also a good idea to clean the ash tray and grate regularly. It is a good idea to use only wood that is seasoned for burning, as it will create less creosote and less ash. Avoid burning cardboard, paper and plastic. These can release chemicals that can be dangerous for the respiratory tract and the air, which could be released into your home.
It is also important to clean the glass of the wood stove regularly. The majority of modern wood stoves have self-cleaning windows so they don't require as much scrubbing. If you're unable to clean the glass of your wood stove as clean as you would like There are stove glass cleaners that you can use on the window.
Other ways to maintain your wood stove include lowering the vent when you're not using it and slamming doors or windows to increase airflow. This will keep the fire burning longer and more efficiently. The wood stove will not need to perform as hard to circulate air. It is a good idea not to stack logs, or let them sit on the fire for an extended period of time. This can lead to splits and warping. It is advised to avoid using combustible wood that has been compressed in your wood stove as the paraffin in them can melt and flow into the flue and cause damage.