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How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove Wood stoves can be an ideal option to conserve energy and also heat a room. However, they require an amount of care. A majority of modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker either under or on the grate to ensure your stove doesn't create a lot of harmful pollutants. How to start a Wood Fire The smell and sound of a fire made from wood can be a welcome addition to any home. However, it is important to know the correct method to make a 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 help you start a safe fire that can heat your home quickly and efficiently. Make sure to check the condition of your coals and logs before you start the fire. If they're damp it will dampen your fire and hinder proper burning. It is also possible to open the flue to let out any ash that has fallen into the stove. Begin by putting a few small dry pieces of newspaper in the stove. This will help to ignite the fire. When they begin to burn, add a layer of larger pieces to the top of the pile. This should be done in a crosshatch pattern, 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 feed air to the fire as it grows. This will help the fire to burn at a steady pace without having to constantly open the stove door to keep it in check. It is important to not use too much tinder, since this can lead to a fire that burns at an excessive rate and doesn't make use of the fuel as efficiently as it could. When you have a good fire and a bed of tinder in your stove, begin the main fire by placing two large base logs across the grill. Then, on top of these base logs lay a layer parallel to them. This “top-down” method of creating the fireplace will create an effective and long-lasting fire that doesn't engulf larger base logs. Close the damper after your fire is established and keep it shut. The fire could be smothered by opening the damper before it is fully established. It will also reduce the efficiency of the fire. Add Wood Stoves can be used to efficiently heat your home and help you save money. They can be utilized in conjunction with central heating systems or furnace to provide supplemental heating in large houses. The latest clean-burning stoves on the market use a superior combustion principle that differentiates the burning of volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar by supplying air in two different stages. The first stage allows for the combustion of volatile compounds, while the second step supplies fresh air that has been pre-heated. This improves the combustion process and reduces odors. The amount of heat you will get from a stove will depend on the species and the moisture content of the wood you use, and also the size of the logs. The logs should be stored in a ventilated area for several months before you try to burn them, to allow the wood to dry out. If the logs are too wet they will create plenty of steam that is basically wasted energy. You should add wood to the pile in intervals, not all at one time. Addition of too much wood at once can cause the temperature to rise within the firebox, creating the formation of a vortex that pulls smoke and volatile compounds that are not burned back into the flames. This could decrease the effectiveness of your stove. It is recommended to stay clear of any other combustibles, like cardboard or paper in your stove, because they are not wood and have very different physical properties that can't be burned without creating dangerously high temperatures and a lot of emissions. Also, avoid using compressed combustibles like wood briquettes as they have a very different chemical and physical properties from real firewood and aren't type-approved for burning in wood-burning stoves. If you're planning to install a wood burning stove in your home, it is crucial to have it installed and tested by a qualified. A certified WETT technician will examine your stove to make sure it is safe and functional. They will also check that your chimney is functioning properly. They also provide maintenance services to keep your stove and chimney in tip-top shape. They will inspect the areas accessible to your chimney to determine if there is leakage and repair any problems discovered. They will also make sure that all occupants of the house are aware of and follow the fire evacuation procedure in case of an accident. Adjusting the Damper A damper regulates how much heat is lost up the chimney when you're not using your stove. It can also be used to regulate the flame. If the flue opens but the damper is closed the fire won't ignite properly and smoke will erupt into your home. You can adjust the damper to ensure the best flames by playing around with different positions. Typically, you'll want to keep the damper open enough to let air flow in and out of the flue while a fire is burning. This lets the fire start a fire and also helps keep it lit so you can enjoy it for hours. The right opening will prevent the fire from becoming depleted of air and stop it from blowing smoke. To adjust your damper correctly first, make sure that the fireplace is preheated and that the wood stove is hot. This will ensure the chimney is warm, and that it has a good draft. Once this is done the damper for the wood stove may be adjusted. After the fire has burned for some time, you need to shut the damper around three quarters of the way. This will prevent warm air from the room from venturing into the chimney, while still allowing smoke to escape. This is the best way to stop the fire from getting too hot while still keeping it lit. The draft might be stopped if you shut the damper too tightly but a cold wind can enter your home when the damper is left open. You can determine how much the damper is open by placing your hand on the top of the inside of the flue pipe. If you feel a small draft pushing on your hand it's likely to be in the open position. The damper settings may differ between stoves and even between different kinds of wood. Playing around with different settings will give you an idea of what you should look for, but you might have to keep adjusting it until you find the ideal setting for your stove. Clean Up It is essential to clean your flue and stove after the start of a fire. This will to reduce the chance of a chimney fire which is the primary reason for wood stove-related fires in homes. Creosote is a sticky material that forms on the stovepipe's interior and can be extremely hazardous. It is caused by moisture and unburned wood particles that cannot escape the fire. It can also be caused by poorly lit fires. Regular cleaning helps to stop the buildup of creosote. The most effective method for doing this is by sweeping the chimney each year. It is also recommended that you have your fireplace and stove professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a yearly. It is also an excellent idea to clean out the ash tray and grate it regularly. It is recommended to only use seasoned wood for burning, as this will produce less creosote as well as ash. It is also recommended to avoid burning cardboard, paper plastic, and other waste items. They could release chemicals that are dangerous for the flue and air, which could be released into your home. It is also necessary to wash the glass of the wood burning stove regularly. Most newer wood stoves have self-cleaning windows, so they don't require as much scrubbing. If you are not able to get the glass on your wood stove as clean as you would like, there are stove glass cleaners available that you can use on the window. Other tips to keep your wood stove in good condition include lowering the vent when you aren't using it, and opening doors or windows to increase airflow. This will keep the fire burning longer and more efficient. The wood stove won't have to work as hard in order to circulate air. It is advisable not to stack logs, or place them on the fire for a long time. This can cause splitting and warping. In addition, it is recommended to not use compressed combustible logs in your wood stove, because the paraffin they contain can melt and then flow down the flue which could damage it.