How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves can be an ideal method to reduce energy consumption and also heat rooms. However, they need a certain amount of maintenance.
Many 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 lots of harmful pollutants.
How to Start a Wood Fire
The smell and sound of a fire can be a welcome addition in any home. But it's important to learn how to properly build a fire in your stove. Unintentional methods can lead to the fire not to burn effectively, and can produce creosote or smoke. These tips will assist you in starting a fire that will heat your home with the least effort and with the highest security.
Make sure to check the condition of your coals and logs before you start the fire. If they're damp they will choke your fire and prevent the proper burning. You may also want to open the flue to let any ash out that has been deposited into the stove.
Begin by putting a handful of small dry pieces of newspaper into your stove. This will help to ignite the sparks. Once these begin to ignite, add a layer of larger pieces to the top of the pile. This should be done using the crosshatch pattern to ensure that there is air between each piece.
If you own a wood stove that has an automatic control of combustion it will automatically supply a controlled stream of air to your flame as it heats. This allows the fire to burn continuously without having to open the door of your stove frequently to check on it.
It is important to not use too much tinder, as this could result in an unburned fire that burns at a high rate and doesn't use the fuel as efficiently as possible. If you have a nice fire and a bed of tinder in your stove, start the main fire by placing two large base logs across the grill. Then, you can lay an additional layer of smaller logs that are perpendicular to them and on top of the base logs. This "top-down" method of creating a fireplace will result in an effective and long-lasting fire that doesn't engulf larger base logs.
Close the damper when your fire is established and kept it shut. The fire can be smothered if the user opens the damper before it has fully established. It will also reduce the effectiveness of the fire.
Add 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 in conjunction with central heating systems or furnace to provide additional heat in large homes. Many of the new stoves that burn cleanly available today utilize an advanced combustion principle which is able to separate the burning volatile compounds from combustible gasses and tar. This is accomplished by supplying air in two distinct stages. The first stage allows the vaporization of the volatile compounds, while the second step provides fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and decreases smells.
The amount of heat you can get from your stove will depend on both the species of wood used and the amount of moisture, as well as the size of the logs. To let the wood dry, logs must be stored in a well ventilated space for a couple of months prior to burning. If the logs are too wet they will release plenty of steam that is essentially wasted energy.
It is best to add wood to the pile in intervals and not all at all at. Addition of too much wood all at once could cause the temperature to rise in the firebox, causing a vortex which pulls smoke and volatile compounds that are not burned back into flames. This could reduce the efficiency of your stove.
You should avoid the use of any other combustibles, such as paper or cardboard in your stove, since they are not wood and have very different physical properties and cannot be burned without causing dangerously high temperatures and excessive emissions. Also, avoid using compressed combustibles like wood briquettes because they have a very different chemical and physical properties from actual firewood and are not type-approved for use in wood burning stoves.
If you're planning to install a wood burning stove in your home, it is essential to have it installed and tested by a professional. A certified WETT technician will test the installation for proper operation and safety, and also ensure that your chimney is working correctly. They provide maintenance services for your stove and chimney to ensure they are in good shape. They can check the accessible areas of your chimney for leaks, and fix any issues that are discovered. They will also ensure that the occupants of your home are aware of and adhere to the fire evacuation guidelines in the event of an emergency.
Adjusting the Damper
When you're not cooking on your stove, a damper regulates the amount of heat that is lost through the chimney. In addition to this it can also help you to control the flame. If the flue opens but the damper is not closed the fire won't be able to burn as it should and smoke will pour into your home. You can adjust the damper to get the best flames by testing different positions.
It is important to keep your damper open to allow air to flow into and out of the flue when a flame is burning. This will allow the fire to start and stay lit for several hours. wood heater stove will stop the fire from becoming starved of air, and also prevent it from blowing smoke.
To adjust your damper properly first, make sure that the fireplace has been 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 accomplished the damper on the wood stove can be adjusted.
Once the fire has burned for a while, you can shut the damper down to about three-quarters of its full position. This will stop the warm air from the room from venturing into the chimney, while still permitting smoke to escape.
This is the best method to prevent the fire from getting too hot while keeping it lit. If you close the damper too tightly, it may stop the draft from working, but should it be too open, a cold wind could blow through your home.
You can check to see how much the damper is open by placing your hand on the top of the inside of the flue pipe. If you can feel a slight breeze pushing on your hand it is probably in the open position.
The damper settings may differ between stoves and even among different types of wood. Playing around with different settings will give you an idea of what you should look for, but you may have to keep adjusting it until you have found the ideal setting for your stove.
Clean up
After an incident, it is important to clean the stove and flue. This can lower the risk of a chimney fire, which is the primary reason for wood stove fires in homes. Creosote is a sticky material that builds up on the inside of the stovepipe and can be extremely hazardous. Moisture and unburned particles of wood that are unable to escape the fire are the cause for this chemical. It can also happen when fires are not properly lit.
A regular cleaning schedule can help to prevent the buildup of creosote. The most effective method for doing this is to sweep the chimney at least once a year. It is also recommended that you have your fireplace and stove professionally cleaned and checked at least every year.
It is also an excellent idea to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is best to only burn wood that has been seasoned because it produces less creosote. Avoid burning paper, cardboard and plastic. They can release harmful chemicals for respiratory illnesses and the atmosphere, which may be released into your home.
The glass on the wood burning stove needs to be cleaned frequently as well. The majority of modern wood stoves have self-cleaning windows, which means they don't require as much cleaning. If you're not able 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.
Some other helpful tips for maintaining your wood stove are to turn the vent down when you're not using it, and opening windows or doors to increase the flow of air. This will help keep the fire burning longer and more efficiently since it will not need to work as hard to circulate air. It is advisable not to stack logs, or let them sit on the fire for a long duration. This can lead to warping and splits. It is recommended to avoid using combustible compressed wood in your wood stove since the paraffin contained within them can melt and flow into the flue, which could cause damage.