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How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove Wood stoves can be an excellent way to save energy and also heat a room. However, they require an amount of care. A majority of modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. You can check for an EPA sticker on the grate or underneath it to ensure your stove isn't releasing harmful pollutants. How to start a Wood Fire The scent and sound of a woodfire is an enjoyable addition to any home. However, it is important to know how to properly make a fire on your stove. Incorrect techniques can lead to an unburned fire that doesn't burn efficiently and creates creosote or smoke. The tips below can help you start an efficient fire that can heat your home quickly and efficiently. Make sure to check the condition of your logs and coals before you start the fire. If they're damp they will choke your fire and hinder proper burning. It is possible to open the chimney to eliminate any ash that falls into the stove. Start by placing several small, dry newspaper pieces in your stove. This will help ignite the tinder. When they begin to burn, add a layer of larger pieces of tinder to the top of the pile. This should be done with an arc pattern so that there is air between each piece. If you have a wood stove that has an automatic combustion control, it will automatically feed an air stream controlled to the fire as it grows. This allows the fire to burn for a long time without the need to open the stove door constantly to tend to it. It is essential to avoid using too much tinder, since this could result in the fire burning at a high rate and doesn't use the fuel as efficiently as it could. When you have a good pile of tinder and some kindling in your stove, begin the main fire by laying two large base logs on the grill. On top of these base logs put a layer of wood perpendicular to them. This method of constructing an ember known as a “top-down” fire will result in an effective and long-lasting fire that will not overtake the larger base logs. When your fire is established Close the damper and keep it closed. The fire could be smothered if you open the damper before it has fully established. It can also decrease the effectiveness of the fire. Adding Wood Stoves aren't only beautiful pieces of home decor – they can help you save money by providing efficient wood heating. They can be utilized together with a central heating system or furnace to provide supplemental heating in large homes. A lot of the stoves that are clean burning available use advanced combustion principles that separates the burning volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar. This is done by supplying air at two different stages. The first stage is to aid in the vaporization and the second is to supply fresh air that has been pre-heated. This improves combustion and decreases smells. The amount of heat you can get from your stove is contingent on the kind of wood and the amount of moisture in it and the size of the logs. The logs should be stored in a well-ventilated area for several months prior to when you try to burn them, to give the wood time to dry. If the logs are soaked with excessive moisture, they will produce steam, which is basically wasted energy. You should add wood to the pile in intervals and not all at one time. Too much wood added at one time causes the temperature in the firebox to increase and creates a vortex that draws smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into the flame, which can reduce your stove's efficiency. Avoid burning other combustibles in your stove such as cardboard or paper, because they are not wood. They have different physical properties and cannot be burned without causing dangerously high temperatures. It is not recommended to burn combustibles that are compressed, such as wood briquettes as they are different in physical and chemical composition from firewood. They are also not approved by the type to be burned in wood burning stoves. If you are installing wood-burning stoves into your home, it's essential to have it installed and tested by a qualified. A certified WETT technician will test the installation to ensure proper operation and safety as well as ensure that your chimney is functioning properly. They also provide maintenance services to keep your chimney and stove in good condition. They can look for leaks in the areas accessible to your chimney and repair any problems they find. 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 When you're not using your stove, a damper controls the amount of heat lost through the chimney. In addition, it can help you control the fire. If the flue is not open but the damper is too closed, the fire will not burn as efficiently and it will release smoke into your living space. You can adjust the damper to get the best flames by experimenting with different settings. You should keep your damper open to let air flow into and out of the flue when a flame is burning. This lets the fire start a fire and helps it stay burning so that you can enjoy it for long periods of time. A proper opening will keep the fire from being starved of air and prevent it from blowing smoke. To properly adjust your damper, you need to ensure that the fireplace is heated and the stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney stays warm and has an adequate draft. After these steps are completed, the wood stove damper can be adjusted. Once the fire has smolder slightly, you need to close the damper to about three-quarters of its original position. This will stop the warm air from the room from escaping into the chimney, but still permitting smoke to escape. This is the most effective way to prevent the fire from getting too hot while still keeping it lit. If you shut the damper too tightly, it could stop the draft from working, but if it is too open, a cold wind could blow through your home. You can check to see how much the damper is opened by placing your hands near the top of the inside of the flue pipe. If you feel a small draft pressing against your hand, it is probably in the open position. The damper's setting can vary slightly from one stove to another and even between different kinds of wood. The process of experimenting with the various settings will give you an idea of what to look for, but you might need to adjust until you get the ideal setting for your stove. Clean up After an incident, it is important to clean the flue and stove. woodburning stoves will reduce the risk of a fire in the chimney which is the main reason for fires caused by wood stoves. Creosote is a sticky substance that accumulates on the inside of the stovepipe and is extremely dangerous. It is caused by the moisture and wood particles that are not burned that are unable to escape the fire. It can be caused by improperly lit fires. A regular cleaning routine helps keep the buildup of creosote at bay. The most effective method for doing this is by sweeping the chimney each year. It is also recommended to have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and checked at least every year. It is also a good idea for you to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is best to only burn wood that has been seasoned, as it will produce less creosote. Avoid burning cardboard, paper and plastic. These can release harmful chemicals for respiratory illnesses and the air, and could be released into your home. It is also important to clean the glass of the wood stove on a regular basis. The majority of newer wood stoves are made with self-cleaning glass, which means they don't require a lot of scrubs. If you're 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 maintain your wood stove include lowering the vent when you're not using it, and opening doors or windows to allow more airflow. This will help keep the fire burning longer and more efficiently, since it will not need to work as hard to circulate the air. It is recommended to not stack logs or place them in the fire for long periods of time, as this could cause 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 the flue which could cause damage to the stove.