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How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove Wood stoves are an ideal method to reduce energy consumption and heat the room. However, they need some level 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 many harmful pollutants. How to Start a Wood Fire The scent and sound of a fire made from wood can be a welcome addition to any home. But it's important to learn the proper way to make a fire on your stove. Unintentional methods can lead to an unburned fire that doesn't burn well, and may produce smoke or creosote. These tips can help you create an efficient fire that can heat your home quickly and efficiently. Before you begin an fire, make sure you check the condition of your coals and logs. If they're too damp they will choke the fire and prevent it from burning efficiently. You might also want to open the flue to let any ash that has fallen into the stove. Begin by placing a few small newspaper pieces that are dry and clean in the stove. This will help ignite the tinder and kindling. Once these begin to burn, add another layer of larger pieces to the top of the pile. This should be done in a crosshatch pattern so there is air between each piece of wood. If you own a wood stove with an automatic control for combustion that will automatically deliver an air stream that is controlled to the fire as it builds. This will allow the fire to burn continuously without you having to open the stove door often to keep it in check. Do not use too much tinder, as it can cause the fire to burn at a rapid rate and will not be able to use the fuel effectively. If you have a solid fire and a bed of tinder in your stove, start the main fire by placing two large base logs on the grate. On the top of these base logs put a layer of wood perpendicular to them. This method of constructing a fire called a “top-down” fire can result in a successful and long-lasting fire that will not completely consume the larger base logs. Close the damper once your fire is established and keep it closed. The fire may be smothered if the user opens the damper before it has fully established. It can also decrease the effectiveness of the fire. Adding Wood Stoves can be used to heat your home efficiently and save you money. They can be used in conjunction with central heating systems or furnace to provide supplemental heating for large homes. Many of the latest stoves that burn cleanly available use advanced combustion principles that is able to separate the burning volatile compounds from combustible gases and tar. This is accomplished by supplying air at two distinct stages. The first stage allows for the vaporization of the volatile compounds and the second stage offers fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and reduces odors. The amount of heat that you will get from your stove will depend on the type of wood used as well as the moisture content, as well as the size of the logs. The logs should be stored in a ventilated area for a period of time before you attempt to burn them, to allow the wood to dry out. If the logs are too wet they will release lots of steam, which is in essence wasted energy. It is best to add wood to the pile in intervals and not all at once. In addition, adding too much wood at one time can cause the temperature of the firebox to increase and creates a vortex, which draws smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into the flame, which could reduce your stove's efficiency. You should avoid the use of any other combustibles, like cardboard or paper in your stove, since they are not wood and have different physical properties that cannot be burned safely without creating dangerously high temperatures and a lot of emissions. Also, you should not use compressed combustibles, such as wood briquettes as they have a very different physical and chemical composition from real firewood and aren't type-approved for use in wood burning stoves. It is crucial to have a professional install and test your wood burning stove. A certified WETT technician will test the stove for proper operation and safety as well as ensure that your chimney is working correctly. They also provide maintenance services to keep your stove and chimney in tip-top shape. They can look for leaks in the areas accessible to your chimney and fix any problems they find. They will also make sure that the occupants of your home understand and comply with the fire evacuation procedures in case of an emergency. Adjusting the Damper A damper regulates how much heat is lost to the chimney when you're not using your stove. In addition to this it can also help you manage the fire. If the flue is not open but the damper is not closed enough, the fire won't burn properly and will release smoke into your living space. To ensure you have the most effective fire using the damper properly adjusted, you must experiment with different settings and observe how each one affects the flames. Typically, you want to keep the damper open enough to let air in and out of the flue when a fire is burning. This will let the fire start and stay lit for several hours. A proper opening will keep the fire from being starved of air and will keep it from blowing smoke. To properly adjust your damper it is important to first make sure that the fireplace is preheated and that the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney is warm, and also that it has a good draft. After these steps are completed, the damper for wood stoves can be adjusted. Once the fire has burned for a while, you can close the damper to about three-quarters of its full position. This will stop the warm air in the room from venting up the chimney while still allowing the smoke to escape from the wood stove. This is the best way to ensure that your fire is lit and prevent it from getting too hot. If you shut the damper too tightly, it may stop the draft from working, however should it be too open, a cold wind could blow through your home. You can determine 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 breeze rubbing against your hand The damper is most likely in the open position. The damper setting can vary a little from one stove to the next and even between different types of wood. You can play around with different settings to get a sense of the most suitable setting for your stove. Clean up After an incident, it is important to clean the flue and stove. This will to reduce the chance of a chimney fire which is the most common reason for wood stove-related fires in homes. Creosote, a sticky substance which can build up within the stovepipe, can be extremely dangerous. It is caused by moisture and unburned wood particles that cannot escape the fire. It can also be caused by poorly lit fires. A regular cleaning schedule can help to prevent the buildup of creosote. This can be done by sweeping your chimney at least once every year. It is recommended to have your fireplace and stove professionally cleaned and inspected at least once per year as well. It is also an excellent idea to clean out the ash tray and grate regularly. It is best to burn only seasoned wood, as it will produce less creosote. Avoid burning cardboard, paper and plastic. These can release chemicals that can be dangerous for the flue and atmosphere, which may be released into your home. The glass that is used on the wood stove has to be cleaned frequently as well. The majority of modern wood stoves have self-cleaning windows, which means they do not require as much cleaning. You can make use of stove glass cleaners on the glass if you aren't getting the glass as clean as you'd like on your wood stove. Other ways to maintain your wood stove 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 will not need to perform as hard to circulate air. small wood burning stove is a good idea not to stack logs or leave them on the fire for an extended duration. This can lead to warping and splits. It is best to avoid using compressed combustible wood in your wood stove because the paraffin contained within the wood can melt and then flow into the flue, which could cause damage.