(Image: https://cdn.freshstore.cloud/offer/images/2044/1808/the-york-100-cast-iron-wood-burning-stove-controllable-air-vents-fast-delivery-black-s-1808.jpg)How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove Wood Burning
Wood stoves are a warm way to heat a space and save energy. However, they need some level of maintenance.
Many modern wood stoves are compliant with EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker on the underside or next to the grate, to ensure that your stove won't produce many harmful pollutants.
How to start a Wood Fire
The scent and sound of a woodfire can be an enjoyable addition to any home. It's crucial to learn the correct method to create a fire on your stove. Incorrect techniques may lead to a fire which does not burn efficiently, and produces creosote or smoke. The following tips can help you create an efficient fire that will warm your home quickly and efficiently.
Check the condition of your logs and coals before you begin the fire. If they're damp, it will smother your fire and prevent the proper burning. You might want to open the chimney to eliminate any ash that falls into the stove.
Begin by putting a few small newspaper pieces that are dry into your stove. This will help ignite the tinder. After the tinder and kindling are beginning to ignite, you can add the larger kindling pieces on top. This should be done using a crosshatch design so that there is air between each piece.
If your wood defra stove has an automatic combustion control it will automatically pump air into the flame as it grows. This allows the fire to burn for a long time without you having to open the door of your stove constantly to tend to it.
It is essential to avoid using too much tinder, since it can cause an unburned fire that burns at an extremely high rate and fails to use the fuel as efficiently as possible. 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 grill. Next, place an additional layer of smaller logs perpendicular to these and on top of the base logs. This “top-down” method of building the fireplace will create a long-lasting, efficient fire that doesn't completely engulf larger logs from the base.
Close the damper after the fire is established, and keep it shut. Doing this too soon could cause the fire to get smothered and not allow for the correct air flow, which can decrease the efficiency of the fire.
Adding Wood
Stoves are not just beautiful home decor pieces they can also help you save money by supplying efficient wood heat. They can be utilized in conjunction with a central heating system or furnace to provide additional heat in large homes. Many of the new stoves that are clean-burning utilize a superior combustion method that differentiates the burning process of volatile compounds from combustible gasses and tar by providing air in two different stages. The first stage allows for the combustion of volatile compounds and the second supplies fresh air that has been pre-heated. This improves combustion and reduces the odors.
The amount of heat you will get from your stove will depend on the type of wood used and the moisture content as well as the size of the logs. To allow the wood burners outdoor to dry, logs should be stored in a well ventilated location for a few months prior to burning. If the logs contain excessive moisture, they will create steam which is essentially wasted power.
It is best wood burning stove to add wood to the pile in intervals, not all at one time. In addition, adding too much wood at once causes the temperature in the firebox to rise, and creates a vortex that draws smoke and unburnt volatile compounds back into the flame which could reduce your stove's efficiency.
You should avoid the use of 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 excessive emissions. You should also not use compressed combustibles like wood briquettes as they have a completely different physical and chemical composition from real firewood, and are not suitable for burning in wood burning stoves.
If you're 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 operating correctly. These experts can also provide maintenance services to keep your chimney and stove in top condition. They can inspect the areas accessible to your chimney for leakage, and fix any issues discovered. They will also ensure that all house occupants know and follow the evacuation procedures for fire in case in the event of an emergency.
Adjusting the Damper
If you're not making use of your stove, a damper controls how much heat is lost through the chimney. It can also be used to regulate the fire. If the flue opens but the damper is too closed the fire will not burn properly and smoke will erupt into your home. To ensure you have the most efficient fire, with your damper adjusted properly you have to experiment with different settings and observe how each affects the flames.
(Image: https://cdn.freshstore.cloud/offer/images/2044/6771/tent-stove-wood-burning-stove-soppy-portable-camping-tent-stove-stainless-steel-tent-wood-stove-with-chimney-pipes-portable-camping-cookware-for-camping-heating-lodging-cooking-silver-6771.jpg)Typically, you'll want to keep the damper open enough to let air enter and out of the flue while the fire is burning. This lets the fire get going and keeps it burning so that you can enjoy it for a long time. The proper opening will stop the fire from becoming starved of air and will keep it from blowing smoke.
To properly adjust your damper you need to ensure that the fireplace is heated and the wood stove is warm. This will ensure that the chimney is warm, and also that it has a good draft. After that, the damper on the wood stove can be adjusted.
Once the fire has burned a bit you should close the damper to about three-quarters of its original position. This will stop the warm air from the room from getting into the chimney, while still allowing smoke to escape.
This is the most effective way to keep your fire burning and prevent it from getting too hot. If you shut the damper too much, it could block the draft from working, but if it is too wide, a cold breeze could enter your home.
You can test how much the damper is opened by placing your hand on the top of the of the flue pipe. If you feel a breeze pushing against your palm, the damper is likely to be open.
The damper settings can vary between stoves and even between different kinds of wood. You can play around with different settings to get a sense of the most suitable setting for your stove.
Clean up
After a fire, it is important to clean the stove and flue. This can reduce the risk of a chimney fire which is the primary cause of wood stove related fires in homes. Creosote, a sticky substance that accumulates on the stovepipe's interior and can be very dangerous. It is caused by moisture and unburned wood particles that are unable to escape from the fire. It could be caused by improperly lit fires.
A regular cleaning routine can help keep the buildup of creosote at bay. This can be accomplished by cleaning your chimney once every year. It is recommended to have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year as well.
Also, it is a good idea for you to clean the ash tray and grates regularly. It is best to burn only seasoned wood, as it will produce less creosote. It is also recommended to avoid burning cardboard, paper, plastic and other trash items. These items could release dangerous chemicals into the air and flue, that could end up in your home.
The glass that is used on the wood burning stove needs to be cleaned frequently as well. Many modern wood stoves come with self-cleaning windows so they don't require as much scrubs. You can apply stove glass cleaners to the window if you're capable of getting the glass as clean as you'd like on your wood stove.
Other helpful suggestions for maintaining your wood stove include turning the vent down when you are not using it and cracking a window or door to increase air flow. This will keep the fire burning longer and more efficiently, since it won't have to exert as much effort to circulate the air. It is a good idea not to stack logs, or let them sit on the fire for a long time. This could cause warping and splits. In addition, it is a good idea to not use compressed combustible logs in your wood stove, because the paraffin in them can melt and flow down the flue which could cause damage.