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How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove Wood stoves are a warm way to heat a space and conserve energy. They will require some maintenance. A majority of modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker either under or on the grate to make sure your stove won't produce many harmful pollutants. How to start a Wood Fire The scent and sound of a fire can be an excellent addition to any home. It's essential to understand how to build an effective fire on your stove. Incorrect methods can result in an unburned fire that doesn't burn efficiently and creates creosote or smoke. These tips will assist you in starting an fire that can heat your home with minimal effort and maximum security. Before you begin a fire, check the condition of your coals and logs. If they're damp they will choke your fire and prevent the proper burning. You might also want to open the flue to let any ash out that has been deposited into the stove. Begin by putting a few small, dry pieces of newspaper in the stove. This will help to ignite the tinder and kindling. Once they start to ignite, add a layer of larger pieces of kindling to the top of the pile. This should be done with a crosshatch design so that there is air between each piece. If you own wood stoves that have an automatic combustion control it will automatically supply an air stream that is controlled to your fire as it grows. This will help the fire to burn at a steady rate without having to constantly open the stove's door to keep it in check. Do not use too much tinder as this will cause the fire to burn at a rapid rate and not utilize the fuel effectively. Once you've made a solid foundation in your stove that is made of tinder, kindling and embers, start the main flame by laying down two large base logs on the grate. Then, on top of these base logs lay a layer parallel to them. This method of building the fire is known as a “top-down” fire can result in a successful and long-lasting fire that will not overtake the larger base logs. Close the damper after your fire is established and keep it closed. Opening the damper too soon can cause the fire smother and will not allow for the proper air flow, which will decrease the efficiency of the fire. Adding Wood Stoves can be used to efficiently heat your home and save you money. They can be utilized in conjunction with central heating systems or furnace to provide additional heating for large houses. A lot of the stoves that burn clean utilize a superior combustion method that separates the burning of volatile compounds from the combustion of combustible gases and tar by providing air in two distinct stages. The first stage is to aid in the vaporization, while the second stage is to provide fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves the process of combustion and reduces the smell. The amount of heat that you can get from a stove will depend on the type and amount of moisture of the wood as well as the size of logs. To let the wood dry, logs must be kept in a ventilated area for a few months before burning. If the logs are soaked with too much moisture, they will produce steam which is essentially wasted power. During the burning of the fire, it is recommended to add more wood to the stack in intervals, but not all at one time. The addition of too much wood all at once can cause the temperature to rise in the firebox, creating a vortex which pulls smoke and volatile compounds that are not burned back into the flames. This could reduce the efficiency of your stove. Avoid using other combustibles in your stove, such as paper or cardboard, as they are not wood. They have different physical properties and cannot be burned without causing dangerously high temperatures. Also, avoid using compressed combustibles, such as wood briquettes because they have a very different chemical and physical composition to real firewood and aren't type-approved for use in wood burning stoves. If you are installing a wood burning stove in your home, it is crucial to have it installed and tested by a professional. A certified WETT technician will test the installation for proper operation and safety as well as ensure that your chimney is operating properly. These professionals can also offer maintenance services to keep your stove and chimney in tip-top shape. They will look for leaks in the areas accessible to your chimney, and fix any issues they spot. They will also make sure that all occupants of the home understand and follow the evacuation procedure in case of an accident. Adjusting the Damper When you're not making use of your stove, a damper regulates the amount of heat lost through the chimney. In addition to this it can also help you to control the flame. If the flue is not open but the damper is closed too much the fire will not burn as efficiently and will release smoke into your living space. To get the most effective fire using your damper adjusted properly you have to play around with different locations and observe how each one affects the flames. You should keep your damper open to let air flow into and out of the flue when a fire is burning. This will allow the fire to start and stay lit for many hours. The proper opening will stop the fire from becoming starved of air and prevent it from blowing smoke. To be able to adjust your damper you need to first make sure the fireplace is heated and the wood stove is warm. This will ensure the chimney is warm, and it also has a good draft. Once these are done the wood stove damper can be adjusted. Once the fire has burned for a while, you can close the damper to about three-quarters of its original position. This will stop the warm air in the room from venting into the chimney, while allowing smoke to escape from the wood stove. This is the best way to keep your fire burning and to prevent it from becoming too hot. The draft may be stopped if you shut the damper to far, but a cold wind can enter your home when the damper is left open. You can test how much the damper is open by holding your hand near the top of the of the flue pipe. If you feel a slight draft pressing against your hand, it's likely to be in the open position. The damper settings can vary from one stove to another and even between different kinds of wood. You can experiment with various settings to get an idea of the best setting for your stove. Clean up After the fire, it's essential to clean the flue and stove. This can lower the risk of a chimney fire, which is the most common reason for wood stove fires in homes. Creosote, a sticky substance that can build up in the stovepipe, is very dangerous. It is caused by the moisture and wood particles that are not burned that cannot escape the fire. This can also occur when fires aren't properly lit. A regular cleaning routine helps to prevent the buildup of creosote. The best method to do this is to sweep the chimney every year. It is also recommended that you have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a yearly. It is also an excellent idea to clean the ash tray and grates regularly. It is recommended to burn only wood that is well-seasoned since it will create less creosote. Avoid burning paper, cardboard and plastic. wood burner stoves can release harmful chemicals to the air and flue, which could be released in your home. It is also important to clean the glass of the wood burning stove on a regular basis. Many newer wood stoves are made with self-cleaning glass, which means they don't require a lot of cleaning. You can make use of stove glass cleaners on the window if you're not able get the glass as clean as you want on your wood stove. Other tips for maintaining your wood stove are to turn the vent down when you are not using it and slamming a window or door to allow more air flow. This will help keep the fire burning hotter and more efficiently, as it won't have to exert as much effort to circulate the air. It is a good idea not to stack logs or place them on the fire for a long period of time. This could cause splitting and warping. It is best to avoid using combustible compressed wood in your wood stove as the paraffin contained within the wood can melt and then flow into the flue which could cause damage.