This Is The New Big Thing In Stove Wood Burning
How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves are a cozy way to heat a space and save energy. They do require some maintenance.
Many modern wood stoves conform to EPA emission guidelines. You can look for an EPA sticker on the grate or under it to ensure your stove isn't releasing harmful pollutants.
How to Start a Wood Fire
The sound and smell of a fire made from wood can be a welcome addition to any house. However, it is important to know the proper way to make a fire on your stove. Incorrect techniques can lead to the fire not burning efficiently and creates creosote or smoke. The tips below will assist you in starting the fire that will warm your home with the least effort and with the highest safety.
Make sure to check the condition of your coals and logs before you start a fire. If they're too damp they could smother the fire and prevent it from burning efficiently. You might also want to open the flue to let out any ash that has been deposited into the stove.
Begin by putting a few small dry pieces of newspaper into your stove. This will help ignite the fire. Once the tinder and kindling are beginning to burn, you can add the larger kindling pieces on the top. This should be done in a crosshatch pattern, so that there is air between each piece of wood.
If you own wood stoves that have an automatic control of combustion it will automatically supply a controlled stream of air to your fire as it grows. This will allow the fire to burn steadily without the need to open the stove's door often to keep it in check.
It's important to avoid using excessive tinder as this could result in a fire that burns at an excessive rate and doesn't utilize the fuel as efficiently as possible. If you have a solid pile of tinder and some kindling in your stove, begin the main fire by laying two large base logs across the grate. Then, you can lay a layer of smaller logs perpendicular to these and on the top of the base logs. corner wood burning stove of creating a fire known as a "top-down" fire will result in a powerful and long-lasting fire that does not completely consume the larger base logs.
Once your fire is well established Close the damper and keep it closed. The fire can be smothered by opening the damper before it has fully established. It will also reduce the efficiency of the fire.
Adding Wood
Stoves aren't only beautiful pieces of home decor - they can help you save money by supplying efficient wood heat. They can be used together with central heating systems or furnace to provide additional heating for large homes. A lot of the stoves that are clean burning available on the market use an advanced combustion principle which separates the burning volatile compounds from combustible gasses as well as tar. This is accomplished by supplying air at two distinct stages. The first stage permits the burning of volatile compounds and the second stage offers fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves the combustion process and helps to reduce the smell.
The amount of heat you will get from a stove will depend on the species and the moisture content of the wood you use, and also the size of logs. The logs should be stacked in a ventilated area for several months prior to when you attempt to burn them, to allow the wood to dry out. If the logs have excessive moisture, they'll produce steam, which is basically wasted power.
During the burning of the fire, it is recommended to add more wood to the pile at intervals, but not all at once. In addition, adding too much wood at one time can cause the temperature of the firebox to rise and creates a vortex that draws smoke and volatile compounds that have not been burned back into the flame, which can decrease the efficiency of your stove.
You should avoid the use of other combustibles like cardboard or paper in your stove, because they are not wood and have different physical properties and cannot be burned safely without creating dangerously high temperatures and a lot of emissions. Also, avoid using compressed combustibles like wood briquettes because they have a completely different chemical and physical properties from real firewood and aren't approved for burning in wood burning stoves.
If you're planning to install a wood burning stove in your home, it's essential to have it installed and tested by a qualified. A certified WETT technician will test your installation to ensure that it is safe and efficient. They can also make sure that your chimney works correctly. 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 connected to your chimney, and fix any issues they discover. They will also ensure that all residents of the home understand and follow the fire evacuation procedure in the event of an accident.
Adjusting the Damper
When you're not using your stove, a damper can control how much heat is lost through the chimney. It can also be used to control the fire. If the flue is open but the damper is too closed, the fire won't be able to 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 test different locations and observe how each affects the flames.
You should keep your damper open to let air be able to enter and exit the flue when a flame is burning. This lets the fire get going and also helps keep it lit so you can enjoy it for long periods of time. A proper opening will keep the fire from being starved of air, and also prevent it from blowing smoke.
To properly adjust your damper, you have to first make sure the fireplace is preheated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney is warm and has good draft. After this the damper on the wood stove can be adjusted.
Once the fire has burned slightly, you need to reduce the damper to around three-quarters of its maximum. This will stop the warm air from the room from going up the chimney while still allowing smoke to escape out of the wood stove.
This is the best way to keep your fire lit and prevent it from getting too hot. The draft could be stopped if one closes the damper too far but a cold wind can enter your home when the damper is not closed.
Placing your hand on the top of the flue pipe will tell you how much the damper has opened. If you feel a breeze pushing against your palm, the damper is likely in the open position.
The damper's setting can vary a little from one stove to another and even between different types of wood. Experimenting with the various settings will give you an idea of what you should look for, but you will have to keep adjusting it until you have found the ideal setting for your stove.
Clean up
It is important to clean your stove and flue after a fire. This will reduce the risk of an ensuing fire in the chimney which is the most common cause of fires caused by wood stoves. Creosote, a sticky substance that can build up within the stovepipe, can be extremely hazardous. It is caused by moisture and unburned wood particles that are unable to escape from the fire. This can also occur when fires aren't lit properly.
A regular cleaning schedule can help to prevent the buildup of creosote. This can be done by sweeping your chimney once a year. It is also recommended to have your fireplace and stove professionally cleaned and checked at least year.
Also, it's an excellent idea 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. It is also a good idea to avoid burning cardboard, paper plastic, and other waste items. These items can release dangerous chemicals for the air and flue that could end up in your home.
It is also important to wash the glass of the wood stove regularly. A lot of modern wood stoves are made with self-cleaning glass, meaning that they do not require much scrubs. If you are not able to clean the glass of your wood stove as clean as you'd like, there are stove glass cleaners available that can be used on the window.
Other suggestions for maintaining your wood stove are to turn the vent off when you're not using it, and opening windows or doors to increase the flow of air. This will keep the fire burning hotter, and more efficient. The wood stove will not have to perform as hard to circulate air. It is recommended to not stack logs or keep them in the fire for long durations of time, since this can lead to warping and splitting. Finally, it is a good idea to avoid using compressed combustible logs in your wood stove, because the paraffin in them can melt and flow into the flue which could cause damage to the stove.