Wood stoves are an excellent method to reduce energy consumption and also heat the room. However, they need some level of maintenance.
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 smell and the sound of a fire can be an enjoyable addition to any house. It's important to understand how to build an effective fire on your stove. Incorrect techniques can lead to the fire not burning effectively and produces smoke or creosote. The tips below will aid you in starting an fire that can heat your home with the least effort and ensure your security.
Before you begin an fire, make sure you check the condition of your coals and logs. If they are too wet they will choke the flame and stop it from burning efficiently. It is also possible to open the flue to let any ash out that has fallen into the stove.
Begin by placing several small newspaper pieces that are dry in your stove. This will help ignite the fire. When the tinder and the kindling have started to ignite, you can add a layer of larger kindling pieces on top. This should be done in a crosshatch pattern, so that there will be air between each piece of wood.
If your wood stove is equipped with an automatic combustion control, it will automatically pump air into the fire as it expands. This will allow the fire to burn steadily without the need to open the door of your stove often to keep it in check.
It is important to not use too much tinder, as this could result in an unburned fire that burns at an extremely high rate and fails to make use of the fuel as efficiently as it can. If you have a nice fire and a bed of tinder in your stove, you can start the main fire by laying two large base logs across the grill. Then, on top of these base logs lay a layer parallel to them. This "top-down" method of building a fireplace will result in a long-lasting, efficient fire that doesn't engulf larger base logs.
Close the damper after the fire is established and keep it closed. The fire may be smothered if the user opens the damper before it is fully established. This can also affect the effectiveness of the fire.
Adding Wood
Stoves can be used to heat your home efficiently and help you save money. They can be used in conjunction with central heating systems or furnace to provide additional heating for large houses. A lot of the stoves that are clean-burning utilize a superior combustion method that differentiates the burning of volatile compounds from combustible gasses and tar by providing air in two different stages. The first stage permits the combustion of volatile compounds and the second offers fresh air that is pre-heated. This improves combustion and reduces smells.
The amount of heat that you can get from a stove will depend on the species and the moisture content of the wood used as well as the size of the logs. The logs must be stored in a well-ventilated area for a period of time before you try to burn them to allow the wood to dry. If the logs contain excessive moisture, they will produce steam that is in essence wasted energy.
You should add wood to the pile at intervals and not all at one time. In addition, adding too much wood all at once could cause the temperature to rise within the firebox, causing an air vortex that draws smoke and volatile compounds that are not burned back into flames. This can 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 like wood briquettes because they have a completely different chemical and physical composition to actual firewood and are not type-approved for use in wood burning stoves.
If you're installing wood-burning stoves in your home, it's crucial to have it installed and tested by a qualified. A certified WETT technician will test the installation to ensure safe operation and safety, as well as make sure that your chimney is working correctly. They also provide maintenance services to keep your chimney and stove in good condition. They can inspect the accessible areas of your chimney for leaks, and repair any problems found. They will also ensure that all occupants of the home understand and adhere to the fire evacuation procedures in the event of an accident.
Adjusting the Damper
When you're not cooking on your stove, a damper controls how much heat is lost through the chimney. In addition to this it can help you manage the fire. If the flue opens, but the damper is closed the fire won't be able to burn as it should and smoke will billow into your home. You can adjust the damper to get the best flames by experimenting with different settings.
You want to keep your damper open to allow air to flow into and out of the flue while a fire is burning. This will allow the fire to start and remain lit for a number of hours. The right opening will also stop the fire from becoming starved of air and will keep it from blowing smoke.
To adjust your damper properly it is important to first make sure that the fireplace has been heated and that the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney is warm, and that it has an adequate draft. After these steps are completed, the wood stove damper can be adjusted.
After the fire has been burning for an extended period, shut the damper around three quarters of the way. This will stop warm air in the room from venturing into the chimney, but still permitting smoke to escape.
This is the best way to keep your fire lit and prevent it from getting too hot. If you close the damper too far it could block the draft from working, however when it's too wide, a cold breeze could blow into your home.
Holding your hand at the top of the flue pipe will tell you how much the damper has sunk. If you feel a slight breeze pushing against your palm, the damper is likely to be open.
The damper settings may differ from one stove to another and even between different kinds of wood. Playing around with different settings will give you an idea of what you should look for, but you will need to tweak until you get the perfect setting for your stove.
Clean up
After the fire, it's crucial to clean the stove and flue. This will reduce the risk of an explosion in the chimney, which is the primary reason for fires caused by wood stoves. Creosote, a sticky substance that can build up within the stovepipe, can be very dangerous. It is caused by moisture and unburned wood particles that are unable to escape from the fire. This can also be caused when fires aren't properly lit.
Regular cleaning can help prevent creosote buildup. This can be accomplished by sweeping your chimney at least once every year. It is also recommended that you have your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and examined at least every year.
Also, it's recommended to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is recommended to burn only wood that is well-seasoned because it produces less creosote. Avoid burning cardboard, paper and plastic. These can release chemicals that can be dangerous for the respiratory tract and the air, and could be released into your home.
The glass on the wood burning stove has to be regularly cleaned as well. The majority of newer wood stoves are designed with self-cleaning glass, meaning that they do not require much scrubs. You can apply stove glass cleaners to the window if you're able get the glass as clean as you want on your wood stove.
Some other helpful tips for maintaining your wood stove include turning the vent down when you're not using it and cracking the door or window to allow more air flow. This will ensure that the fire is burning longer and more efficiently. The wood stove won't have to work as hard in order to circulate air. wood burning fireplace is also a good idea not stack logs or keep them in the fire for long periods of time, as this could lead to warping and splitting. It is recommended to avoid using combustible compressed wood in your wood stove since the paraffin in the wood can melt and then flow into the flue which could cause damage.
