Stove Wood Burning: It's Not As Expensive As You Think
How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove
Wood stoves can be an excellent way to save energy and also heat a room. They will require some maintenance.
Many modern wood stoves meet EPA emission guidelines. You can check for an EPA sticker on the grate or under it to ensure that your stove doesn't emit harmful pollutants.
How to start a Wood Fire
The scent and sound of a wood fire can be a pleasant addition to any home. However, outdoor wood stove is important to know the proper way to create a fire on your stove. Incorrect techniques may lead to an unburned fire that doesn't burn well, and may produce smoke or creosote. The tips below will aid you in starting an fire that can heat your home with minimal effort and with the highest security.
Before you start a fire, check the condition of your logs and coals. If they're damp it will dampen your fire and hinder proper burning. You might want to open the chimney to get rid of any ash that has fallen into the stove.
Begin by placing a handful of small dry newspaper pieces in your stove. This will help to ignite the tinder and kindling. Once they start to burn, add a layer of larger pieces to the top of the pile. This should be done with the crosshatch pattern to ensure that there is air between each piece.
If your wood stove has an automatic combustion control it will automatically pump air into the fire as it grows. This will allow the fire to burn steadily without you having to open the stove door often to keep it in check.
Be careful not to 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 efficiently. After you've built a solid bed in your stove of sparks, tinder and kindling begin the main flame by laying down two large base logs on the grill. Then, you can lay an additional layer of smaller logs parallel to these and on the top of the base logs. This method of creating the fire is known as a "top-down" fire will result in an effective and long-lasting fire that doesn't overtake the larger base logs.
Once your fire is well established shut off the damper and keep it shut. The fire may be smothered if you open the damper prior to it being fully established. It can also decrease the efficiency of the fire.
Add Wood
Stoves are not just beautiful home decor pieces - they can help you save money by providing efficient wood heat. They can be used on their own or together with central heating or a furnace system to provide the supplemental heating required in large homes or homes with many rooms. A lot of the stoves that are clean-burning employ a superior combustion process that separates the burning of volatile compounds from combustible gasses and tar by supplying air in two distinct stages. The first stage is for the vaporization and the second is to supply fresh air that has been pre-heated. This improves combustion and decreases odors.
The amount of heat you will get from a stove depends on the type and amount of moisture of the wood and also the dimensions of the 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 contain too much moisture, they will produce steam which is essentially wasted power.
You should add wood to the pile at intervals and not all at once. Too much wood added at one time can cause the temperature of the firebox to rise, 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.
Avoid using other combustibles in your stove, such as paper or cardboard because they are not wood. They have different physical properties and can't be burned without causing dangerously high temperatures. You should also not use compressed combustibles, such as wood briquettes, as they have a distinct physical and chemical composition from real firewood, and are not type-approved for use in wood burning stoves.
If you're planning to install a wood burning stove in your home, it is essential to have it installed and tested by a qualified. A certified WETT technician will examine your stove to make sure it is safe and reliable. They can also make sure that your chimney is functioning properly. They offer maintenance services for your chimney and stove to ensure they remain in top shape. They can check the areas accessible to your chimney for leaks, and fix any issues discovered. They will also make sure that the occupants of your home understand and comply with the fire evacuation guidelines in the event of an emergency.
Adjusting the Damper
A damper controls the amount of heat that is lost to the chimney when you aren't cooking on your stove. It can also be used to control the fire. If the flue is opened 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 efficient fire, with your damper set correctly, you must play around with different locations and observe how each one affects the flames.
You want to keep your damper open to allow air to flow into and out of the flue when a fire is burning. This allows the fire to get a good fire going and helps it stay burning so that you can enjoy it for long periods of time. The right opening will prevent the fire from becoming depleted of air and prevent it from blowing smoke.
To adjust your damper correctly, you must first ensure that the fireplace is preheated and the wood stove is hot. This will ensure that the chimney stays warm and has a good draft. Once these are done the damper for wood stoves can be adjusted.
After the fire has been burning for some time, you need to close the damper approximately three quarters of the way. This will prevent the warm air in the room from venting through the chimney, while allowing smoke to escape from the wood stove.
This is the most effective way to stop the fire from getting too hot, while also keeping it burning. If you close the damper too far it could stop the draft from working, however should it be too wide, a cold breeze could blow through your home.
Holding your hand at the top of the flue pipe will show you how much the damper has sunk. If you feel a slight breeze pushing against your hand, it's probably in the open position.
The damper settings may differ from one stove to the next and even among different types of wood. You can experiment with various settings to get a sense of the best setting for your stove.
Clean up
After a fire, it is crucial to clean the flue and stove. This will help reduce the risk of a chimney fire which is the main reason for wood stove-related fires in homes. Creosote, a sticky substance that forms on the stovepipe's interior and can be extremely hazardous. Moisture and unburned particles of wood that cannot escape the flame are the reason for this chemical. It could be caused by improperly lit fires.
Regular cleaning helps to prevent creosote buildup. The best method to do this is to sweep the chimney at least once a year. It is also recommended to get your stove and fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a yearly.
Also, it's a good idea for you to clean the ash tray and the grates regularly. It is a good idea to use only wood that is seasoned for burning, as this will produce less creosote and ash. It is also recommended to avoid burning paper, cardboard, plastic and other trash items. These can release chemicals that are dangerous for the flue and air, and could be released into your home.
It is also important to clean the glass of the wood-burning stove on a regular basis. A lot of modern wood stoves have self-cleaning glass, meaning that they don't require a lot of scrubs. If you are not able to clean the glass of your wood stove as clean as you would like, there are stove glass cleaners can be used on the window.
Some other helpful tips for maintaining your wood stove are to turn the vent down when you are not using it and cracking a window or door to increase the flow of air. This will ensure that the fire is burning more hot and efficient. The wood stove won't have to be as active to circulate air. It is also a good idea not stack logs or keep them in the fire for long durations of time, since this could cause splitting and warping. It is advised to avoid using compressed combustible wood in your wood stove since the paraffin in the wood can melt and then flow into the flue and cause damage.