Wood burning stoves provide warmth, cosiness, and the hygge feeling everybody is searching for, so it’s no wonder they’re so popular these days! However, you can’t reap these rewards without learning how to use one safely and efficiently.
So, we’ve compiled this ultimate guide to using wood burners, answering your burning “how to use a wood burning stove” question once and for all.
Preparing to Use Your Wood Burning Stove
Safe, enjoyable wood burning stove use begins at the preparation stage. While it’s tempting to get your roaring fire going, taking these vital prep steps ensure you, your loved ones, and your house can cosy up around the flames without taking avoidable risks:
1. Gather Your Materials
You’ll need four things to light a fire in your stove:
- Kindling — Small pieces of wood, wooden sticks, and twigs.
- logs — These are for the main event. Opt for kiln-dried or well-seasoned logs with less than 20% moisture.
- Matches — Choose long ones for safety.
- Firelighters — These are a safe, effective way to get the fire going.
You can use both hardwood and softwood in your wood burner. The former (e.g., hickory, ash, and oak) burn hot and last a long time, making them perfect for heating your house. However, they’re the most expensive woods on the market. Provided softwoods (e.g., pine or spruce) are dry enough, they’ll burn just as well and save you cash.
2. Conduct Safety Checks
Quick safety checks will ensure your stove is in good working condition for your soon-to-be roaring fire. Check for:
- Cracked glass
- Gaps in the cast iron body
- Rust
- Ashpan damage
- Loose seals
If you notice any of these, obtain professional assistance to fix them before lighting a fire. If you don’t, you’re good to go.
3. How to Start a Fire in a Wood Burning Stove
With the preparation finished, it’s time to get your fire going. These steps ensure you build an efficient, safe fire:
- Place kindling in the centre — Put a small amount of kindling in the centre of the chamber. Building in this location ensures proper airflow and sufficient space for the kindling to ignite.
- The airflow control lever should be fully out – this ensures there is maximum air flow required to for the stove to light effectively
- Arrange kindling and firelighters — Arrange the kindling in jenga like format building a structure that is three tiers in height and hollow within. Place firelighters within the structure that can easily be accessed for lighting.
- Add logs — Place small logs bark side down on top of the kindling structure you have built. Once the fire has taken you can add larger logs.
- Light the kindling and Leave the stove door open – light the firelighters set within the kindling, ensuring as much of the kindling sets on fire as possible, which in turn will set light to the log or logs placed above it.
Regulating the Temperature and Airflow
Once the fire is built and beginning to burn well, it is time to close the door and adjust the air control lever to control the airflow and temperature.
The more the air flow lever is pulled out, the higher the heat output will be due to the influx of oxygen. Conversely, the less oxygen, the cooler the fire.
You may want to open or close the air control lever to control the speed at which the fire burns and the level of heat that it generates.
Safety Note
Never close the lever fully while your fire is roaring. Doing so will ramp up creosote and smoking in the chimney, creating a dangerous situation.
Fuel Efficiency and Eco-Friendly Practices
Burning anything has an impact on the environment, so being mindful of fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness is essential for staying warm without environmental guilt. Follow these tips for best results:
- Select wood with FSC and UKWAS certifications.
- Only burn dry, seasoned wood with 20% moisture content or lower.
- Try compressed heat logs, wood briquettes, and eco logs.
- Use a stove pipe thermometer for accurate temperature measurement. It’ll help wood burn efficiently and maximise heat output while protecting your chimney and reducing emissions.
- Ensure your stove’s seals are tight.
- Don’t overfill the stove.
- Clean the stove regularly.
Cleaning and Maintaining Wood Burning Stoves
Speaking of cleaning, here’s how to do it:
- Wait for the fire to cool.
- Wear protective gloves and use a small spade to move the ash into a metal container.
- Take the ashes outside to a safe location (i.e., away from bushes, trees, or other flammable material), keeping it in the bucket.
- Leave the ash for at least 24 hours before disposing it in your garden.
- Grab a piece of cold charcoal from your stove.
- Dampen it using water.
- Rub it on the inside glass.
- Wipe away any excess moisture from the glass with a piece of kitchen roll.
- Use a hoover with the soft brush attachment to remove dust or ash traces.
- Employ a chimney sweep to clean the chimney or try using a drain rod with a brush attached to clear it.
Safety Tips for Wood Burning Stove Users
In addition to the wood burning stove safety tips already discussed, ensure you follow these to keep everybody warm and safe:
- Install carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms.
- Always choose the right fuel.
- Invest in a fire screen if you have children.
- Educate your household on safety guidelines.
- Keep the door closed, except when refuelling.
How to Use a Wood Burning Stove, Sorted.
Wood burners bring the ultimate cosy factor, but enjoying them responsibly is important by following our comprehensive guide above. From cleaning and maintaining to building and lighting, you’re now your family’s resident wood burning stove expert!