Why Log Burning Stove Is Right For You

How to Properly Operate a Log Burning Stove

Log burners produce low carbon, renewable heat source that can improve the environment. They are easy to operate and provide excellent heating for a room.

A stove's optimum efficiency is when it is filled with well-seasoned wood. This is the seasoned horse chestnut, or hawthorn, that has been chopped and stacked for a year.

Burning logs

Log burning stoves are warmth, comfort and economical alternative to oil and gas. They are also good for the environment because they offer a low carbon heat and offer the added benefit of enhancing your living space with a beautiful natural flame. Before you buy a wood stove, it's essential to know if you live in a region that has smoke control laws. This will affect the type of fuels you can use in your stove.

You should contact the local environmental protection office to find out more about the regulations if you live in a smoke-control area. It is also important to ensure that your home is suitable for a stove made of wood since it will require to have a robust chimney and a sufficient roof structure. You will also need a large supply of dry logs to fuel the stove. It is essential to use kiln dried firewood that has a low moisture content, or well-seasoned wood as this will have less of an impact on the environment than green wood. Green wood has a high moisture content which means the majority of energy is used to evaporate the water before it can generate any heat. A well-seasoned, kiln-dried, and well-seasoned wood will burn hotter and produce less smoke.

The first step is to set up a bed of embers with small twigs and pieces of kindling. Once the tepee layout is set, larger logs can then be added. They should be placed in a criss-cross (like a tic-tac-toe board) to ensure that there is enough room for air to flow between the logs. Once the fire is set, you can close the main air intake on the stove and use the 'automatic combustion control' to supply the logs with a constant flow of oxygen.

The logs should be dried and sized to fit the stove, which will assist with the burning process. It is recommended to use only Woodsure approved logs, which are kiln-dried and come from sustainable forests.

A fire is lit

It is essential to ensure that you light the fire correctly in a wood-burning stove or other type of log burner. This will not only enhance the efficiency of your stove, but it will also reduce smoke and creosote in your chimney as well as in your house. Start by opening the damper, usually a lever near the top of your stove. Once the fire is established it is possible to close the damper to regulate the flow of air and heat output.

Gather some small to medium-sized clefts and ensure they are dry. (Ideally the moisture content should be less than 20 percent). Add the tinder layer to the bottom of your fireplace or log burner, using a handful of pieces of newspaper or other materials that are combustible, such as cardboard. Don't pack the tinder in a tight manner as this can restrict oxygen flow and cause the fire to burn out. Place a few crisscrossed firelighters on the tinder.

Then, place some fine kindling on top of the newspaper tinder. Make sure to leave room for air circulation. You could also add a few Eco firelighters at this stage to aid the pieces of kindling to ignite and burn more quickly. Then, place a few larger pieces of corner wood burning stove on the top of the kindling. It is best to lay them flat on the grate or firebed, instead of leaning against one another. This allows for airflow and draught to reach the logs below.

The upside-down method of lighting fires is more efficient and produces less particulate emissions than the traditional method of lighting a fire. This is due to the fact that the logs at the top of the stack heat up faster, bringing more oxygen to the flames below. This also prevents the draught of the logs at bottom of the stack cooling down. This would otherwise slow the ignition and cause smoke. This method also ensures an enthralling, full-throttle fire starts right from the beginning and you won't have to wait long to enjoy your warm stove.

Cleaning the firebox

The firebox in your stove that burns wood needs to be regularly cleaned. If left unattended, a buildup can reduce airflow, wood stove causing the fireplace to produce more smoke than a fire that is hot. This could be extremely hazardous, which is why it is important to clean your wood stove on a regular basis. You should ensure that the stove has cooled and remove any large ash pieces before you begin cleaning. Wear gloves since ash is extremely hot. It is also recommended to place a sheet of newspaper on the ground in front of your stove to stop ashes from falling onto your carpet.

There are several ways to clean the glass of your wood burner. You can use a piece newspaper to rub off the soot, or you can buy oven cleaner or cleaning sprays. There's even a product made specifically to clean wood stoves that is available at a variety of hardware stores.

Cleaning your bio ethanol stove during spring will stop the buildup of creosote. It is important to clean your stove since creosote is flammable and can create serious fire hazards. You can use a flashlight to make a visual inspection of the chimney and flue. If the creosote buildup exceeds than 1/8", you should clean the chimney and flue.

It is important to ensure that the stove wood is completely cool before cleaning the firebox. Then, remove all large ash particles and dispose of them in a safe manner. After you have removed the ash, you can make use of a wire bristle to clean the inside of your stove. You should also scrub the grate and the andirons with the help of a wire brush to eliminate any buildup of soot. You can also use a damp cloth to clean the glass and the firebox.

After you have finished cleaning the firebox, you should close the flue, and then shut the door to your wood stove. It is recommended to have someone hold your ladder while you climb the ladder to open the flue. This could be a high place.

Ventilation

Ventilation is necessary for a log-burning stove to function properly and prevent smoke from entering your home. Ventilation also allows fresh air to enter your space to replace the polluted air that would otherwise be drawn into the stove. Ventilation will help prevent your stove from overheating which could cause damage to it and lower its efficiency. Ventilation is also a legal requirement for all stoves.

Start with wood that has been stacked for at least six months and dried. It will burn longer and hotter than fresh wood. Avoid adding materials made from man-made wood like ply, particle boards, and painted wood as they can produce toxic gasses and leave traces that could cause a fire in the chimney. Do not add too many logs as they can block flames, resulting in unburned fuel, which can cause smoke and creosote.

It is recommended to open both air vents when lighting the fire, and remain open until flames have been established. Once the flames are fully established you can close one of the air vent levers gradually until both vents are shut about a third of way. If your fireplace is situated in an area that is not affixed to pressure, it might be necessary to open a door or window slightly to ensure adequate ventilation. If you're using a wood-burning stove it is recommended to use a combination of both smokeless and wood briquettes. This will allow the flames to burn for longer periods of time and give you the ability to add more logs after the fire stove has been established.

Find out from your Local Authority what ventilation requirements will be required if you are installing or moving a wood-burning stove. To meet the requirements it is possible to install an chimney or alter your existing flue. Contact your insurance company to find out if they require that the work be inspected to keep your home's insurance.