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A wood burning stove is a fantastic way to keep your home warm and cozy during the colder months. However, to ensure that it functions correctly, you need to know how to light it properly. Below are some steps to follow to light a wood burning stove effectively.
- Gather your materials
The first step in lighting a wood burning stove is to gather your materials. You will need:
- Kindling: small, dry pieces of wood that will catch fire quickly and easily.
- Firelighter: lighting the firelighter starts the fire which will then spread to the kindling.
- Matches or a lighter: to light the newspaper and kindling.
- Firewood: once the kindling has caught fire, you will need larger pieces of wood to keep the fire burning. See our blog on the different types of firewood to make the best choice for you.
- Open the damper
Before you light the fire, you need to open the damper. The damper is a metal flap located above the firebox. Opening it will allow air to flow into the stove and help the fire burn more efficiently.
- Build the fire
To build the fire, start by crumpling up a few pieces of kindling and placing them in the centre of the firebox. Next, arrange the firelighters on and around the firelighter, making sure to leave enough space for air to circulate. Light the firelighters with a match or lighter.
Once the kindling has caught fire, slowly add larger pieces of firewood to the firebox, building up the pile as the logs catch fire. Make sure to place them in a way that allows air to circulate around them.
Make sure to not overfill your firebox and if you have a stove with an airwash system do not place logs too close the door as this will block the secondary airflow and reduce the impact of the airwash system. This could result in build up of soot on your screen.
- Close the door
Once the fire is burning well, close the door of the stove. This will help regulate the airflow and keep the fire burning efficiently.
- Adjust the damper
Once the fire is burning well, you may need to adjust the damper to control the amount of airflow. If the fire is burning too hot, you can close the damper slightly to reduce the amount of air entering the stove. If the fire is burning too slowly, you can open the damper slightly to allow more air to flow in.
- Maintain the fire
To keep the fire burning well, you will need to add more firewood periodically. Make sure to add wood only when the fire has burned down to embers. This will ensure that the firewood ignites quickly and burns efficiently.
Lighting a wood burning stove is a simple process that requires a few basic steps. By following these steps, you can ensure that your stove burns efficiently and keeps your home warm and cozy throughout the colder months. Remember to always be careful when working with fire and never leave a burning stove unattended.
If for any reason your fire does not ignite properly, does not burn efficiently or smoke leaks into your room take a look at our blog post on common issues with log burners and solutions