Difference between revisions of "Use a Wood Stove"
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== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===Starting a Fire=== | ===Starting a Fire=== | ||
| − | #Read the manufacturer’s instructions. Many wood stoves come with specific directions from the manufacturer. You should read these before starting a fire in your wood stove to ensure that you're doing it properly and safely.<ref>http://www.bcairquality.ca/topics/stove-burning-practices.html</ref> | + | #Read the manufacturer’s instructions. Many wood stoves come with specific directions from the manufacturer. You should read these before starting a fire in your wood stove to ensure that you're doing it properly and safely.<ref name="rf1">http://www.bcairquality.ca/topics/stove-burning-practices.html</ref> |
#* If you don’t have the manual for your stove, check the manufacturer’s website for a copy. | #* If you don’t have the manual for your stove, check the manufacturer’s website for a copy. | ||
#Choose the right fuel. The best wood to use is seasoned wood that’s been drying for at least six months. Fresh wood contains too much water, and burning it will waste wood and money. Moreover, wet wood creates lots of smoke, and lots of creosote buildup. | #Choose the right fuel. The best wood to use is seasoned wood that’s been drying for at least six months. Fresh wood contains too much water, and burning it will waste wood and money. Moreover, wet wood creates lots of smoke, and lots of creosote buildup. | ||
#* Creosote is a combination of chemicals made up of unburned fuel. This material can build up in your chimney and can lead to chimney fires. | #* Creosote is a combination of chemicals made up of unburned fuel. This material can build up in your chimney and can lead to chimney fires. | ||
| − | #* In terms of type of wood, you can choose between hardwood and softwood. Hardwoods that come from deciduous trees are denser and produce a hotter and longer burn, so they're ideal for cold winters. Softwoods are less dense, so they produce a cooler fire that’s great for cool spring or fall nights.<ref>http://www.lovetheoutdoors.com/types-of-firewood-softwood-vs-hardwood/</ref> | + | #* In terms of type of wood, you can choose between hardwood and softwood. Hardwoods that come from deciduous trees are denser and produce a hotter and longer burn, so they're ideal for cold winters. Softwoods are less dense, so they produce a cooler fire that’s great for cool spring or fall nights.<ref name="rf2">http://www.lovetheoutdoors.com/types-of-firewood-softwood-vs-hardwood/</ref> |
#* Fireplace wood can be found at many convenience stores, gas stations, hardware stores, grocery stores, garden centers, wood suppliers, and online. | #* Fireplace wood can be found at many convenience stores, gas stations, hardware stores, grocery stores, garden centers, wood suppliers, and online. | ||
| − | #Open all the controls. Oxygen is one of the things that a fire needs to burn, and many wood stoves have one or more levers you can use to control valves that allow air into the firebox. When you're starting a fire, you want all the valves fully open.<ref>http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/lighting-and-using-a-woodburning-stove.html</ref> | + | #Open all the controls. Oxygen is one of the things that a fire needs to burn, and many wood stoves have one or more levers you can use to control valves that allow air into the firebox. When you're starting a fire, you want all the valves fully open.<ref name="rf3">http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/lighting-and-using-a-woodburning-stove.html</ref> |
#* The primary source of air in many wood stoves is an air intake under the grate that provides oxygen to the fire bed. Many wood stoves will have a lever under or beside the door that controls this valve. | #* The primary source of air in many wood stoves is an air intake under the grate that provides oxygen to the fire bed. Many wood stoves will have a lever under or beside the door that controls this valve. | ||
#* Stoves may also have a secondary air valve above the firebox to provide oxygen to the flames, as well as a damper that opens and closes the flue. | #* Stoves may also have a secondary air valve above the firebox to provide oxygen to the flames, as well as a damper that opens and closes the flue. | ||
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#* Crumple up five or six pieces of newspaper. Make sure the paper is dry. | #* Crumple up five or six pieces of newspaper. Make sure the paper is dry. | ||
#* Place the newspaper balls into the center of the firebox. | #* Place the newspaper balls into the center of the firebox. | ||
| − | #* Lay up to 15 pieces of kindling on top of the paper. Make sure the pieces of wood are dry and small.<ref | + | #* Lay up to 15 pieces of kindling on top of the paper. Make sure the pieces of wood are dry and small.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#Light the fire. Use a lighter or match to ignite the newspaper under the kindling. Light the paper in a few places, starting at the back and working your way toward the front. This will prevent you from burning yourself as you pull your hand out of the firebox. | #Light the fire. Use a lighter or match to ignite the newspaper under the kindling. Light the paper in a few places, starting at the back and working your way toward the front. This will prevent you from burning yourself as you pull your hand out of the firebox. | ||
| − | #* Leave the door to the wood stove open for about five minutes to ensure the fire gets enough fresh air.<ref>http://napoleonfireplaces.com/how-to-start-a-wood-fire-in-a-stove/</ref> | + | #* Leave the door to the wood stove open for about five minutes to ensure the fire gets enough fresh air.<ref name="rf4">http://napoleonfireplaces.com/how-to-start-a-wood-fire-in-a-stove/</ref> |
#* As the paper burns, it will ignite the kindling pieces on top, and this will get the fire going. | #* As the paper burns, it will ignite the kindling pieces on top, and this will get the fire going. | ||
#Add some small logs. Once the kindling has begun to burn, you can add some smaller logs to the fire when the original flames start to die down. Add at least three small logs to the fire, one at a time to avoid smothering the flames. | #Add some small logs. Once the kindling has begun to burn, you can add some smaller logs to the fire when the original flames start to die down. Add at least three small logs to the fire, one at a time to avoid smothering the flames. | ||
#* When you add wood to the fire, loosely stack the logs so that air can surround them as much as possible. | #* When you add wood to the fire, loosely stack the logs so that air can surround them as much as possible. | ||
| − | #* Close the door most of the way, but leave it unlatched for about 15 minutes to prevent the fire from being smothered as it establishes itself.<ref>http://www.cottagetips.com/tips/wood-stove-tips/</ref> | + | #* Close the door most of the way, but leave it unlatched for about 15 minutes to prevent the fire from being smothered as it establishes itself.<ref name="rf5">http://www.cottagetips.com/tips/wood-stove-tips/</ref> |
#* Once the fire is fully established, after about 15 minutes, you can close and latch the door. | #* Once the fire is fully established, after about 15 minutes, you can close and latch the door. | ||
===Keeping a Fire Burning=== | ===Keeping a Fire Burning=== | ||
#Keep the door closed. Each time you open the door, it allows heat to escape from the stove, and this will result in a cooler and less efficient fire. Moreover, opening the door can allow smoke to escape into the room too, which is bad for people’s health. | #Keep the door closed. Each time you open the door, it allows heat to escape from the stove, and this will result in a cooler and less efficient fire. Moreover, opening the door can allow smoke to escape into the room too, which is bad for people’s health. | ||
| − | #* Once your fire is burning, the only time you should open the door is when you're adding more wood.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC67gBhWu0Y</ref> | + | #* Once your fire is burning, the only time you should open the door is when you're adding more wood.<ref name="rf6">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC67gBhWu0Y</ref> |
#* Open the door slowly to prevent a blast of fresh air from rushing into the stove and creating smoke. | #* Open the door slowly to prevent a blast of fresh air from rushing into the stove and creating smoke. | ||
#* Keeping the door closed will also prevent sparks and embers from shooting out, and this is important because these can cause burns or start fires. | #* Keeping the door closed will also prevent sparks and embers from shooting out, and this is important because these can cause burns or start fires. | ||
#Add larger logs. After you’ve added some small logs and let the fire establish itself, you can add larger logs to the fire. When the flames from the smaller logs start to subside, add about three larger logs to the fire. | #Add larger logs. After you’ve added some small logs and let the fire establish itself, you can add larger logs to the fire. When the flames from the smaller logs start to subside, add about three larger logs to the fire. | ||
| − | #* When those logs have burned down and are mostly embers with some visible flame, then it’s time to add more logs.<ref | + | #* When those logs have burned down and are mostly embers with some visible flame, then it’s time to add more logs.<ref name="rf3" /> |
#* Don’t add more than five logs at a time. Adding too much wood at once will partially smother the fire and leave fuel unburned, and this leads to smoke and creosote buildup. | #* Don’t add more than five logs at a time. Adding too much wood at once will partially smother the fire and leave fuel unburned, and this leads to smoke and creosote buildup. | ||
| − | #Close the air intakes partially. After about 20 minutes, when the fire is established and burning well, reduce the amount of air going into the firebox. This will provide the fire with enough air to keep burning, but will stop it from blazing and burning too quickly.<ref | + | #Close the air intakes partially. After about 20 minutes, when the fire is established and burning well, reduce the amount of air going into the firebox. This will provide the fire with enough air to keep burning, but will stop it from blazing and burning too quickly.<ref name="rf4" /> |
#* Close the air valve levers so that they're open about one-third of the way. This includes the primary air, secondary air, and the damper. | #* Close the air valve levers so that they're open about one-third of the way. This includes the primary air, secondary air, and the damper. | ||
| − | #* Never close the secondary air valve or damper completely. This can lead to tar, soot, and creosote buildup in the chimney.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/advice/10574430/Top-tips-for-using-a-wood-burning-stove-this-winter.html</ref> | + | #* Never close the secondary air valve or damper completely. This can lead to tar, soot, and creosote buildup in the chimney.<ref name="rf7">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/advice/10574430/Top-tips-for-using-a-wood-burning-stove-this-winter.html</ref> |
| − | #Use fans to circulate the heat. The point of a wood stove is to heat a house, and you can help this process along by using fans to blow hot air from the stove around the house.<ref | + | #Use fans to circulate the heat. The point of a wood stove is to heat a house, and you can help this process along by using fans to blow hot air from the stove around the house.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#* There are many stovetop fans you can buy that sit on top of the wood stove and blow the heat outward. | #* There are many stovetop fans you can buy that sit on top of the wood stove and blow the heat outward. | ||
#Use proper safety precautions when using the wood stove. Fires are great for providing comfort and warmth, but fire can be dangerous and must be treated as such. There are many things you can do to keep your home and family safe, including: | #Use proper safety precautions when using the wood stove. Fires are great for providing comfort and warmth, but fire can be dangerous and must be treated as such. There are many things you can do to keep your home and family safe, including: | ||
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#* Keep all combustible materials at least 3 feet (90 cm) away from the wood stove. This includes fuel, kindling, papers and books, and furniture. | #* Keep all combustible materials at least 3 feet (90 cm) away from the wood stove. This includes fuel, kindling, papers and books, and furniture. | ||
#* Have a fire extinguisher installed in the same room as the wood stove. | #* Have a fire extinguisher installed in the same room as the wood stove. | ||
| − | #* To have an overnight fire, open the air valves and add some large pieces of hardwood to the fire. Let the fire burn for about 25 minutes, and then close the valves to their regular spot. This will prevent smouldering, which leads to smoke and creosote buildup.<ref>http://jotul.com/int/guides/eight-tips-for-burning-wood</ref> | + | #* To have an overnight fire, open the air valves and add some large pieces of hardwood to the fire. Let the fire burn for about 25 minutes, and then close the valves to their regular spot. This will prevent smouldering, which leads to smoke and creosote buildup.<ref name="rf8">http://jotul.com/int/guides/eight-tips-for-burning-wood</ref> |
#* Let the fire die out naturally rather than throwing water on it. Once the fire has died down and there are only embers left, you can leave the fire to die out on its own. | #* Let the fire die out naturally rather than throwing water on it. Once the fire has died down and there are only embers left, you can leave the fire to die out on its own. | ||
===Cleaning and Maintaining the Wood Stove=== | ===Cleaning and Maintaining the Wood Stove=== | ||
| − | #Burn seasoned wood only. For the health and safety of your home and family, and the maintenance of your wood stove, you shouldn’t burn anything but seasoned wood in your stove. You can use plain paper or newspaper as kindling, but don’t burn things like:<ref | + | #Burn seasoned wood only. For the health and safety of your home and family, and the maintenance of your wood stove, you shouldn’t burn anything but seasoned wood in your stove. You can use plain paper or newspaper as kindling, but don’t burn things like:<ref name="rf1" /> |
#* Wood that’s wet, green, painted, or pressure treated | #* Wood that’s wet, green, painted, or pressure treated | ||
#* Garbage | #* Garbage | ||
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#* Gas, lighter fluid, or any other fuel | #* Gas, lighter fluid, or any other fuel | ||
#Clean out the ashes regularly. When the ashes build up under the grate or in the bottom of the firebox, you should clean them out. Too much ash in the bottom will impede the airflow, meaning your fire won’t get the oxygen it needs. To clean the ashes, use a shovel or brush to sweep the ashes into a metal bucket. Take the ashes outside immediately and add them to your garden or compost. | #Clean out the ashes regularly. When the ashes build up under the grate or in the bottom of the firebox, you should clean them out. Too much ash in the bottom will impede the airflow, meaning your fire won’t get the oxygen it needs. To clean the ashes, use a shovel or brush to sweep the ashes into a metal bucket. Take the ashes outside immediately and add them to your garden or compost. | ||
| − | #* Always leave a one-inch (2.5-cm) layer of ash in the bottom of the fireplace for insulation.<ref | + | #* Always leave a one-inch (2.5-cm) layer of ash in the bottom of the fireplace for insulation.<ref name="rf5" /> |
| − | #* Never clean out the ashes right after a fire. Wait at least 24 hours to give the ashes time to cool completely.<ref | + | #* Never clean out the ashes right after a fire. Wait at least 24 hours to give the ashes time to cool completely.<ref name="rf4" /> |
#Clean the firebox weekly. When you're using the wood stove on a regular basis, clean inside the firebox once a week. To clean it, scrub the inside with a stiff-bristled brush to remove soot and other residue. | #Clean the firebox weekly. When you're using the wood stove on a regular basis, clean inside the firebox once a week. To clean it, scrub the inside with a stiff-bristled brush to remove soot and other residue. | ||
#* When you’ve scrubbed the inside, vacuum out any ash and soot from around the base of the stove. | #* When you’ve scrubbed the inside, vacuum out any ash and soot from around the base of the stove. | ||
#Have the stove inspected annually. To make sure your wood stove is properly cleaned and to prevent chimney fires, call in a professional chimney sweep once a year. This person can also inspect the stove, pipes, and other components for damage and corrosion. | #Have the stove inspected annually. To make sure your wood stove is properly cleaned and to prevent chimney fires, call in a professional chimney sweep once a year. This person can also inspect the stove, pipes, and other components for damage and corrosion. | ||
#* The best time to have your chimney swept is before summer, because heat and humidity can mix with carbon residue and create acids that eat away at your wood stove components. | #* The best time to have your chimney swept is before summer, because heat and humidity can mix with carbon residue and create acids that eat away at your wood stove components. | ||
| − | #* You should also inspect your wood stove regularly for rust, cracks, and other signs of damage.<ref | + | #* You should also inspect your wood stove regularly for rust, cracks, and other signs of damage.<ref name="rf5" /> |
== Related Articles == | == Related Articles == | ||
