by Craig Issod, [email protected]
- - (for tips on Coal Fires, read coaltips)
New-
Watch a short movie on how to start a fire in
a stove
Seems like a simple thing...just put some wood in the fire, light a match and
there she goes -- NOT ! Anyone who regularly fires up their stove or fireplace
knows there is much more to it than meets the eye.
I'm not the world's best tennis player.. I can't ski over those big bumps (moguls)
and I've never run a marathon -- but I do consider myself one of the world's
foremost experts on starting a fire. I was always a pyromaniac...loved those
model rockets, fireworks and anything else that would blow up. I never thought
any good would come out of my fascination with fire. Thus, I will pass this
hard-earned knowledge down to the next generation. We'll cover starting fires
in closed stoves and open fireplaces. The basics are the same, however the technique
can vary especially after the fire is established.
Ok, lets break this down to a simple series of steps. Each one must be done
or the fire will be a bust.
1. Make certain the chimney is drafting upwards. Many chimneys will reverse
(cold air falls) when not in use. Open the damper of your fireplace and/or the
door of your stove..if you feel a cold draft coming down then your chimney has
reversed itself. Keep this in mind and follow step #4 below in order to reverse
your chimney.
2. Set the Kindling. Yes, everyone does this differently. Here's the
best way. Place firestarters, fatwood or crumpled newspaper (3 or 4 sheets balled
up fairly tightly) on the floor or grate of your stove. Place small kindling
over the paper or starter...TIP --the more dry, small kindling you have--the
easier and better your fire will start. Crisscross the kindling so there is
plenty of air space in between each piece. Wood that is packed too tight will
not burn properly.
3. Set more Wood. Set larger wood on top of the kindling, and continue
to set larger and larger pieces on top until the stove is over 2/3 full. If
it's an open fireplace, set one or two layers of crisscrossed or spaced wood
on top of the kindling.
4. Countdown - If you determined in step #1 that your chimney was drafting
upwards, go ahead an light the newspaper or starter. If you think your chimney
has reversed, do the following: If it's an open fireplace, place a piece of
balled up newspaper up through the damper..it should stay in place by itself.
Light this piece of paper, and watch it --it should warm up the chimney and
get sucked upwards. If it does, immediately light the starter or newspaper under
your fire..the heat will then warm the chimney quickly so it will not reverse
again. If you have a stove, place the piece of balled newspaper as high up in
the stove toward the chimney (usually above the baffle plate) as you can get
it. Then light it -- it should get sucked upwards and reverse the chimney with
it's warmth.
5. Ignition - Assuming that you've lit the starter, stand back for a
moment and watch the fire do it's thing. If you have a stove, keep the draft
control and damper fully open at first, in fact it may help to keep the stove
door slightly open for the first few moments until the fire is caught.
6. Blastoff - The fire should quickly catch and spread through your load
of wood. Don't make the mistake of closing your air control or damper soon after
you start the fire. it may look good, but until you've warmed the stove up,
warmed the chimney and established a good bed of coals (red embers), your fire
is not really at critical mass.
7. Mission Accomplished - Keep the fire going..the subject of tending
a fire in stoves and fireplaces will be addressed later in other documents,
but keep these simple points in mind.
A. Always keep a "flame" on your fire - a smoking or smoldering
fire is a cold and inefficient fire..and also produces pollutants and creosote
(tar in the chimney)
B. Add more wood before the fire gets too low...this will assure the
continuation of your hard-earned fire.
C. Use Dry, Seasoned wood - if your wood sizzles and refuses to light
or burn it's probably not ready for prime time --- store your wood in a dry
place and cut and split it at least 8 months prior to burning.
8. Other Methods - There are dozens of other ways to start a wood fire.
Some suggestions from our site visitors can be found by selelcting the button
below. Note: HearthNet has not checked these methods.