https://www.fireplacesandstove.com/categories/wood-burning-stoves How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove Wood stoves are a cozy way to heat a room and also save energy. However, they require an amount of care. Many modern wood stoves comply with EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker either under or on the grate to make sure your stove doesn't create many harmful pollutants. How to start a Wood Fire The scent and sound of a wood fire can be a pleasant addition to any house. It is essential to understand how to build a fire in your stove. Incorrect methods can result in a fire that doesn't burn effectively and produces smoke or creosote. These tips will aid you in starting a fire that will heat your home with the least effort and ensure your security. Before you start an fire, make sure you check the condition of your logs and coals. If they're too damp they will choke the fire and prevent it from burning efficiently. You might want to open the chimney to get rid of any ash that has fallen into the stove. Begin by putting a few small dry newspaper pieces in your stove. This will help ignite the tinder. After the tinder and kindling are beginning to burn, you can put a layer of larger kindling pieces on top. This should be done in a crosshatch pattern so there is air between each piece of wood. If you own wood stoves that have an automatic combustion control that will automatically deliver an air stream that is controlled to your fire as it grows. This allows the fire to burn continuously without you having to open the stove door frequently to check on it. Do not use too much tinder as this will cause the fire to burn at a fast rate and will not be able to use the fuel efficiently. If you have a nice pile of tinder and some kindling in your stove, begin the main fire by laying two large base logs on the grill. Then, you can lay small logs parallel to these and on the top of the base logs. This method of building an ember known as a "top-down" fire will r