https://telegra.ph/11-Faux-Pas-That-Are-Actually-Okay-To-Make-With-Your-Used-Wood-Burning-Stoves-12-25 How to Properly Start a Wood Burning Stove Wood stoves can be a great way to save energy and warm the room. They do require some maintenance. Many modern wood stoves are compliant with EPA emission guidelines. Look for an EPA sticker either under or on the grate, to ensure that your stove won't produce lots of harmful pollutants. How to start a Wood Fire The smell and sound of a wood fire can be a pleasant addition to any house. It's important to know how to build an effective fire on your stove. Incorrect methods can result in a fire that doesn't burn efficiently and creates creosote or smoke. The tips below will assist you in starting a fire that will heat your home with minimal effort and with the highest safety. Before you start a fire, check the condition of your coals and logs. If they're damp it will dampen your fire and hinder proper burning. It is possible to open the chimney to remove any ash that has fallen into the stove. Start by placing several small, dry newspaper pieces into your stove. This will help to ignite the tinder and kindling. After the tinder and kindling have started to ignite, you can add a layer of larger kindling pieces on top. This should be done in a crosshatch pattern so there will be air between each piece of wood. If your wood stove has an automatic control for combustion, it will automatically pump air into the flame as it grows. This allows the fire to burn continuously without you having to open the stove door often to keep it in check. It is essential to avoid using too much tinder, since this can lead to a fire that burns at a high rate and doesn't make use of the fuel as efficiently as it can. If you have a solid pile of tinder and some kindling in your stove, begin the main fire by laying two large logs of the base across the grate. Then, you can lay an additional layer of smaller logs parallel to these and on top of the ba