All good advice from the others. I’ll add that having some scrunched up paper under the kindling teepee helps to get things going. And depending on what kind of kindling you have, you may want to split it even further, long ways. Don’t do it neatly. The little bits of splinters sticking out will catch easier. Once it’s properly lit, add some smaller logs, cut side towards the fire. (Bark generally doesn’t light as easily) and then maintain the fire by adding more logs as needed to increase heat and not let it burn out as the initial logs get depleted.
Airflow. I mean it.
Open the dampers (top and bottom) before you light the fire. Then when it’s roaring, close the bottom damper 3/4 of the way and the top one 1/2 way. When the flames settle down a bit, close the top damper almost all the way and the bottom damper likewise. Then put on wood ONLY when there’s a bed of coals gently glowing. When you do, open the bottom damper a bit to let in some oxygen and close it again after 10 mins when the new wood has caught.
The heater does not need to be roaring to heat the house. A bed of coals is much more efficient and cheaper in wood.
If you want chapter & verse on setting up the initial fire, just let me know. There’s a hundred tricks to it depending on what wood you use and the set up of the heater. Or consult youtube.
Pine cones are great to start a fire with along with cardboard like toilet rolls, I use a bit of everything, newspaper, cardboard, small twigs and pine cones then bigger kindling and then when that’s going, really dry wood.
So anyone with a wood heater, advice on getting a roaring fire going because I am terrible at it and always have been.
Also clean all the old ash out including from the baffles, if it has a fan check that as well, may need to clean filters etc.
All good advice from the others. I’ll add that having some scrunched up paper under the kindling teepee helps to get things going. And depending on what kind of kindling you have, you may want to split it even further, long ways. Don’t do it neatly. The little bits of splinters sticking out will catch easier. Once it’s properly lit, add some smaller logs, cut side towards the fire. (Bark generally doesn’t light as easily) and then maintain the fire by adding more logs as needed to increase heat and not let it burn out as the initial logs get depleted.
My tip is to roll newspaper lengthways then tie a knot in it as a fire lighter.
I saw a video using that method. Seems to work well. I’ll try it next time. Thanks!
Airflow. I mean it.
Open the dampers (top and bottom) before you light the fire. Then when it’s roaring, close the bottom damper 3/4 of the way and the top one 1/2 way. When the flames settle down a bit, close the top damper almost all the way and the bottom damper likewise. Then put on wood ONLY when there’s a bed of coals gently glowing. When you do, open the bottom damper a bit to let in some oxygen and close it again after 10 mins when the new wood has caught.
The heater does not need to be roaring to heat the house. A bed of coals is much more efficient and cheaper in wood.
If you want chapter & verse on setting up the initial fire, just let me know. There’s a hundred tricks to it depending on what wood you use and the set up of the heater. Or consult youtube.
Pine cones are great to start a fire with along with cardboard like toilet rolls, I use a bit of everything, newspaper, cardboard, small twigs and pine cones then bigger kindling and then when that’s going, really dry wood.