How to Build a Fire in a Wood Burning Stove

Please Remember the Environment if You Do Burn Wood

What can I do to make a difference?

1. Plan ahead. Stock up on wood 6-12 months before winter to burn dry well seasoned wood.
2. Stack wood loosely in a dry place so air can pass freely through the pile.
3. Never use driftwood, painted or chemically treated wood as these release dioxins when they burn.
4. Burn smaller, hotter fires which are more efficient.
5. Never overload your wood burner by placing too much wood in the fire.
6. Do not turn down your burner overnight - a slow smouldering fire creates higher emissions.

Step by Step - How to Build a Fire

1. Make a base of crumpled paper, we generally put this in a back corner, filling about 1/4 of the base layer of the box. We use 4-5 large sheets of newspaper.
2. Next we add some cardboard, with air pockets. We burn all food boxes, egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls and anything else we can find. Again this is in the corner.
3. Next add 3-4 sticks of kindling (thin pieces of very dry wood). We angle this from the base of the woodburner up and over the cardboard and paper.
4. On top of this, in the back goes a smaller log and a then a larger log. All wood should be stacked so that air can get under it.
5. Light the paper, and keep the door open a crack - stay with your fire at all times until the door is sealed shut! If the fire looks like it is dying, let in a bit more air. If the wood catches easily, ok to close the door but watch for another minute or so to be sure the fire has caught on.
6. Once it is well established and burnt a bit, it is time to add more wood. Carefully open the door, just a small crack at first. This creates a draft and allows the smoke to go up the flue, rather than into your room. Once the smoke has cleared, open the door and add new wood on top of the fire. By now most of the box will have burning wood.