wood stove lighting advice

[thegman]

just got a new clearview pioneer stove.

I was told my the guy that installed it that i would only need to run the stove with the grate air supply (it also has air wash) open for 10 mins or saw until it was properly lit.

i am finding that it takes 1-2 hours to get up to temperature. if I try to rely solely on the airwash before this, the fire goes out.

is this normal? what is the best way to get the stove hot as quick as possible? use smaller logs?

thanks!

[astroarcadia]

thegman said:

just got a new clearview pioneer stove.

I was told my the guy that installed it that i would only need to run the stove with the grate air supply (it also has air wash) open for 10 mins or saw until it was properly lit.

i am finding that it takes 1-2 hours to get up to temperature. if I try to rely solely on the airwash before this, the fire goes out.

is this normal? what is the best way to get the stove hot as quick as possible? use smaller logs?

thanks!

Is your flue providing enough draw?

[illmonkey]

We open all the vents for max draw. Smaller logs to begin with, if we have any. Then once those are cooking nicely I chuck a big bugger on it and close all the vents down. Its like fire in slow motion. A log about 20x20cm should last 90+ minutes. I can't touch it after the first 30 minutes, I need to use a glove.

[thegman]

astroarcadia said:

thegman said:

just got a new clearview pioneer stove.

I was told my the guy that installed it that i would only need to run the stove with the grate air supply (it also has air wash) open for 10 mins or saw until it was properly lit.

i am finding that it takes 1-2 hours to get up to temperature. if I try to rely solely on the airwash before this, the fire goes out.

is this normal? what is the best way to get the stove hot as quick as possible? use smaller logs?

thanks!

Is your flue providing enough draw?

how would i know? it was done by a reputable installer, who 'seem' to have done an excellent job.

basically it starts fine, burning my kindling, but when i put bigger logs in it only seems to keep going if i leave the wheel open fully. the manual and the guy seemed to suggest i could just close it after 15 mins or so.

[thegman]

illmonkey said:

We open all the vents for max draw. Smaller logs to begin with, if we have any. Then once those are cooking nicely I chuck a big bugger on it and close all the vents down. Its like fire in slow motion. A log about 20x20cm should last 90+ minutes. I can't touch it after the first 30 minutes, I need to use a glove.

how long does it normally take before you close it down?

[astroarcadia]

Are the logs dry, kiln dry?

Depending on the size of logs I use mine can take up to 30 mins before I can shut the vents. If I am struggling I crack the door open very slighty and it pulls lots of air in to help it along for a minute or two. If installed professionally the flue should not be a problem.

Edited by astroarcadia on Friday 14th January 10:19

[Lefty]

Definitely sounds like a draw issue, it should be burning fine with all the vents closed.

Is the wood good and dry?

[thegman]

astroarcadia said:

Are the logs dry, kiln dry?

I got them from eco-logs in dorking. The were meant to be seasoned, but are not kiln dry

tbh i think the logs i am putting on a bit big at the beginning. might try with some smaller logs.

basically i was using paper and kindling - it lit fine, but the logs never really seem to get going

[illmonkey]

thegman said:

illmonkey said:

We open all the vents for max draw. Smaller logs to begin with, if we have any. Then once those are cooking nicely I chuck a big bugger on it and close all the vents down. Its like fire in slow motion. A log about 20x20cm should last 90+ minutes. I can't touch it after the first 30 minutes, I need to use a glove.

how long does it normally take before you close it down?

10 maybe 15 mins.

I've heard it from a few people, but you need to learn your stove. Recently on holiday, I really struggled to get it going. Mainly because it had no grate. But still, it was a bugger to keep going.

Make a tower of kinderling like so:



Fire lighter in the middle, light it and plonk a small log on the top. once its going well, stack an other small once across it. Once both of them are good, the kindling should mostly be gone, so chuck a whopper on the smaller ones.

It's all about air flow, the air needs to be able to flow between the logs (and kindling), so ensure you always cross the logs and give a 'vent' between them.

[thegman]

thanks.

anyone recommend a good cheap damp meter. having spent a small fortune on these logs i want to check they are pukka dry

[astroarcadia]

Keep a small axe by the stove and just use smaller logs. Although the principal of lighting is the same with all stoves you do have to learn whats best for yours.

Is there sufficient airflow in the room? A small air grate was installed in the wall behind ours.

[thegman]

astroarcadia said:

Keep a small axe by the stove and just use smaller logs. Although the principal of lighting is the same with all stoves you do have to learn whats best for yours.

Is there sufficient airflow in the room? A small air grate was installed in the wall behind ours.

i think so - once it gets going its great - just seems to take a long time to get up to temperature

[thegman]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Sounds to me like you are taking the science of the wood a bit far here.

All vents open get it going for 10 mins, and IMHO never close off the Grate vent, the Airwash just does not let enough airflow in for a good burn.

Good - its not just me. I think I have been trying to close it down too soon and the result is the temperature is to low to get the stove efficient.

thanks for all your tips. i will keep trying to perfect the technique. got to say when it does get going and the air does that crazy slow motion type burning it looks the bees knees

[Lefty]

I've always found that my stiove burns best wuith some ash in the bottom of it, i never empty it completely.

My lighting process (14kw Villager flat-top):

All vents open.

Scrunch up 4 or 5 sheets of news paper and put in stove

Make a little tower of kindling (maybe 6 bits of kindling).

Light the paper.

Once the kindling is burning, add 3 or 4 small logs to the tower.

Once those are burning and the tower has collapsed a bit, put a big fker on.

Once the big log's burning, close all the vents.


By big log, I mean one about 18" x 8".

This will keep the stove too hot to touch for a couplpe of hours. If it's really cold (we have really high ceilings so a big volume) I'll actually fill the stove up. No idea what temp it gets to but the stove will still be hot in the morning!

[fatboy b]

I've got a Stovax Riva 55. Best way to light is not use the grate supply, then a couple of fire lighters at the back with a collection of kindling & bark on top & infront. Light that, then put 3-4 logs in front, airwash full, and door slightly ajar for about 10-15 mins.

I also cut my logs to about 2" max. I find if I burn them any bigger, it's a bugger to get going. I don't use coal, as I need to get another base-plate, but tbh, I've no need to. Also make sure your logs are dry. I've bought some "seasoned" logs recently that I can't burn, so they'll have to wait 'til next winter.

ETA - the guy who installed mine said that it's best to let the wood burn quickly - hence the smaller logs. Big logs

oh, and I stand the logs upright too.

Edited by fatboy b on Friday 14th January 10:54

[Shaman]

Got my technique a bit better this week.

Leave a bit of ash in the tray
Open both air vents
Kindling pyramid
Get this going,
Couple of small bits of wood,
Once these are going shut down grate vent
Reduce air wash down to just open gradually over next half hour.

Now I'm controlling the fire on the airwash rather than the grate vent I'm getting a longer hotter burn.

It's all about learning your stove/requirements.

Also, your chimney can reverse under some circumstances (cold air being drawn down into the house rather than up). This sorted when the chimney warms up.

Shaman

[Driller]

OP, it sounds exactly like what happens when the wood is too wet to me.

[crankedup]

thegman said:

thanks.

anyone recommend a good cheap damp meter. having spent a small fortune on these logs i want to check they are pukka dry

Tap a log using another log, a very dull thunk indicates wet/damp logs. As other poster mentioned no substitute for experience and you will soon get the hang of it all. The installer should have carried out a smoke test on the flue prior to installation.

[MJG280]

thegman said:

thanks.

anyone recommend a good cheap damp meter. having spent a small fortune on these logs i want to check they are pukka dry

B&Q about £15 goes click click rather than a meter