Discussion
+1 for leaving the door ajar by half an inch after you've lit it, until the fire has really taken hold.
My stove is a very small one (and I think yours is small-ish). I often find that putting a big-ish hardwood log on will cause the fire to reduce considerably. It helps to open the vents up a bit until the new log is hot enough to burn properly, and a large log often won't generate serious heat until it's been on for nearly an hour and reached that glowing, incandescent stage.
Also, the positioning of the wood can make a huge difference to how well it burns. Ideally it wants to be in fairly close contact with other hot embers or pieces of wood, but you need to balance that with the need for a network of spaces and air channels. Air needs to flow all around the wood, and through into the centre of the fire if possible. Sometimes, moving a piece of wood just an inch can open up an air channel and make the fire burn much better; aim for narrow channels that will take air at high speed into the middle of the fire. Two pieces of wood will often burn better if they're only half an inch apart rather than widely spaced. "Structure" seems to be important in a wood fire, and it took me a good while to learn how to place the fuel for best effect.
A big log in a small stove is not ideal for this "structure", because you've just got a big lump of wood taking up the whole fire box with no air channels. Splitting down some of your bigger logs into smaller pieces will make them work better in your stove. You might want to invest in a splitting maul, which is a large heavy axe. Swinging it is great fun once you've got the knack, and the sound of a log splitting after a perfectly timed swing is deeply satisfying and much more manly than playing golf!
If you're new to driving a wood stove, don't give up: you'll gradually get better and better at it. I've been using mine for about two years now, and I'm still learning!
My stove is a very small one (and I think yours is small-ish). I often find that putting a big-ish hardwood log on will cause the fire to reduce considerably. It helps to open the vents up a bit until the new log is hot enough to burn properly, and a large log often won't generate serious heat until it's been on for nearly an hour and reached that glowing, incandescent stage.
Also, the positioning of the wood can make a huge difference to how well it burns. Ideally it wants to be in fairly close contact with other hot embers or pieces of wood, but you need to balance that with the need for a network of spaces and air channels. Air needs to flow all around the wood, and through into the centre of the fire if possible. Sometimes, moving a piece of wood just an inch can open up an air channel and make the fire burn much better; aim for narrow channels that will take air at high speed into the middle of the fire. Two pieces of wood will often burn better if they're only half an inch apart rather than widely spaced. "Structure" seems to be important in a wood fire, and it took me a good while to learn how to place the fuel for best effect.
A big log in a small stove is not ideal for this "structure", because you've just got a big lump of wood taking up the whole fire box with no air channels. Splitting down some of your bigger logs into smaller pieces will make them work better in your stove. You might want to invest in a splitting maul, which is a large heavy axe. Swinging it is great fun once you've got the knack, and the sound of a log splitting after a perfectly timed swing is deeply satisfying and much more manly than playing golf!
If you're new to driving a wood stove, don't give up: you'll gradually get better and better at it. I've been using mine for about two years now, and I'm still learning!
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Monday 25th February 08:20
Have you followed the manufacturer's instructions for lighting the fire?
Does it always happen or just some of the time?
Assuming you have plenty of heat in the flue, I would guess that the wood is not seasoned properly. I've bought logs from different suppliers recently and each have their own issues.
The first batch didn't burn too well until they sat in my wood shed for a week or two. They were bagged in plastic so I assume they just needed some air around them.
The second batch were bought in bulk. Most of them burned ok but quite a few didn't. They were stored in the suppliers shed in a large pile. I assume that the outer logs seasoned well, whilst the inner ones didn't.
Does it always happen or just some of the time?
Assuming you have plenty of heat in the flue, I would guess that the wood is not seasoned properly. I've bought logs from different suppliers recently and each have their own issues.
The first batch didn't burn too well until they sat in my wood shed for a week or two. They were bagged in plastic so I assume they just needed some air around them.
The second batch were bought in bulk. Most of them burned ok but quite a few didn't. They were stored in the suppliers shed in a large pile. I assume that the outer logs seasoned well, whilst the inner ones didn't.
Poor quality wood is the biggest problem with these.
If it`s much more then 20% moisture it just wont burn properly and you will use more energy burning it then you get out of it!
I`ve had problems getting properly dry wood as most wood sellers seem happy to sell damp s
te.
I don`t use much wood these days as it`s running on anthracite most of the time, wood is too much hassle
If it`s much more then 20% moisture it just wont burn properly and you will use more energy burning it then you get out of it!
I`ve had problems getting properly dry wood as most wood sellers seem happy to sell damp s
te.I don`t use much wood these days as it`s running on anthracite most of the time, wood is too much hassle
As has been said, poor quality wood is a big cause. Also what diameter logs are you burning? That woodburner has a similar "portriat" firebox to our Stovax. We burn max dia of 3", and sit them upright rather than laying down in the firebox. Wood want to be able to burn quite fast. If I put to bigger dia log on, it kills mine too.
Thanks for all the advice, I was concerned it wasn't fitted correctly , but the installer was hetas and checked the chimney before putting on a cowl to keep thre birds out. Tbh I think the wood isn't dry enough and I need a moisture meter. The stove is 6 kw and the ceiling in our kitchen is very high, though apparently its the correct stove going by the formula used to calculate kilowattage. Great tip regarding the diameter of the logs and sitting them uptight, as soon as I put on big logs it seems to drown the stove and I needs too open the door. The best heat I seem to get is from those condensed sawdust briquettes though they burn out very quickly. Nice feature, but I didn't realise that getting a perfect fire is a bit of an acquired art form. There def is something primeval in it and my wife thanks I developed OCD with the darn thing....
I run 3 Morso stoves Sqirrel, Badger and Owl (4.5, 5, 6.5kW I think). At the beginning of the cold season the logs all burn great as the wood yard have them stacked all summer but by christmas if you buy any more logs you find that they get a bit green and wont burn. Its just how you describe. What I sometimes do is stack the next lot of logs in front of the fire so they get a bit of a toasting before they get chucked in.
Anway, I just popped in here to see what peeps thought of heat pumps. I had one fitted last week so I'm major league out of pocket and I've worked out my heating bill was £50 for the last week and I've not burned many logs at all. £50 is half a transit dropside of beech around here...that'd keep the house warm for ages. B#gger.
Anway, I just popped in here to see what peeps thought of heat pumps. I had one fitted last week so I'm major league out of pocket and I've worked out my heating bill was £50 for the last week and I've not burned many logs at all. £50 is half a transit dropside of beech around here...that'd keep the house warm for ages. B#gger.
cfarrell said:
There def is something primeval in it and my wife thanks I developed OCD with the darn thing....
More interesting than the telly too!I'm looking forward to getting mine sorted out in a couple of weeks with luck (probably just as the cold spell ends) - the last miserable few weeks would have been so much nicer with a stove going.
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