Wood Burning Stove

BACKTOBACK

I am moving into a property which has an inset wood burning stove in the living room wall. Please could anyone help. I know nothing about these stoves. The previous owner passed away so i am unable to get information that way.
My main questions are
Can i burn any type of wood? I know certain types burn better but can any offcuts be put in?
What is the best way to start the fire? Paper, kindling, would firelighters mark the inside of the stove?
Any help, recommendations, or advice greatly received

tetrarch

We've had our WBS for just over a year now and despite being a Scout Leader for decades it does still take a bit of getting used to.

The key is good quality DRY wood. I've had a cherry tree fall over in Dec-20 and am only now using the wood that was harvested and has been seasoning sonce then.

I can personally recommend Certainly Wood. They are a little bit pricey, but their flamers and kindling packs are the ideal way to get the fire going. There are a number of interesting videos on YouTube and myriad techniques. The key seems to be to get it hot as quick as possible (i.e. don't skimp on the kindling) and I keep the door open a crack before the fire starts to draw properly

Best of luck

Tet

Bendy_House

Photo? And then we can almost certainly find the insructions.

In essence, tho', the timber MUST be dry, within a certain parameter of moisture content (which I don't know off-hand).

Hopefully it has two sets of vents - the 'primary' which is set low, and this provides the main air supply to get the fire going and to maintain it, and a 'secondary' (or often called 'airwash') which is higher up - at the top or above the door, for example - which is important when burning wood. This feeds the actual flames - wood burns by releasing gases, and these only burn well with a good air supply directly to it - and also helps to keep the glass clean ('airwashed'...)

The 'secondary' can often be left pretty much open, whereas the primary is what controls the flames and keeps it under control.

To burn 'clean', you really want a hot flame, so the best way of reducing the stove's heat overall output is to burn less fuel, and not to shut off the air too much.

But, photo please?!

FreeBear

BACKTOBACK said: Can i burn any type of wood? I know certain types burn better but can any offcuts be put in?

Wood dried to less than 20% moisture is all you should be burning. Offcuts from construction timber often contain a bunch of fire retardants and preservatives. Plywood & chipboard contain glues so should never be burned in any stove.

There should be a maker's name plate on the stove (or a plate fixed close to the consumer unit if it was recently installed). Do a search on the name & model number and you will find a user manual somewhere. Failing that, post a picture, and someone may well be able to identify it for you.

twopenny

If you have a sawmills anywhere near and they make posts they trim off the ends and thats usually dry and good for starters. Need to know about any preservatives they use but theylll tell you.

First find a supply of dry wood to use now and stack. Then find a supply of wood you can store to dry for next year. Theres possibly somewhere already designated at the property. Otherwise cover with cheap tarpaulin until you can build a stack cover where you want.

Wood burners heat large areas so a bonus.

Good idea to post the make or photo because it could be a multifuel which would help you start.

Has the chimney been swept recently? Important.

Ectophile

Any wood should be properly seasoned. Offcuts are OK if they have never been treated or painted. Manufactured "heat logs" are also safe.

Find the instructions and read them. All stoves are different.

You should be able to light it with scrunched up paper - newspaper is best - and really dry kindling. Also add smaller bits of log. Work up to the big logs once the fire is going.

If you need firelighters, you're doing it wrong. Read the manual again.

FreeBear

Ectophile said: Manufactured "heat logs" are also safe.

Depends...I had some from a local discount store that had been manufactured from recycled timber - They contained bits of foam. flakes of paint, and god knows what else.

twopenny said: Has the chimney been swept recently? Important.

Got a working Carbon Monoxide (that is CO, not CO2) alarm in the same room as the stove ?

Woolsery

Ectophile said:

If you need firelighters, you're doing it wrong. Read the manual again.

Or, alternatively, you realise newspapers are an outmoded and biased luxury, so you use 1/4 of a firelighter to set the kindling alight.

Apodemus

Woolsery said:

Ectophile said:

If you need firelighters, you're doing it wrong. Read the manual again.

Or, alternatively, you realise newspapers are an outmoded and biased luxury, so you use 1/4 of a firelighter to set the kindling alight.

...Quite so, these .pdfs just don't help light the fire!    But in fact, a lot of the recycled paper that is used for newsprint doesn't burn that well either nowadays and I believe that some papers are worse than others in this regard.  I'm told that the Sunday Times (or sections thereof!) are next to impossible to use for lighting a fire.  

NeverTooLate

I've usually got a stack of paper ready for shredding, that's perfect for getting the kindling going.

-taff

I got some lengths of wood from a skip , it looks like untreated pine, so I've spent a few hours chopping that up with a saw and a hatchet, that's my free kindling. You can use paper, firelighters, tumble drier fluff stuffed in toilet rolls, wood shavings, whatever you like to start it, but as above, try and burn it hot to start so it catches well. Burn dry wood, wet wood will just smoke, and make sure you're getting it from someone who knows what they are doing. I've had a load of wood before that was so wet the water was running down the walls of the porch and they told me it was because it had rained....I don't think so matey. Wood burns on embers and air so it doesn't need air from the bottom, just as long as it's got some. Don't use painted or treated wood, they will give off [more] nasties and increase the deposits on your flue. Get the chimney/flue checked and swept before use, unless they have had it done. If the glass gets dirty, mine usually does when I let the heat taper off and logs burn out or burn it slowly overnight, I use a spgone scrubby thing, dampen it, dip it in the ash in the grate and clean the glass like that, then wipe with a damp cloth. Work out how you're going to move the ash about, Ive got a lidded bucket for that ]hot ashes give off carbon monoxide so let it cool first], and what you're going to do with it [ allomenteers sometimes will use it for fruit trees etc].