How to Adjust Wood Stove Vents
- Vents and Baffles. There are one or two vents on the front of a wood stove. Usually referred to as dampers, they are...
- Starting the Fire. Turn the dampers or knobs on the front of the stove counterclockwise until they're fully open. This...
- Coals. Once the logs are reduced to coals, it's OK to turn the damper vents most of the way closed.
How do I adjust the air vents on a wood burning stove?
Adjust the air vents throughout the fire to keep it going. Close down the vents to maximize efficiency, without causing the fire to smolder. Open the vents more to increase heat output but reduce efficiency. This guide is for controlling the air vents on a wood burning stove. For a guide to controlling the vents on a multi fuel stove, click here.
How do you adjust the damper on a wood burning stove?
Adjusting the upper damper affects the efficiency, not the rate of fuel combustion. Open both the front and flue dampers fully. Place wood inside the firebox and light the fire. Allow the fire to burn for between 10 to 30 minutes before adjusting the dampers.
How do I start a wood stove fire?
Open both front dampers completely before starting a fire. Modern, efficient wood stoves have dampers below the firebox, or combustion chamber, to supply air directly to the fuel source as well as an additional damper on the door to supply air to allow combustion of gasses released by the burning wood. Place wood in the firebox and light the fire.
What does draft adjustment do on a wood stove?
Watch out: in reading your wood-stove's draft adjustment instructions be sure to keep clear which control is being discussed. varying in design for each stove, this control adjusts the volume or rate of primary combustion air entering the stove's fire box. More air = hotter fire.
What vents should be open on a wood burner?
Wood tends to burn best with a source of oxygen from above so the air vent(s) on the top of your stove will be most effective at controlling your fire.
What is the lever on the bottom of my wood stove?
This vent can be opened by pulling the handle away from the stove, while pushing the handle towards the stove closes the vent. What is this? Opening this vent increases the air supply to the fire and therefore increases how fast the fire burns through the wood and the total heat output.
How do you control the damper on a wood stove?
0:331:49How to Use a Damper on a Wood Stove - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUm any time that you go to operate a dampener like if you're going to start a fire or add wood toMoreUm any time that you go to operate a dampener like if you're going to start a fire or add wood to the fire you're going to want to make sure the damper is in the open. Position.
How do I know if my wood stove damper is open or closed?
Conduct a visual check. Lean in under your chimney just outside of your wood burning stove. You should find a metal device just within the chimney or flue opening. The damper is open if you can see through the damper up to your chimney. If you only see a metal plate, the damper is in a closed position.
What are the two levers on my wood burning stove?
The second handle you may find in your fireplace (usually located on the left inside panel) is a control lever for the outside air kit. When burning your fireplace, the outside air kit lever should always be in the open (or up) position. The outside air kit is designed to provide additional air for combustion.
How far should damper be open?
The damper should be kept open until all embers are finished burning to prevent smoke from escaping into the home. When the fireplace is not in use, the damper should always be closed. An open damper is like an open window, allowing large amounts of heat from the home to escape.
Should I close the damper on my wood stove?
You don't want to leave your wood stove damper fully open, though, because then the heated air will continue to escape, and your room won't get warm. By closing the damper, it will reduce the oxygen levels in the chimney, and you'll have a longer fire. According to Northeastern Chimney, this also creates a downdraft.
Should fireplace damper be open all the way?
A fireplace damper must always be open all of the way when using any form of gas fireplace. A chimney or flue damper doesn't always need to always be open all the way when burning wood in your home.
How can I tell if my flue is open?
Feeling the breeze is another method you can use to know whether you have an open or closed flue. Locate your hand inside the fireplace and wait to notice if you can feel the air flowing. When the flue is open, air will flow down the chimney.
Can you leave damper open overnight?
Leave the damper open overnight. Yes, you will lose some heat up the flue, but you will save the occupants of the home from poisoning by colorless, odorless carbon monoxide. In the morning, stir the embers and check them for any hot spots.
What are all the parts of a wood stove?
The main parts of a wood burning stove can include:Firebox.Air Vents.Air Vent Controls.Baffle.Flue Collar.Stove Pipe.Flue.Doors.More items...•
What does a baffle do in a wood stove?
The baffle is a heavy duty component located at the top of the firebox inside a wood burning stove, typically made from metal to cope with high temperatures. A baffle plate helps to keep heated air and waste gases inside the firebox for longer to produce even more heat from burning wood.
How does wood stove air wash work?
The glass panels in your wood stove would be a nightmare to clean if not for the airwash system. The airwash system moves combustion air over the glass that helps keep it clean while also circulating air for the fire. If you happen to have a very smoky fire you will be able to see the airwash system in action.
What is a flue collar?
Flue collars are essential parts of your heating appliance. It connects your vent piping to your chimney, allowing the smoke a place to escape. If your flue collar needs replaced or you need one to start with, this six inch diameter collar fits several models.
Why do stoves need vent adjustment?
There are no set rules for vent adjustment, mostly because all stoves are different, and all fuel or wood sources burn at different rates. Vent adjustment is about personal preference and hands-on experience. Once you understand the principle, vent adjustment becomes natural.
How to stop a stove from burning?
It's fine to close the damper vents halfway at this point to slow down the burn. If it's too hot in the room, close the vents to within 1/4-inch of shutting. If the stove begins to smoke when you open the door, or smoke emerges from the door when you open it, turn the dampers counterclockwise until the stove stops smoking.
Why does my stove smoke?
A problem arises from creosote buildup inside the chimney pipe. If the flue vent gets dirty, even a small turn on the flue vent can cause the stove to smoke, or the fire to go out. Maintenance is critical if you use the flue vent to control the heat in your stove.
What temperature should a stove vent be?
Stove pipe temperature should be between 500 and 600 degrees Fahrenheit for the most efficient operation. Theoretically, you can turn the knob a quarter-turn to close the baffle inside the pipe to cool down the stove or increase the heat by turning it the other way. Most people keep this vent open all the way.
How to keep fire from starting without door open?
If you're fire starts fine without the door open, then keep the door shut. If there are problems starting the fire or it smokes excessively, keep the door open a crack until the fire is established. Add logs when the fire is going sufficiently and allow them to catch on fire completely.
Can you keep the flue vent open on a stove?
The flue vent on the stove pipe can be kept open. This vent is typically hard to control because you can't see it inside the pipe. Some modern stove manufacture's have left this vent off the stove completely, as they operate just fine without them.
How to keep fire going on wood stove?
Adjust the air vents throughout the fire to keep it going. Close down the vents to maximize efficiency, without causing the fire to smolder. Open the vents more to increase heat output but reduce efficiency. This guide is for controlling the air vents on a wood burning stove. For a guide to controlling the vents on a multi fuel stove, click here. ...
What is the purpose of a wood stove before lighting a fire?
Before lighting a fire in a wood stove, ensure that all controllable air vents are fully open. The aim at the start of any fire is to get it going quickly and get the stove up to operating temperature. A fire requires a lot of oxygen at the start, and fully open air vents helps to get a fire going.
What happens if the vents on a wood stove are open too far?
If the vents on a wood stove are open too far, then too much oxygen will be getting to the fire and it will be rapidly burning through the wood. Although more heat will be produced, the rate at which the fire is burning through the wood makes it very inefficient.
Why do you need vents on a wood burning stove?
Once a fire has successfully taken hold of the kindling and a bed of hot coals has started to be formed, the air vents on a wood burning stove can be used to ensure that the fire remains going strongly, while also making sure the most amount of heat is being produced from every piece of wood.
What happens when the door to the stove is closed?
When the door to the stove is closed, all of the air supplying the fire comes through the vents. As these vents can be controlled, how quickly the fire burns through the wood can be adjusted for either maximum efficiency or maximum heat output.
Why do you need an air vent on a wood stove?
The air vent (s) on a wood burning stove can be used throughout the duration of a fire to help control how quickly the fire gets going, how quickly it burns through the wood, and how much heat is produced.
How to keep fire vents open?
Leave the vents fully open when lighting a fire and while the fire gets going. Slowly start to close down the vents once the fire has caught hold of the kindling. Leave the vents fully open for a longer period of time if closing down the vents causes the fire to smolder or go out.
Why adjust the damper on a stove?
On modern stoves with two front dampers, make the initial adjustments to the lower damper only to control airflow to the fuel supply. Adjusting the upper damper affects the efficiency, not the rate of fuel combustion.
Why is it important to control the airflow in a wood stove?
Controlling the airflow in a wood stove is critical for efficient fuel combustion. A little experimentation and properly seasoned wood helps keep you warm and lowers your heating bills.
How to clear exhaust smoke from chimney?
Little or no smoke from the chimney indicates efficient combustion. Close the front damper slowly and observe the smoke escaping from the chimney. When the smoke becomes darker or more noticeable, open the damper slightly until it clears again.
How to make a fire with wood?
Place wood in the firebox and light the fire. The amount of wood required depends on the amount of heat desired. Use small amounts of wood for lower heating demands. Increase the amount of wood as necessary for appropriate heating levels.
Is wood burning stove good for heating?
Wood-burning stoves can be an efficient, cost-effective method for home heating in many areas of the country. Unlike traditional alternatives like electric and gas furnaces though, there is a learning curve to get the most out of your investment.
Does starving wood make it last longer?
Warning. Attempting to make a large amount of wood last longer by starving it of air increases the amount of pollution produced, decreases efficiency and leads to dangerous premature creosote buildup in the chimney.
Can you reduce the rate of combustion on a stove?
If the rate of combustion cannot be reduced with the stove damper alone, proceed to the next step.
How hot should a wood stove be?
One of the keys to high-efficiency combustion is keeping the combustion zone hot, at least 600°C (1,100°F). If it is colder than that, the wood will tend to "smolder" (hot enough for combustible gases to escape from the wood, but not hot enough for those gases to burn). If you keep the stove hot by using dry wood and refueling ...
What are the parts of a wood stove?
Typical cross-section showing numbered parts of older and newer wood stoves. Older stove on left: 1. Air inlet, not prewarmed, reduces combustion. 2. Primary combustion chamber. 3. Gases coole in the flue before they have a chance to fully combust, forming smoke and creosote. Newer stove on right:
How to use high efficiency stove?
The most common method used for high-efficiency stoves is to add prewarmed combustion air above the fire. Many people don't realize that about half of the energy in wood fuel is from "volatiles," gases that escape from the wood and combust in the surrounding mixture of gases and air.
How to keep a stove hot?
If you keep the stove hot by using dry wood and refueling the stove before it cools down, you can ensure that your fuel is as completely combusted as possible, minimizing emissions as well as creosote buildup in the flue.
Why won't my gas stove combust?
If those gases don't have oxygen available or don't stay hot enough, they won't combust. High-efficiency stoves also use "shelves" or other baffles to force the hot gases to follow a longer path before they leave the hot stove, thus giving them more dwell time to combust completely.
What is EPA certification for wood stoves?
Indoor wood stoves and inserts sold in the United States since 1988 are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use high-efficiency designs that help ensure that the wood is more completely combusted. Outdoor wood boilers are not covered by this regulation, but voluntary certification programs are available. Check the EPA's "burn wise" website for lists of manufacturers as well as stoves and boilers that meet high-efficiency standards. Stoves and boilers that were built before 1988 or boilers that do not have an EPA certification are generally not as efficient.
Why is wood 100 percent efficient?
Complete, 100 percent efficient combustion of wood means that all of the combustible material in the wood is converted into heat, CO 2 (carbon dioxide), and water vapor. All that is left behind is ash, the mineral content of the wood.
What is a good way to move a wood stove?
Wood stoves are made from metal and can be incredibly heavy, so be sure to take any and all measures necessary to protect yourself as you move the stove. A sturdy dolly or hand truck that's rated above the weight of your stove is a great way to get the stove to its position without hurting yourself.
What to do if you have a problem installing a wood stove?
If you encounter any problems while installing your wood stove or you are unsure of how to proceed safely, enlist the help of a professional. Similarly, if, after installation, you have even the slightest doubts about the safety of your stove, schedule an inspection with an expert.
What is the clearance for a wood stove?
Radiating heat from the stove can pose a hazard to nearby walls and furniture, so wood stoves generally have a specified clearance - a minimum safe distance between the stove and nearby floors and walls. Your stove clearance can depend on where you live, whether your residence's floors and walls are combustible, ...
How much clearance does a wood stove need?
In the US, however, NFPA 211 requires at least 36 inches of clearance from combustible materials to the side or rear of a wood stove, unless something less is specified in the owner's manual or there is an engineered "shield" on the walls. Thanks!
How far apart should floor pads be from stove?
Certain laws dictate the use of floor pads - in the United States and Canada, the floor pad must stretch at least 18 inches (45 cm) in front of the stove door and 8 inches (20 cm) from the other sides.
What agency certifies wood stoves?
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies wood stoves as meeting certain emissions standards.
What is a wood burning stove?
A wood-burning stove is a great way to heat a room without increasing your energy bill or using petroleum. Wood stoves provide a cozy fire from a renewable, inexpensive energy source, making them the perfect choice for the thrifty or environmentally-conscious family.