Stove Maintenance

The best way to light a log burner is the one that works best for you. It’s a good idea to use dry kindling, newspaper and firelighters, arranged in a way that allows for good air circulation. Some people like to build these things on top of logs, while others prefer to add logs once the stove is lit.

There are many possible reasons why you can’t light a log burner. Some common reasons are not using enough kindling or newspaper to get the fire going, not allowing enough air into the stove and using damp fuel.

The top vent on a log burner is called the secondary air vent. This controls the air supply to the upper part of the stove to encourage as much of the energy released by your fuel to burn before it escapes up the flue. In some stoves, this vent also controls the airwash system to keep the inside of the stove glass clear.

All wood burner vents should be open when lighting the stove. Once the stove is properly lit, the vents can be adjusted to limit the air supply to the wood burner. Closing all vents completely will put the fire out.

The most common reasons for firewood not catching fire are that the logs are too damp, the fire is not hot enough to light the firewood, or there is not enough air supply to the stove to ignite the firewood.

If your log burner is not kicking out heat, this could be because your stove is too small for the room. Alternatively, it could be a matter of perception. Log burners don’t kick out heat in the way an open fire does. Instead, the fire heats the stove body, which heats the air around and ultimately heats the entire room. It’s more effective and more efficient, but you don’t get the same intense heat that you get from an open fireplace.

If your log burner is burning logs too quickly you are likely to be allowing either too much air or too much fuel into your stove. Try adjusting the air vents to restrict air supply, adding less fuel or refuelling less frequently to see if this increases burn time.