Top 5 Maintenance Tips for Your Wood-Burning Stove At Home – If you’ve recently had a wood stove installation, the first thing you’ll need to know is how to care for it. Given that the stove is simply a giant lump of metal, it may sound unusual, but there are a few things to note that will help your wood-burning stove last longer. So, get started with some useful wood stove care advice.
Make Sure You’re Burning the Proper Kind of Wood
If you burn the incorrect type of wood for an extended time, your wood-burning stove can develop various issues.
Wrong wood is defined as any wood having a moisture level of more than 20%. When there’s too much moisture in the wood, it doesn’t burn. It produces more smoke and can cause creosote to build up in your chimney.
Any composite-type wood, such as MDF, plywood, or OSB, is also considered the wrong wood. These wood types are bound with compounds that are particularly harmful to human health when burned in a wood stove.
Start and Finish on A High Note
The first half of this notion is straightforward: try to get it up to temperature as quickly as possible when you start your fire.
As the fire grows, this helps prevent an initial buildup of smoke. Smoke is created by incomplete combustion (i.e., wood that does not burn hot enough); therefore, a roaring start to your fire will result in less smoke. As a result, the soot in your chimney is reduced, and your stove glass is kept clean.
Learn how to ignite a top-down fire or use an S-tonne of firelighters to get your fire started. The top-down approach is unquestionably superior!
To help the fire get started faster, make sure you leave the correct quantity of ash in your wood-burning stove.
The second half of this advice is to put out a fire. You should conclude it on a high note, just as you started it. So, when you’re ready to add the last log, make sure you reopen your air vents and start the fire again.
If you’ve allowed the fire to die down too much, you may need to add a few more pieces of kindling to get it going again.
Again, the advantages of finishing on a high note are obvious. You keep the fire from smoldering out, which prevents soot accumulation.
Increase The Lifespan of Your Rope Seals
Rope seals on wood-burning stove doors, in general, disintegrate with time. This implies that they’ll begin to leak air (or smoke out) unless they’re replaced every few years. In any case, you’ll wind up with a stove that isn’t up to par.
There isn’t a way that permits you never to have to replace your rope seals, but you can certainly extend their life!
Use A Thermometer in Checking the Stovepipe
Stovepipe thermometers are a must-have for everyone who owns a wood-burning stove. They’re affordable, and if you acquire a good one, they’ll provide you with a fantastic method to “read your fire.”
Stovepipe thermometers, in essence, offer you a general idea of when your fire is too cold, too hot, or just perfect. Moreover, you can achieve it with just a glance—no laser thermometers are required.
Using a stovepipe thermometer instills in you the habit of feeding your fire at precisely the appropriate time to maintain a consistent and ideal temperature.
Remove Ash Using A Vacuum
Wood burns better on an ash bed, but there comes the point where an ash bed becomes a mountain of ash.
You can sweep the ash away with a dustpan, but it won’t eliminate all the small particles of ash and charcoal accumulated around the door seals, grates, and other nooks and crannies of your wood stove in Scotland.
If you don’t get rid of these “bits,” you risk abrasion damage to your rope seals and a less effective fire due to impeded air movement.
Conclusion
When purchasing wood-burning stoves, one of the most important factors is how much time it will take to clean, maintain, and operate them efficiently. Although wood is an excellent fuel for effectively creating heat, it does need some additional care.
Stove Scotland will work with you to guarantee that your stove will precisely match the design and proportions of your space. If you’re looking for a wood stove in Scotland, contact us for more information!
