You should always read your stove user manual for correct guidance using stove specific details for the operation of your stove. The majority of stoves in the UK are “multi-fuel” even though the most common fuel burnt is wood logs. Stoves are not suitable for burning normal “house coal”. Manufacturers will specify “smokeless coals” only if using a coal based fuel.

• Use plenty of small kindling/sticks or suitable firelighter so that the fire is quickly established. Small logs should go on top. Use wood with a moisture content of 20% or less. Look for the “Ready To Burn” logo when purchasing bags of fuel.
• Set all air controls to fully open, light the fire and close the door.
• Allow a reasonable burn time for 10-15 minutes. The flames should fill the box without being sucked up the chimney.
• Re-fuel again with small logs and allow a few minutes to establish. Its only when these small logs are burning that full size logs should be added.
• If your stove has more than 1 air control then this is the time to close the air to the bottom of the stove. This is often called the “Primary” air control. See the manufacturers instructions.
• Once the “Primary” air control has been closed, the temperature will continue to rise. Using a flue pipe thermometer will help you know when you have reached the best temperature. If you are using a thermometer then aim for the middle of the “best operation” range.
• Once you reach optimum temperature you may now be able to reduce the amount of air using the “Secondary” air control (Somtimes referred to as the “Airwash” control). Reducing this air will slow the rate of burn down but it is vital not to close it off too much. There should always be a reasonable amount of flame in the box and the glass should stay clear.
• When the stove has been running at optimum temperature for 15 minutes or so, you can check to see if you have set the controls correctly by simply looking at the top of your chimney outside. If you can see smoke, then there is not enough air getting into the stove. Open the air control up a bit, allow the fire to build for a few minutes, then have another look.

TAKE CONTROL

The single most important factor affecting the burn temperature is the way you use and control the stove.

If the air controls are shut down too much, the burning temperature drops and lots of pollution is produced. You may be completely unaware of this, so please take time to read the manufacturers user instructions and understand them.

You can have a good stove attached to a good chimney/flue and use nice dry wood, but if you close the air controls too much, then lots of damaging pollution is produced. This process also wastes your fuel and soots up the chimney/flue.  

OVERNIGHT BURNING IS A BAD IDEA!

Never try to slumber your stove for long periods/overnight with the air controls closed off too much. Loading up the average stove to slumber for long periods can easily produce more than a kilo of tiny damaging particles which then pass out the top of your chimney and in to the air we all breathe

ARE YOUR CONTROLS SET CORRECTLY?

Symptoms of very poor burning habits include…

• Blackened Glass.
• Constant smoke from the chimney – the chimney will smoke when first lit and occasionally when refueling but otherwise there should be no smoke.
• Unburned wood or charcoal is left over in the burn chamber after the stove has gone out.
• Your chimney sweep advising you that there is a lot of “tar and creosote” in your chimney/flue. Please follow their advice on how to address this.

DO…

Bring the stove to operating temperature quickly and try to keep it there.

Use dry wood – 20% moisture or less.

Use manufacturers recommended fuels.

Have your chimney swept regularly. A professional sweep can give lots of useful extra advice.

Store and stack your logs so that they are well ventilated.

Use a thermometer, moisture meter and stove fan to help improve efficiency, save money and reduce pollution.

Fit a carbon monoxide alarm. This is nothing to do with how the fire burns… its just common sense.

If you have an older or inefficient stove, or one that is too powerful consider replacing it with a modern efficient model. You will instantly begin to save money and burn cleaner.

DON’T…

Close off the air to slumber the fuel for long periods or overnight.

Use large logs – 4″ to 6″ / 100mm – 150mm diameter is best.

Burn wood or coal on open fires in Smoke Control Areas.

Allow smoke to come from the top of the chimney. (Unless you have just lit or just refueled the fire)

Buy a stove which is too big (too powerful) for the room. You’ll get too hot and be likely to shut down the air controls too much. The burning temperature will drop, fuel is wasted, and pollution increased.

Be tempted to fit or alter any part of a solid fuel flue system yourself – its far too easy to get something wrong!

Mix smokeless fuels and wood, you won’t get the best from either fuel.

Burn plastic waste, or treated waste wood. It stinks and its toxic!

BurnRight is the national consumer awareness campaign designed to help you get the most from your fire and fuel. Getting it right can save you money, make you safer, and significantly reduce unnecessary air pollution.

Click the BurnRight logo below to visit their website where you will find demonstration videos and further advice on how to run your stove efficiently.