How to start a fire in a wood stove

Here’s a quick guide for getting the best out of your Pleasant Hearth Wood Stove.

What you’ll need:

  • Paper / Newspaper. Never use coated (typically advertising flyers) or colored paper.
  • Small pieces of wood/ sticks (Kindling)
  • Lighter or matches
  • Seasoned Dry firewood

Instructions:

  1. Open the door and add scrunched several pieces of paper and place them in the center of the firebox straight onto firebricks. Never use a grate to elevate the fire.
  2. Next, place the kindling / small pieces of dry wood over the paper, shaped like a Teepee. This is crucial for good air circulation, which is important for good combustion.
  3. Light the paper inside the wood stove in few locations. Note: It is important to heat the air in the stovepipe for the fire to start.
  4. Fully open the air control of the wood stove and have the door slightly open, this allows for the fire to breath.
    NOTE: Never leave the door fully open as sparks from the kindling may occur causing injury or property damage.
  5. As the fire begins to burn the kindling, depending on how well the fire is lit, some additional kindling may be needed to sustain the fire. DO NOT add more paper after the fire has started.
  6. Once the kindling has started to burn, start to add some of the smaller pieces of seasoned firewood.
    NOTE: Adding large pieces at the early stages will only serve to smother the fire.
  7. Continue adding small pieces of seasoned (dry) firewood, keeping the door slightly open until each piece starts to ignite. Always open the door slowly between placing wood into the fire.
  8. Once the wood has started to ignite and the smoke has reduced, fully close the woodstove door. The reduction of smoke indicates that the draft in the chimney has started and good combustion is now possible.
  9. Larger pieces of seasoned (dry) firewood can now be added when there is sufficient space in the Firebox. Adjust the air control setting to the desired setting.
    Note: The lower the air control setting the longer the burn time of your firewood
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