Tips on Lighting a Fire
April 2017Be careful about what you put in your stove. Never use painted or pressure treated wood or plastics containing chlorine, such as PVC. This gives off highly poisonous gases. Also, don’t use driftwood from the sea as it contains salt which is converted to chlorine when burned. However, if you’re keen on using driftwood you can help wash the salt out by leaving it outside in the elements for a couple of years.
When lighting a fire, it is a good idea to place two thick wooden logs at either side in the stove. Place some crumpled up paper between them and create a stack of thin split-up logs on top. You can then add more paper if you need to.
Add fuel to the stove often, but only a little amount at a time. If the fire is too strong, the thermal stress in the chimney may be unnecessarily high. Make a moderate fire. Prevent the fire from smoldering as this produces the most pollution. The ideal fire is when the flame is burning well and the smoke from the chimney is almost invisible.
