Just Venting

I'm guessing that there aren't too many out there in this day and age who depend solely on wood stoves for heat.  Consider this Wood Stove 101.  Other stoves may have other systems, so I can only report on mine, which has two doors, a glass door in the front and another on the side.  The side door is handy for inserting logs straight in (one would have to finagle wood in the small front door).  Heat is controlled by a series of vents.  I'm constantly fooling with the vents.

To get a fire started, first open the small vents at the front with the lever.  This will stay open as long as the fire is going.  No air, no fire.  Next, open the top vent which controls the flue flap (say that fast three times).  Insert the firewood (typically, I put in three logs to start) through the side door and add some sort of igniter.  I'm partial to Strike-A-Fire blocks, myself.  Close the door.  My stove has a thermometer on the chimney which indicates when the heat has reached a level that the flue can "draw" on its own and the top vent can be closed.  It also indicates when the heat is reaching a danger point and a chimney fire could ensue.  This can happen in a heartbeat if one leaves the room and doesn't watch the levels.  Wood stoves definitely need attention.

Okay, the fire is going well and warmth is filling the room.  This is a good time to bring in more firewood because it won't be long until the fire must be fed.  Remember to open the top vent before opening the door.  This causes flames to shoot up the chimney instead of out into your face.  I have a cousin who lost his beard by forgetting this important step.  Add the wood, shut the door, and close the top vent.  Otherwise, we go back to chimney fire territory.

If one hasn't been watching and the fire has died down too far, there is another vent/door that will act like a bellows and provide a rush of air.  There is a door at the very bottom of the stove to access the ash tray underneath the grate.  Be judicious when using this door as results are immediate.  Never open this door without opening the top vent first.  Remember to close top vent again.

The type of wood used is important.  Cedar burns hot and leaves no ash, great for getting a fire going, but it doesn't last long.  Pine is good, but it leaves more creosote in the chimney and we know creosote can catch fire.  Oak is harder to start, but is longer lasting and needs less wood in the long run.

When going to bed at night or leaving the house for any length of time during the day, banking the fire needs only making sure there is some wood in the stove and shutting all vents.  Since stoves are not airtight, there will be enough air to keep the coals hot without a fire.

There is a World War I song, "Keep the Home Fires Burning," that I love.  Keep your home fires burning, and keep an eye on those vents!