To ensure your wood stove burns efficiently, you should:
- Use dry, untreated wood
- Light your stove correctly according to the manufacturer’s instructions
What kind of wood should I use to light my wood stove?
Use wood cut in the forest or purchased at a big-box store. Beech, oak, and birch are excellent types of firewood. For lighting the fire, it’s best to use kindling. Softwoods such as pine or fir, for example, catch fire quickly and give off a lot of heat. Do not burn newspaper or similar materials, as they can coat the stove with soot and release harmful fumes.
Does the wood need to be dry?
It is recommended to bring the wood indoors a few days before using it so that it reaches room temperature. The wood should have a moisture content of 15 to 20%. In practice, this means it must dry for at least 1 year (preferably 2 years) before use. It is therefore advisable to purchase the wood in advance and store it properly. Wood takes time to dry. Proper drying can take up to 2 years, depending on the type of wood and storage conditions.
Wood dries best when it has been sawn and cut. Place the wood in a well-ventilated, sunny spot sheltered from the rain—preferably under a shelter with enclosed sides. Avoid using a cover that traps moisture. Drying wood outdoors is almost always the best solution because air circulation is better.
Firewood logs must be suitable for the stove
The logs must be suitable for the size of the stove’s firebox. Avoid using logs that are too large (more than 10 cm in diameter). These must be split.
If you use unsuitable or damp wood, soot—or even a fire—may form in the chimney flue. In such a case, close all of the stove’s air intakes.
Note
Never burn wood covered with synthetic material, particleboard, painted, lacquered, laminated, or treated wood; plywood; household waste; paper briquettes; or coal. Harmful and polluting fumes may be released. Never use liquid fuel under any circumstances, as this could cause an explosion in the worst-case scenario.