The primary vent (usually at the bottom) provides air from beneath the fire to get it started. The secondary vent (usually at the top) introduces preheated air above the fire to burn off smoke and keep the glass clean.
If you're burning firewood or wood briquettes, you will want to close the primary (bottom) air vent and control the fire using the secondary (top) air vent. If you're using coal or smokeless fuel, you will want to keep the primary (bottom) vent open.
Q: Should my log burner vents be open or closed? A: Open all vents to start the fire. Once it's established, close the primary (bottom) vent and use the secondary (top) vent to control the burn.
Most wood burning stoves and multi-fuel stoves have a bottom air vent and a top air vent. Wood burns best with a good bed of ash laid down in the bottom of the stove and an air supply from the top. When lighting your stove, open both air vents fully.
Primary air gets air to the fire at bottom. That is what is needed at start up. Adding secondary air helps burn off the unburned smoke particles above the fire. At times the fire will consume all the oxygen and not have enough above the fire to burn off particles. This is the reason for a second intake above the fire.
A fully open damper allows maximum airflow, making the fire burn hotter and faster. If you want a slower burn or a fire that lasts longer, you can partially close the damper to reduce the oxygen supply. Just be careful not to close it too much because it can lead to poor combustion and smoke buildup.
The worst firewood to burn falls into two categories: toxic and highly inefficient. You should never burn wood that produces dangerous chemical fumes or excessive smoke, nor wood that burns too quickly or spits hazardous sparks.
The biggest mistake? Using logs that simply aren't dry enough. Firewood with high moisture content produces more smoke, less heat and leaves behind sticky tar (creosote) in your flue and burner. It also makes lighting your fire harder, wastes energy and can even damage your stove.
If you have a throat damper that's closed but you don't know it, you will know it pretty quickly once a few clouds of smoke tries to get into the flue. Another method is simply to feel the air. When either type of damper is closed, you should not feel any air when you place your hand up into the firebox.
Yes, having a wood stove will generally increase your homeowners insurance premiums, though costs vary by provider. Some carriers add a nominal fee (e.g., $30 to $60 annually), while others might increase premiums by roughly 10%. In certain cases, an insurer may even decline coverage if the stove doesn't meet safety standards.
Additionally, in the early 1980's, tests were conducted to discover which kind of wood created the most creosote in a regular “open” fireplace. The results were surprising. Contrary to popular opinion, the hardwood's, like oak and poplar, created more creosote than the softwoods, like tamarack and pine.
Now, take a look at the rest of our tips and tricks to maximise the heat you get from your log burner!
And with a little preparation, there's no reason you can't enjoy its warmth overnight or while you're away from the room. The key things to remember are: Keep your air vents slightly open to control the burn. Night Briquettes for slow overnight heat or Hardwood Heat Logs for strong evening warmth.
Understanding Airflow:
The easiest way to understand stove airflow is this: primary air starts and supports the fuel bed, secondary air burns the smoke, and tertiary air finishes the burn in the hottest part of the firebox.
Secondary Air Supply
The secondary air vents are strategically placed in the upper part or sides of the stove to introduce fresh, pre-heated air into the combustion chamber above the fuel bed. This additional oxygen helps burn off any unburned gases, reducing emissions and promoting a cleaner, more efficient burn.
3-2-10 Rule Explained
Explained, the chimney pipe must be a minimum of three feet above the roof but also two feet taller than anything within ten feet. The portion of the rule stating the pipe needs to be 2 feet above anything within 10 feet is where most people get confused.
Primary Air Vent (Bottom Vent): Supplies air from beneath the fuel bed, crucial for burning solid fuels like coal. Secondary Air Vent (Top or Middle Vent): Introduces air above the fuel bed, essential for burning wood efficiently and reducing emissions.
For a Hotter Fire
Fully open the damper to maximize airflow. It provides ample oxygen to the fire, resulting in a more intense and hotter burn.
The logic is that the bottom vents provide primary air, the top vent provides secondary air and the damper adjusts the flue pull. If there is spillage of smoke when you open the door the damper needs opening up, if the glass smokes up the top damper needs opening and if it won't burn open the bottom vents.
Rubbish or waste
Your stove is not designed to incinerate any and all material – wood fuel will burn efficiently and safely in your stove whereas waste will risk a house fire, appliance damage, or toxic fumes being emitted.
When your stove has too much wood or an excessive amount of airflow, it can cause it to overfire as these factors increase the amount of fuel and oxygen, respectively.
Wood stoves generally have a lifespan of about 10–15 years, depending on how frequently they're used and how well they're maintained. After that point, even if the stove appears to be working, its internal components may have degraded enough to significantly reduce efficiency and burn quality.
It is illegal to burn any wood that has been treated, painted, or glued, as well as poisonous plants and driftwood. Burning these materials releases toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and hazardous fumes into the air.
According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), all chimneys should be inspected at least once a year. Cleaning depends on use:
Properly cured, or "seasoned" firewood needs to be cut, split and stacked for a minimum of six months to be properly dried for this fall and winters fireplace needs.