Most ignition problems with burning wood have to do with two things, either a poor wood supply, or the air supply. That is, the air for combustion and/or the air for the draft moving up the chimney. Blocked or Dirty Chimney. It is crucial to get your chimney cleaned at least once a year.
Fires need fuel, heat, and oxygen. If it just isn't catching, it could be that the fuel is too dense. If it's sputtering out, there isn't enough heat (or the fuel is too wet). This can be fixed with thinner sticks and something to reflect/ keep the heat from escaping too quickly, such as a large log.
The 3 main issues you will most commonly find are a faulty low voltage wall switch, a faulty control module, or a faulty fan. These are easy to fix so you can fix your fireplace yourself without always needing to hire a professional.
Try different fuel to start the fire. Just dry wood. Make holes in the brick ring to allow good air flow. Then tinder, small dry branches (a lot) then logs. Blow or fan. Should start with a single lighter flash.
You'll need extra-long wooden safety strike matches, dry wood or twigs for kindling, sheets of newspaper for tinder, seasoned firewood, an iron fireplace grate and a poker. Before building the fire, check that your fireplace damper, which is the vent, is fully open.
Carry out a visual inspection of the chimney from your fireplace. If you can see open dampers or see the sky, that will prove that the flue is open. Failure to see the sky implies a closed flue or one that may need unclogging.
Use Seasoned Firewood
If your firewood is smoking but not getting fired up, it could be because the firewood isn't seasoned. Not all firewood is ready for the fireplace. When wood is fresh cut, it's brimming with moisture.
Issues may arise from a variety of factors: creosote build up or other blockages in the chimney flue, insufficient ventilation, or negative air pressure within the home. These factors impact not only the heat of your fires, but also the safe usage of your fireplace system.
Check the Spark Igniter
If gas is coming out of the pilot but it still won't light, the spark igniter could be the problem. You should clear out any debris between the igniter and thermocouple. Blow compressed air into the pilot area, wait a couple of minutes, and then try again to see if this fixes the problem.
Dirty Pilot Tube
If dust, soot, or debris is clogging the pilot tube (the small pipe that delivers gas to the pilot light), the flame either won't ignite or it will be weak and unstable. Cleaning the pilot tube is usually necessary to restore proper gas flow to the flame.
Anything from issues with your pilot light, clogged ports on burners, damage to heating components, and thermocouple/thermopile malfunctions can be to blame.
Maintain oxygen flow.
If you stack wood too tight, it can snuff out the fire because the air and oxygen doesn't flow between tightly placed wood. You must stack logs somewhat loosely to allow some oxygen flow in between: One or two inches between pieces is typically a good distance.
Start with something small and flammable. Cotton swabs with a touch of grease, dry leaves, small twigs. Start that on fire and keep adding slightly larger dry twigs allowing time for the fire to grow. Once the fire is large enough to support itself add full-sized firewood.
The most common causes of black stains are: Water damage: When water gets into the pores of the wood, it can make the wood change color, warp, and eventually break. Water stains can be caused by leaks, spills, flooding, or a lot of moisture in the air.
Aside from greenwood being difficult to keep lit, you may be burning the wrong type of wood. Hardwoods are always superior and preferable to firewood to softwoods. Some trees, such as oak, take quite a long time to season and will be difficult to burn.
If you're leaving the home or retiring for the evening, always close the glass doors but leave the flue open.
A chimney smoke test, also known as a chimney leakage test, is exactly what it sounds like. It involves lighting a number of smoke pellets in the fireplace and checking to see if any smoke leaks out. It works by sealing the whole length of the chimney flue.
When should the damper be kept open or closed? The fireplace damper should always be in the open position whenever you have a fire in the fireplace. Never close the damper or leave the fireplace unattended while there is a fire in the fireplace.