Whilst there are countless guides and tutorials readily available on the internet, different stove manufacturers suggest varying techniques. Alan Young, compliance manager for HETAS, compiles the best guidance available to help you succeed with the first strike of the match.
All woodburning appliances are different and it is important to follow the manufacturer’s guidance and preferred method. There are two popular methods: the traditional method; and the top down or Scandinavian method. Regardless of which you use, you will need:
- A firelighter
- Kindling
- Firewood – always ensure has the ‘ready to burn’ certification mark
- Appropriate safety gloves
- An appropriate method of ignition (e.g., match or barbeque lighter)
Traditional method
- Use firelighters or two tabloid-size pieces of newspaper crumpled into a loose ball about the size of a cricket ball, and place them in the combustion chamber. You may find firelighters easier to use than newspaper
- Place small pieces of dried kindling into a triangular shape over the newspaper, allowing for air gaps. On larger appliances, place two smallish logs on either side of the kindling to allow for larger logs to be placed over the well alight kindling
- Ensure that the air controls are set to the manufacturer’s guidelines to make lighting as easy as possible. Some stove manufacturers advise to hold the door slightly ajar to aid ignition.
Note: if you opt for paper which is too loosely crumpled, it will burn too fast and may not ignite the kindling. This will mean restarting the lighting process. Equally, paper that is too compact will not combust properly and smolder, causing excessive smoke. Where the flue is not up to temperature, this may emit smoke from the apertures of the appliance. Appropriate firelighters emit very little smoke and burn at a steadier rate. Never use flammable liquids.
Top down or Scandinavian method
- Place two small logs across the fire bed
- Place five pieces of kindling across the two logs, then four pieces laid at a 90-degree angle across the bottom layer before finally placing two firelighters in between the gaps
- Add another five pieces of kindling, laid in the same direction as the bottom layer
- Set the controls of the appliance to the lighting position.
- Light the firelighters and close the door of the appliance. The fire will slowly increase, warming the flue gradually without producing copious amounts of smoke
- Set the air controls to the manufacturer’s settings
- Leave the kindling well alone until the top of the appliance is warm and fire well established, then close the primary air control, not allowing it to smolder or go out. The kindling will then fall between the logs
- Once these are burning well, the burn rate of the appliance can be adjusted accordingly by the air controls
- More logs can be applied to the fire once the fire has reduced to glowing embers
The traditional method of lighting a fire has been used since the dawn of burning wood in homes– however using a firelighter and a small amount of kindling only produces a small amount of heat to warm the flue.
The top down method aids in the flue getting up to temperature more quickly and removes the need to open the appliance door to add fuel to the kindling, disrupting the flue warming process
All models of stoves are different, with different methods of air control and preferable lighting methods. If you’re unsure which method is best for your stove and ensure low smoke emissions, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions or contact a registered installer or approved chimney sweep who will be able to offer appropriate advice.
For more tips and advice on making the most of your solid fuel appliance, visit hetas.co.uk.