How to heat your woodburning stove correctly

This is how it's done!

If you would like to know more about the correct and effective way of firing up your stove, you can also view our short film.

 

• Make sure that the stove is clean and that the ash drawer is empty and closed.
  

• Use the following for stoking the fire:
  

• An igniter (wood wool igniter, firelighters, etc.); if possible, avoid the use of paper. If you are going to use paper, make sure that it is uncoated. Please do not use any glossy paper or paper from magazines. This does not burn very well and its ink produces extremely toxic substances in the flue gas.
  
• small wooden sticks or soft wood chips
  
• three blocks of wood
  
• extra long wooden matches or a lighter
• and make sure heat-proof gloves and an ember rake are to hand.
  
  

• To heat the stove place 2 small pieces of chipboard lengthwise to the left and right of the combustion chamber floor. Lay 3 blocks of wood crosswise on top of this chipboard. Place some more chipboard on the blocks of wood. Now insert a firelighter (or some uncoated paper if a firelighter is unavailable) underneath this chipboard. Pull the vibrating grate actuator out completely and open the primary and secondary air regulator. As the output is also dependent on your flue draught, you should adjust the air regulator according to your own individual experience.
  
  
• Now light the firelighter and wait until the soft wood chips have burnt sufficiently. After a few minutes close the vibrating grate actuator and the primary air regulator. Then wait a few more minutes and adjust the secondary air regulator to its ideal setting. It is important to produce a sufficient basic firebed during the initial heating phase.
  
  For stove models with a rotary control knob please proceed as follows:
  To heat the stove turn the rotary control knob clockwise to the heat setting; the primary and secondary air regulator and vibrating grate are fully open. Wait until the soft wood chips have burnt sufficiently. A few minutes later turn the rotary control knob 90° anti-clockwise. The primary air regulator is now closed and the secondary air regulator is fully open. Then wait a few more minutes and adjust the rotary control knob for the secondary air regulator to its ideal setting.
  
  
• Only add the wood if there are just embers in the stove. Top up the stove with approx. 2 kg of wood (2 larger blocks). The newly added wood will quickly ignite on the burning embers. This ignition phase can be accelerated by briefly adding a supply of primary air. The vibrating grate can now be closed; the secondary air regulator remains at its ideal position. Please proceed in the same manner each time you add more wood.