How to Stop Smokey Rooms When Lighting Your Log Burning Stove (Revised Film Resolution)

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Күн бұрын

How To Prevent Smoke When Lighting a Wood Burning Stove
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NOTE: Stove Manufacturers and showrooms - Please feel free to put my videos on your own websites.
This is baffling to most people but it is in fact a very simple problem to stop. There is a little science to get you head around first but once you know the reason you will be soon lighting the perfect fire in your wood/Log burning stove.
Make sure you see my first video about "How to light the perfect fire in a wood burning stove! Using my special inverted V technique!". The inverted V really does work and it has been viewed by over 250,000 viewers, that say it all. I hope you enjoy this video and the other one "How to light the perfect fire in a wood burning stove! Using my special inverted V technique!" and you have many beautifully made fires. I will be making a new video soon about logs and wood for you log burning stove plus a few lighting and cleaning tips.
How to light the perfect fire in a wood / log burning stove using the inverted v system for lighting - The most important point is having really dry kindling wood and logs (and as warm as possible, this is really important! Wet wood makes the glass dirty). So proper management of your log storage is crucial. Always try whenever possible to keep one or two starting logs indoors, somewhere like an indoor cupboard, or if you can - in an airing cupboard! This is especially important for the kindling wood, it makes it all much easier if this can be achieved. Just keep replacing the logs in your extra dry storage as you use them so you always have a fresh supply for your next lighting. That's good fire lighting management! Plus, it will never let you down.
Why would anyone rely on purchasing anything to start a fire when all you will need is readily available? I don't use any materials that are not readily available and totally free. You can get the cardboard boxes on a weekly basis from a shopping mall, super market or your local store free! But I do buy in most of my logs and use what ever wood becomes available whether from the garden or indeed a skip with the odd old building pallet in it. That's sustainable management, recycling at it's best and very good for the environment. Wood pallets chopped up can produce very good kindling but make sure the wood is natural and untreated.
The stove in the video is the ever popular and highly appraised Clearview Pioneer 400p the Clearview 400 is the same stove but lower on the ground without the wood warmer / store beneath.
A word of caution: Wood / Log burning stoves are a very safe way of heating your home, but they must never be left unattended! Check your home insurance small print to make sure you are properly covered in the very unlikely event of a house fire. Never store logs close to your wood burning stove or multi fuel stove. Wood burning stoves run very hot indeed and the logs can catch fire with disastrous consequences!
Viewers of my video in the UK please be aware we have to have Carbon Monoxide detectors fitted. See carbon monoxide detector manufacturers websites and instructions for the correct installation procedure. Carbon monoxide is given off when wood is brought up to burning temperature. The gas can still be present well after the fire appears to be out. Even cool embers and charcoal give off this deadly gas.
If you follow these instructions for lighting your wood burning stove you will never, like me have a failed attempt again. Less fuss than most other ways!
Every wood burner is slightly different in the way it needs to be lit, and every home has it's own draft characteristics. But following the lighting technique in this video will always get the best results, as long as you have very dry small pieces of kindling wood to start your fire. Logs have to be totally dry and ready to go.
Useful forum: forums.moneysavingexpert.com/s...
Stove manufacturer of the stove illustrated in the video: www.clearviewstoves.com/pionee...
However you decide to light your fire, enjoy your log burning stove - they are really great or even 'grate'!!
If you don't have a wood burning stove yet. then you don't know what you are missing! Our Clearview Pioneer 400p stove never fails to impress all that see it. Most people who view my stove go away and have one installed!
Cleaning your viewing glass can be done easily and cheaply using a dampened paper towel and just dipping it gently into some very fine wood ash. You will find this method will clean the most dirty of glasses. This is an old skill most probably dating back to the Victorian era.
Don't forget: Wood management is crucial - Good practice means you will never have a failed lighting attempt again! Happy wood burning!
Best log burner- Clearview
These videos take a lot of time and effort to produce - PLEASE LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE - thanks! Happy firelighting to all!
Version v1.1 Revised Resolution

Пікірлер: 81

@mikecraft4506 4 ай бұрын

This video covers a lot of ground but once established it's the comments from the KZfaq audience that make this video a great place for stove issue problem solving. Please remember that every home has it's own set of draught circumstances and more or less is a unique situation. For some who comment that they just make a small kindling fire and all is well are lucky that they have the right circumstances to achieve that. For too many it can be a struggle to get the right formulae for successive successful lighting. The location of your house very much can influence your fire lighting, by this I refer to a house on a hill, or houses to close to big trees, or large buildings near by causing excessive draughts, or down in a valley with no draught at all plus many more unique situations. I thank you all for your comments and wish you all happy fire lighting. For new visitors to this video I urge you to read these comments as they are very helpful indeed to all.

@Theoriginal1981 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video. I tend to use a firelighter and a small bit of kindling to get it warm, I’ve learnt the hard way putting logs on when the flue is cold. Nothing worse than a smokey room!

@jasonbroom7147 4 жыл бұрын

Build a top-down fire. Place relatively large pieces of firewood on the bottom, medium pieces atop those, smaller pieces on the medium, then kindling and tinder atop it all. Light the tinder, which will burn warm and smoke free, igniting the kindling, etc. The flue will be quite warm long before the larger pieces of wood might create any amount of smoke. This is far and away the easiest method by which to light a fire from a cold fire box. It allows you to stack material, in a criss-crossed pattern, before lighting but a single match for the whole fire. You can walk away and come back after an hour or more, secure in the knowledge you will have a hot, clean-burning fire in your stove.

@mikecraft4506 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jason and a good way for many. This can be a good way and I use it myself quite often, however it does have a few issues and for the new user or less experienced user there are possible problems. I will do a video on this soon, but the two main issues are as follows (1) if and only if, the fire fails to push the cold up the chimney you have a full stove of timber etc to deal with as the room fills with smoke. (2) If for any reason you open the door, this higher fire can fall forward and may spill out. I know this is being ultra carefull, but to the unexperienced (and this is the people I am targeting to help!) this may be a big problem. Many people get nervous when they first have a log burner and don't have the skills to deal with the unecspected. I'll tell you all a quick true story - I had a new neighbour living in a cottage not far from me who attempted to lite her first stove ever. She was living alone and lit the stove, it went well, in fact it went too well, I was called and rushed to help. Her stove was white hot I could not get near it. So called the fire brigade! What had happened was a cinder had found it's way into the lower air intake and blocked the mechanism from controling it. She had loaded the stove up to the top and the air intake was wide open, the rest needs no explanation. Surrounding area was heat damaged and in need of repair and redecoration. It took the fire brigade only minutes to get the stove under control by dropping powder (probably Carbon Monoxide!) into the stove denying the fire of oxygen. Maybe not Carbon Monoxide, I will stand corrected if anyone knows better. So I keep my teaching skills aimed firmly at my target audience (beginners) for safety reasons. Thanks

@fredmccarroll3476 4 жыл бұрын

This is the way I always start my wood stove fire. I place two large pieces of wood on the bottom with a space between the two. In the space between the two I use kindling and a small amount of paper, usually tubes from toilet paper and paper towels. I place small wood on top. And for kindling I use broken twigs in my yard from my trees.

@mickygism 2 жыл бұрын

This works fine for me , I have an external flue and was getting smoke pushed back using conventional wood pile with fire lighter underneath . I put two under the stack and one on the top which I light it burns down and eventually catches the ones underneath pretty quickly. Flue is warmed and never had any problems from using this method

@drgregory9236 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for your analysis. Much needed here in Our winter Tasmania. Cheers.

@AlbertusMBezuidenhout Ай бұрын

Thank you! Works well!

@Ron28 4 жыл бұрын

Add this: open a nearby window before you light the paper. This corrects negative pressure. Simple and effective.

@akaredcrossbow 4 жыл бұрын

Ronald Morris yes! Just crack a window, preferably the opposite side of the house or basement where the wind is blowing towards the house. You can also use a hair dryer in the stove directed towards the flue for five minutes. You can also use a space heater facing the opened door of the stove. Lighting news paper, blow torch, hair dryer and space heater also work for the fireplace. Got to get that flue warm.

@deathbyrumuk7850 7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing, a very useful solution.

@mikecraft4506 7 жыл бұрын

Glad it was useful to you.

@tasmaniandevil7610 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info I've been fighting my fireplace since I installed it

@ronwhitehouse23 Жыл бұрын

Great advice thank you.

@sulray 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing , worked wonders Ray sydney..

@venividivici1401 8 ай бұрын

Thanks mate, had no idea what I was doing wrong. 👍🏼

@mikecraft4506 6 жыл бұрын

Good advice from 'Theoriginal1981' and you know the problem well. Most people install a log burner and are not aware of the safest way to start the fire lighting process. I've heard a lot of comments on rooms full of smoke over the years, just a little preparation and the problem is solved.

@adelebranch928 3 жыл бұрын

Very well presented

@2135nader 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video. very useful solution for my fireplace, I also was told by a chimney expert.

@mikecraft4506 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment - I will shortly be producing a new video of how to Turbo charge your fire lighting, especially good for people like me who can have smoke issues.

@hdj81Vlimited 5 жыл бұрын

or get a automatic baffle in top off shimney.. when not in use, close.

@jayjay-sx4qu 5 жыл бұрын

Ohh thank you so much I was going to get rid of my stove I don't know what to say to you you don't know thank you so so so much mike I thought why is this guy showing me drawings ,im screwed, I get it now...I get it now

@Shirley-ts1jn 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that. I will give it a go tomorrow. It's happened three times now and I was also ready to throw the stove on the rubbish heap.

@mikecraft4506 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was a help - happy fire lighting,

@akaredcrossbow 4 жыл бұрын

Top mounted chimney exhaust fans are great for this problem! The fan also works well in the summer when it’s humid and you get the chimney smell. The only drawback for top mounted chimney fans, they are so expensive!!

@SnakeAndTurtleQigong 7 ай бұрын

Thanks so much

@markjenkins905 6 жыл бұрын

I have an external flue and had a smoke problem. On cold nights I use a Black & Becker electric heat gun to 'push' the cold air out of the flue. I put the gun (sitting in it's upright plastic holder) inside the firebox for 5 mins. I then remove it, build the kindling fire and get the fire going as quickly as possible. No more smoke.

@azycray4801 4 жыл бұрын

I've been using a hair dryer for years, same way, same results. It doesn't get as hot as the heat gun but it moves a lot more air, helps to establish draft. I have also tried a large brush flame torch, (not a flash light torch) and found the hair dryer worked just as well without wasting acetylene.

@KreigsMarine2 5 жыл бұрын

I usually place a electric heater inside for about 10 mins to get the firebox hot. My son thought of that, works pretty good!

@rob5944 4 жыл бұрын

or just put the heater in your room lol

@laszlonemet4425 Жыл бұрын

A metal inlay in the inner stone chim will quicker warm up to increase the flow;be the chim as high and insulated till there is flow anytime from the warmer room(over rooftop

@jeffreymabbe9829 Жыл бұрын

Nice video!

@mikecraft4506 Жыл бұрын

Thank you, much appreciated.

@rbb2292 5 ай бұрын

Great tips, thank you. We have a Hearthstone woodstove that drafts from the front of the stove up over the top of the stove and out the back where the pipe is located. There is a 90° elbow and then the pipe goes up the chimney. Unlike your stove, there is no direct access to the pipe the way this woodstove is built. We’re trying to figure out the best way to get the stove and the pipe warmed so that the constant cold downdraft isn’t smoking up the house. If you have any tips, we’d be most appreciative, thank you.

@susanl7379 4 жыл бұрын

I have a large wood furnace, and have a big problem with smoke. I open a window, and light newspaper first. I sometimes get a lot of smoke coming out of the door. Even when the fire is burning well, when I slowly open the door, smoke comes out. I had an extension put on, and this helped, but again today, lots of smoke in the basement. I have a wood stove and fireplace that I use sometimes, and have no problem starting them. It is very upsetting. I wish there was a professional that could come and stay at my house for a few hours and see how difficult the situation is.

@lifewithrubymorrison8651 2 жыл бұрын

Stop using newspapers. Use only dry wood. Newspapers generates alot of smoke, but with dry wood no smoke at all

@akaredcrossbow 4 жыл бұрын

Along with the heating method you should also crack a window, preferably on the opposite side of the house or basement where the wind is blowing towards the house. This will help replenish the pressure needed to help move the air up the flue. You can also use a hair dryer in the stove directed towards the flue for five minutes. You can also use a space heater facing the opened door of the stove. Lighting news paper, blow torch, hair dryer and space heater also work for the fireplace. Got to get that flue warm and new air/pressure flowing!

@jaycimbak7781 Жыл бұрын

That is exactly what I do and have no issues with smoke

@hazelmanchester3872 6 жыл бұрын

Hi Mike we have had some really big issues with our log burner up to the point where we have had almost enough. In desperation we turned to the internet and found you on KZfaq video which has really sorted the problem. Just like you we have an external flue in a very exposed location, but after following your excellent advice the issue was resolved. Thanks so much you have saved the day and our log burner. John&Hazel.

@mikecraft4506 6 жыл бұрын

John so pleased I could help, I will be doing a new video soon with a turbo version of the two videos I have done which I have been doing for a while as it works even better. Look out for that one. Best regards Mike

@hazelmanchester3872 6 жыл бұрын

Mike Craft Mike thanks for your reply. Will certainly look out for your new video and if it is as good as the previous one it will be a winner 😊👍 Cheers John

@guyparham575 Жыл бұрын

What my uncle David light wood stove two logs on each side one at the front with newspaper and fire lighter

@garybiggs9010 3 жыл бұрын

make sure to open the damper to full open.

@rob5944 4 жыл бұрын

Appreciate it, I feel that with these things, you learn different things as you go along. There's a reason gas ones were invented lol

@mikecraft4506 4 жыл бұрын

Your right - but no gas where I and many more live

@rob5944 4 жыл бұрын

@@mikecraft4506 nor me, a lot of people use bottles (uk)

@rob5944 4 жыл бұрын

@@mikecraft4506 They want each of us in our road to contribute £2,750 to bring mains to the door!

@mikecraft4506 4 жыл бұрын

@@rob5944 no mains gas within ten miles of where I live

@rob5944 4 жыл бұрын

@@mikecraft4506 I guess your can still use bottles though?

@rich.dodd1 3 жыл бұрын

I think your stove does not down draught like ours does, it can't even be in the same league, lighting anything Inc paper results in the flames and smoke coming out the door at you. I have tried the paper method and sometimes if your lucky it will sort of work however the room still skinks. Warming the flue with some form of heater is a bit of a joke and I'd rather not use it than mess about doing this every time. Why not fit an anti down draught chimney cowl? The main type I'm referring to are the ones that have sail and spin in the direction the wind is going, this creates a negative pressure in the flue essentially pulling the air out. I'm sure these methods work on yours, especially the gas burner.

@bigjohnnnie 5 жыл бұрын

after using the blow torch you say that will be the end of the problem forever? what about the next time you light a fire, would you not need to do it again with the blow torch if its cold?

@mikecraft4506 5 жыл бұрын

Yes, its a format repeated each time.

@bigjohnnnie 5 жыл бұрын

@@mikecraft4506 Thanks Mike

@feargach2107 6 жыл бұрын

A hair-dryer also works.

@tablighibayans Жыл бұрын

7:00

@ExploringCabinsandMines 3 жыл бұрын

My wood stove has a flue is it sick ???

@pierremorissette 6 жыл бұрын

I think you opened the door way too fast, if i do that i am sure to smoke the room

@fredjackson9231 4 жыл бұрын

Flues should not have 90 degrees bends on as he draws on his pad, 45 degrees needed

@stuartmcdonald10 6 жыл бұрын

Why does your diagram show a back exit flue when you clearly have a top exit flue?

@mikecraft4506 6 жыл бұрын

Had to play the video back myself to check this out! - I guess I was talking in general terms but the same solution applies to either flue types. Interesting point though.

@romeliapolly1212 3 жыл бұрын

It's good to see Woodprix have new instructions to save my money and energy to build it.

@russg1801 5 жыл бұрын

...or, get a pellet stove with a forced draft and your problem is solved. Pellet fuel is cheap and pretty clean to handle unlike logs. No worries about overfiring the stove, either. I'll admit it isn't as charming as burning wood you've split yourself in a big ol' cast iron stove but it's convenient and still way cheaper than oil, gas, or especially propane heat. I swore I wouldn't pay to heat with propane ever again. If you're on a fixed income it'll positively eat your SS check all winter!

@mikebrueton6716 4 жыл бұрын

You can't use newspaper when living in a thatched cottage

@richieryan4090 4 жыл бұрын

Why not just light the fire to warm the air?

@hanw2385 3 жыл бұрын

I'm confused by this too lol

@richardwallinger1683 3 жыл бұрын

Get rid of any 90 degree bends . . use an insulated flue .. ensure the ( insulated) flue exits at least 3 ft above any roof ridgeline . or basically get a decent afterburn wood stove like the Dunsley heat YORKSHIRE stove .. Check out their afterburn technology . It is on another level to the stove you are using .

@johnhelton457 3 жыл бұрын

Thousands of lifetime projects with Woodglut plans.

@charliebrown4007 5 жыл бұрын

i burn mine at a bought 1200 1300 degrees and hotter

@andyelliott22 5 жыл бұрын

this guy is a savant

@moba.k5913 6 жыл бұрын

When you open your stove...does it smoke the room ?? Mine does ...has anybody got an idea why?? I see others have no such problem....

@mikecraft4506 6 жыл бұрын

Hi, First of all what type of chimney and set up do you have? What flue system is also important? Without this knowledge the most probable cause is cold air falling or a vacuum inside your home causing a back flow. Try lighting a candle near your stove and study the effect of the flame, leave the door of the stove open a little. If the flame bends away from the stove then you have a draft issue. This can also be affected by your local weather or the terrain around your property. Moving the candle to different parts of your property can tell you how the draft is moving. My other video on smoky rooms may help:- kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a6dpms2BsNfGfIk.html Every property can have its own special air flow pattern, so a bit of detective work is necessary to find out what is going on is necessary. Try leaving a window far away from the stove open as well and see if the candle changes, your are looking for the candle to bend towards the stove a little. Hope this helps, please let me know what happens after testing and watching the other video. Good luck.

@danielr5552 6 жыл бұрын

The video is great advice. On this issue though you might be opening the door too quick? I slightly open the door (no more than 2cm and slowly) for 5 seconds. You see the woosh occur and any smoke will go up the flue. At that point you can have the door open for quite a while and shouldn’t see any smoke.