12
Practical Tips for Building a Fire
Once your wood-burning appliance is properly installed, building an effective fire
requires good firewood (using the right wood in the right amount) and good fire
building practices. The following practical steps will help you obtain the best
efficiency from your wood stove or fireplace.
Season wood outdoors through the summer for at least 6 months before
burning it. Properly seasoned wood is darker, has cracks in the end
grain, and sounds hollow when smacked against another piece of wood.
Store wood outdoors, stacked neatly off the ground with the top covered.
Burn only dry, well-seasoned wood that has been split properly.
Start fires with newspaper and dry kindling as discussed earlier in the
manual.
Burn hot fires.
To maintain proper airflow, regularly remove ashes from your wood-
burning appliance into a metal container with a cover and store outdoors.
CAUTION
NEVER USE GASOLINE, GASOLINE-TYPE LANTERN FUEL, KEROSENE,
CHARCOAL LIGHTER FLUID, OR SIMILAR LIQUIDS TO START OR
“FRESHEN UP” A FIRE IN THIS HEATER. KEEP ALL SUCH LIQUIDS WELL
AWAY FROM THE HEATER WHILE IN USE. ADDITIONALLY, NEVER
APPLY FIRE-STARTER TO ANY HOT SURFACE OR EMBERS IN THE
STOVE. DO NOT USE CHEMICALS OR FLUIDS
TO START THE FIRE.
DO NOT BURN FLAMMABLE FLUIDS SUCH AS GASOLINE, NAPHTHA OR
ENGINE OIL.
DO NOT BURN GARBAGE; LAWN CLIPPINGS OR YARD WASTE;
MATERIALS CONTAINING RUBBER, INCLUDING TIRES; MATERIALS
CONTAINING PLASTIC; WASTE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, PAINT OR
PAINT THINNERS, OR ASPHALT PRODUCTS; MATERIALS CONTAINING
ASBESTOS; CONSTRUCTION OR DEMOLITION DEBRIS; RAILROAD TIES
OR PRESSURE-TREATED WOOD; MANURE OR ANIMAL REMAINS; PAPER
PRODUCTS, CARDBOARD, PLYWOOD OR PARTICLEBOARD. THE
PROHIBITION AGAINST BURNING THESE MATERIALS DOES NOT
PROHIBIT THE USE OF FIRESTARTERS MADE FROM PAPER,
CARDBOARD, SAWDUST, WAX AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES FOR THE
PURPOSE OF STARTING A FIRE IN AN AFFECTED WOOD HEATER.
BURNING THESE MATERIALS MAY RESULT IN RELEASE OF TOXIC
FUMES OR RENDER THE HEATER INEFFECTIVE AND CAUSE SMOKE.