First time stove user tips please

[thetallfairy]

Hello

We built two years ago and only just managed to afford to get a stove for our sitting room

I have never had one before

Such utter joy

Where do you get your sticks from?
Do you prefer coal?

Do you top it up slowly during the day
?

Someone told me I need to wash the glass every day?!!!

I clearly have no clue

Don’t wash the glass or use glass cleaner- clean it with a bit of cold ash on a soft cloth. When you first use the stove burn small fires for the first few so it doesn’t burn too hot. There will likely be a weird smell and it looks like smoke escaping but is basically the coating settling down/ drying out and vaporising. But open the windows until it stops doing it ( will take a few fires.). Also go outside and make sure the smoke is going up the chimney ( ie it’s drawing properly). I only burn wood and we have our own supply and season it for a few years but if you’re buying make sure it’s kiln dried so it burns clean and complete. Don’t be tempted to use wood that hasn’t been dried- it’s anti-social and smokes like crazy. You can buy a moisture probe to check if it’s dry enough and if you have space for a pallet and tarp you can season your own but as I said it takes a few years and you need a log splitter and sledge hammer so it’s a time and sweat investment. Enjoy!!

@AllJoyAndNoFun

Thank you so much for all of this

So helpful

Gosh I have no clue

So this was even more needed than I had thought

It is so cosy now

Does anyone else top it up slowly ?

Where do you put your ashes?

What kind of stove is it? Multi fuel or just wood?

Did you not get a user manual to explain the vents/wash etc on the stove this makes a big difference on how you use it.

If you dont clean your glass it will just 'tar' up, as above ash and newspaper does the job every time its used but you dont have to empty your ash tray each time.

A stove fan will help disperse the heat, I was very sceptical about them at first but they really do throw the heat around the room, of course it also depends on the kw of said stove and size of room!

Fab idea

Wood burning stove

Thank you all

Much appreciated

How often to empty ash tray?

If its a wood burner then no, you dont use coal

We get our wood delivered in the autumn, try to order it earlier but OH never remembers, Its cheaper if you get it in the spring or summer. Stack it up

Keep all the little bits for kindling. You can buy kindling when that runs out

Get the little wax balls for firelighters

We put letters and post in the bottom of the burner, chuck a load of kindling in, put a burner in, put it on with the flue open, get it to temperature ( get a stove thermometer that goes on the flue) and then close the flue off and just keep it ticking over

Love ours.

The glass shouldnt tar up at all, we never clean ours and the window is clear.

A stove fan is very useful

Amazing

Thanks all xxx

Buy this book! I give it as a gift to friends when they get a new wood burner. It’s a wonderful read, and it also has lots of practical advice. Top tip, look up the “top down method” for making your fire. Transformative!
https://amzn.eu/d/0bNuP1Uh

We empty ours every three days or so. Don’t put it in the bin, it might still be warm, and there’s a small chance it can cause a bin fire. Keep it in a metal bucket for a day or two before disposing of it. If you have a garden, you can put it in your compost bin. Otherwise it has to go in the wheel bin, bagged up.

thank you !!!

gosh I did not realise that

I clean my glass door every day

used to be a real pain but I am used to it now

I got the stove fan too

we have barely put any heating on since getting this stove I love It so much

the joy of getting up at 6
getting it going and coming back in to the cats all sitting around it with a cup of coffee

If your wood is properly seasoned and burning hot enough then it shouldn't soot the glass.

the wood has been in the shed for three years

I use turf that we have had in sheds for over 15 years

some days the window of the door is fine
other days it is very dirty

I use the ash to clean it
this thread was a god send !!!!