Do you have a wood stove? If so, then this post will be of interest to you. We are going to talk about why your wood stove might be burning too fast and what can be done about it. Is the firebox size too big for the amount of fuel being burned? Or is there not enough air getting into the system? This blog post will answer these questions and more!
The holidays are approaching quickly, and winter is just around the corner. For many people, this means that it’s time to start preparing for the cold weather by stocking up on firewood. If you’re looking for a way to save money on your heating bills, wood stoves are an excellent option. They can be used as both heaters and cooking devices! But before you go out and buy one of these powerhouses, there are some things you should know about them first…
The Air Vents Are Also Open to Too Much Air Flow
Your air vents may be open to much airflow. If you have too many of them open, it can cause your wood stove to burn so fast and the fire will also die out quickly because there’s not enough fuel to keep going. You should make sure that any air vents are at least closed halfway in order for your stove not to get overwhelmed with extra oxygen during the burning process.
- The fire will become too big and the fuel won’t be able to keep up with burning.
You should also make sure that you don’t have any air vents blocked off by leaves or other debris in order for your stove not to get overwhelmed by extra oxygen during the burning process -If there’s a crack on the outside of your woodstove this can allow more airflow into it which can cause it to burn faster, making it harder for you to control its temperature.
If you have a crack on the outside of your stove, this can allow more airflow into it and cause it to burn faster. You should also make sure that there is enough space between your wood stove and other items in order for no extra airflow to occur.
There shouldn’t be any sort of objects blocking off parts of the area around your wood stove or else it could increase how fast the fire burns out as well as making it harder for you to control its temperature. You should ensure that there’s plenty of room surrounding your stove with nothing obstructing anything nearby.
Softwood Logs Are Now Being Employed
Not only are softwood logs now being employed regularly on wood stoves, but also many people who used to buy hardwood logs, such as oak and ash, have switched over completely. The reason is simple: they burn too slowly! And this has been proven by tests conducted all across the country.
These days you can actually see a serious difference between a log that’s made from beech or birch and one that’s made from an oak tree in your back garden. It might even take up to three hours before it ignites properly if its density is high enough for example.
With spruce though it will start burning much faster than previously expected because of its low resin content which means less smoke produced when burnt – obviously desirable in a wood stove.
In fact, spruce is often referred to as the ideal firewood that’s why it’s been used successfully in stoves all across Europe for several decades now. Another interesting thing about this type of tree is that you can even burn its twigs and bark which might not be a great idea at home if you have children around but works perfectly fine in a closed furnace where they won’t get burnt or suffocated. Despite being softer than many other kinds of wood out there, spruce doesn’t catch fire right away either because it has a low ignition point so anyone who uses their stove regularly should definitely take advantage of these types of logs instead!
The choice between hardwood and softwood when buying your next supply may actually affect the quality of your fire!
The Stove Door Is Open
The Stove Door Is Open is the number one reason why your wood stove is not burning correctly. Make sure to always close the door when you are finished adding more wood, or after a few minutes of use for optimal performance. If there are children around make sure they know that it’s best not to open the door themselves, as this can be an invitation for danger.
An open door can also lead to more creosote buildup which is the number-two reason why your wood stove isn’t burning correctly.
There are times when you need to adjust the draft, but this will only last for a minute or so at most. Any longer than that and there may be other problems like not enough air intake (number three) or insufficient combustion (numbers four and five). Make sure that you have an adjustable vent damper on your flue if it doesn’t already come with one installed.
If making these minor adjustments does not work then please consult our How To Section of our website where we have written helpful articles about all different types of common issues people face while using their new appliance.
The Stove Door Has Peeled Away
The paint at the top of your wood stove door has peeled away and it’s time to repaint. Although this isn’t a big problem, it can make the appearance look worse for you when you need to sell your home in a few years or if someone is visiting one day. The good news though? This fix is very easy! Read on further down below to learn how you do just that!
- Clean off any loose pieces from the surface
- Go over with sandpaper until smooth
- Apply primer coat allowing enough time for dry before applying a second coat
Paint using spray gun *Optional: After reading all there was about painting a fireplace door, I decided not to go forward myself because I didn’t want my house smelling like paint. Instead, I had the experts at All-Bright Chimney Services come to my home and do it for me, they did an amazing job!
The Logs Are Too Small and Compact
The logs are small and compact, which means you aren’t getting adequate airflow across your logs. This causes the fire to burn faster than normal because not enough heat is being generated for a slow-burning stove.
Logs should be three inches or larger in diameter when purchasing new wood for an indoor fireplace. Make sure they fit inside of your furnace before lighting it. Buy a log for your fireplace if the space is too small. Put logs one next to each other until you have enough room. The log should go all the way up to the ceiling, with some extra space on each side so air can circulate through it and out of the chimney pipe opening without any problems happening.
The logs are small and compact, which means you aren’t getting adequate airflow across your logs. This causes the fire to burn faster than normal because not enough heat is being generated for a slow-burning stove. Logs should be three inches or larger in diameter when purchasing new wood for an indoor fireplace.
Make sure they fit inside of your furnace before lighting it. Buy a log for your fireplace if the space is too small. Put logs one next to each other until you have enough room. The log should go all the way up to the ceiling, with some extra space on each side so air can circulate through it and out of the chimney pipe opening without any problems happening.
There Is A Leak In The Stove
Your wood stove is burning fast because there is a leak in the unit. The leak could be in the chimney, pipes, or valves. If your stove is leaking carbon monoxide into your home then you have bigger problems than burning fast! You need to get that fixed immediately because of health risks.
By reading this blog post you are now aware of why your wood stove is burning so fast and what needs to be done about it.
Your wood stove is burning fast because there is a leak in the unit. The leak could be in the chimney, pipes, or valves. If your stove is leaking carbon monoxide into your home then you have bigger problems than burning fast! You need to get that fixed immediately because of health risks. By reading this blog post you are now aware of why your wood stove is burning so fast and what needs to be done about it.
The Damper Is Open Too
The damper is a metal plate that regulates the flow of air into your wood stove. If it’s open too far, you’ll need to adjust it so less draft can get in and heat builds up faster inside the firebox.
The flue gasses from burning wood must be heated before they leave through your chimney otherwise poisonous gases will seep out into your home – killing you, if not first killing family members or pets. Wood stoves work by opening a small door called an “air wash” which controls how much airflow hits the hot exhaust gas as it leaves your stove.
This is a very effective system but it works on the principle that heat rises and you need to have a draft going up through your chimney or else all of this energy will just escape into the room instead.
Cleanliness Is A Big Part Of The Problem
If there’s soot deposited in either one, then too much air can get into your woodstove before hot combustion gases start to exit out of the chimney flue – again causing dangerous fumes inside the home which could lead to death by asphyxiation (lack oxygen). It might seem like the solution would be to close off both openings with damper plates, but if you do that without first removing built-up carbon from both parts; not only can you ruin your stove’s performance, but it will likely start a chimney fire too.
Burning Wood Quickly Causes More Problems Too
It is possible to burn wood very quickly by opening the air wash of your stove all of the way and then closing off as much draft as possible inside the flue – this creates an over-fire condition that encourages fast combustion of one piece of wood at a time with lots of flying embers and sparks which fall through into the ash pan below where they create more flames on top – something we call “The Fire Triangle”.
This is what happens when cheap or poor-quality logs are fed into a poorly designed woodstove: these stoves were made to work optimally with a certain kind and size of wood.
If you’re having trouble with your stove burning too fast, then talk to the manufacturer about what kinds of logs work best in your model – they’ll have all sorts of tips on how you can get it working better for longer periods without any problems.
The Stove Is Damaged
If the woodstove is damaged, it can cause a number of problems. Damages may be preventable if you are aware of them ahead of time.
- When the door doesn’t close properly this causes more air to enter and will quickly burn up your firewood and not give off as much heat.
- A cracked window or door on your wood stove could potentially lead to carbon monoxide poisoning in some cases which would force us to open all doors and windows immediately!
Safety Tips and Tricks
- Let the wood stove cool down before you touch it. The metal can be extremely hot and cause a burn injury.
- Make sure your chimney is clean so that there’s no smoke or soot leaking into your home while burning fuel.
- Avoid adding more than two logs at once to avoid overheating the appliance, which could lead to an explosion of some pellets stored in the fireplace. It’s also important not to start another fire on top of one that has already been lit – this will only suffocate any embers left behind by smothering them completely without giving them enough oxygen for combustion.
- Use metal mesh or heat-resistant gloves to handle logs.
- For those of you who own more than one stove, make sure that the fire is out in one before using another as this can cause an explosion and lead to serious injury.
How do I know if my chimney is blocked?
One of the symptoms of creosote build-up in your flue is when you notice that smoke doesn’t rise freely from the top of your stove which means a poor draft, but it may come out through cracks around doors or gaps on the front panel instead. Another sign to look at is flames – they should be bright with a bit of yellow color and shouldn’t dance too high nor emit excessive sparks along with sooty residue.
If this appears different then there’s probably an issue with the air supply because creosotes will accumulate faster due to insufficient oxygen intake coming through the cleanout door located near the bottom part of the unit where the combustion process takes place inside the firebox. As a result, the fire burns too fast with the reduced heat output and doesn’t generate enough warmth for your home – this can be noticed by feeling cool air coming from the bottom registers of your furnace or heating system during wintertime when there’s no other source that could deliver this kind of cooling effect in addition to window drafts.
In order to improve ventilation, you need to clean out your chimney which means removing all creosote deposits along with any debris inside it such as nests from birds, etc. This is done through professional service but homeowners who do not want to pay extra money may use alternative methods at their own risk because it might create additional problems instead of solving them: some people recommend using soapy water mixed with kerosene (e.g., such as diesel fuel), however, this liquid may cause dangerous fumes that prove dangerous to inhale and produce a fire hazard if left unattended.
FAQs and Common Questions
Do I need to clean my stove? How often should I do it and how is that done?
Yes, you can keep your wood-burning appliance in top shape by cleaning out the ashes. This will help prolong the life of your stove and avoid overheating issues. It's also a good idea to burn seasoned firewood when possible because this type has less sap content than green or wet wood which reduces smoke emissions and helps prevent corrosion of metal components inside your unit.
How do I know when my wood stove needs cleaning?
If you notice that the fire doesn't burn as brightly and it emits a lot of smoke and soot, then your appliance is most likely dirty. This can be identified by opening up the door to see if there's any ash inside - if not, then this indicates that you're burning unseasoned or wet wood which will produce more creosote in comparison with seasoned logs. In addition, check for rust on metal parts since it may indicate poor ventilation. A black film around exhaust pipes also means insufficient air supply from the room where the stove is located due to its location relative to walls etc. If there are signs of corrosion anywhere inside your unit (e.g., flue liner, firebox, and heat exchanger) then you should call a professional technician to inspect the unit.
Is my chimney blocked with creosote? How can I unclog it?
Creosote build-up is one of the most common problems that homeowners experience in their wood stove as well as other types of stoves such as pellet or gas ones. If your flue has become clogged over time, this will cause poor draft which means reduced efficiency so your appliance won't burn properly nor deliver sufficient heat throughout all rooms in your house where the fireplace may be located. Cleaning out a dirty chimney takes some effort but is not an impossible task for advanced homeowners who are willing to invest more into the health and comfort of their loved ones.
How do I clean my chimney?
Cleaning out your flue is not an easy task because it requires some effort but can be completed by advanced homeowners who are willing to invest more into the comfort of their family members living in the house where you have installed your woodstove or fireplace. Here's what you need to know about how cleaning works: first off, there are three main steps involved – removing creosote deposits along with any debris inside via professional service which means hiring experts or using alternative methods at own risk because might create additional problems instead of solving them; second, install a chimney cap to improve ventilation and prevent smoke from leaving your home (e.g., such as birds' nests or other); third, consider purchasing an EPA-certified stove that has been tested for emissions and performance in order to reduce air pollution inside the room where it's located.
Conclusion
If you are noticing that your wood stove is burning too fast, then the first thing to do would be to check how much air it is getting into. If there’s not enough of it, try opening up some windows and cracks in order to let more fresh air inside.
Check if the chimney has any leaks on its surface or at least make sure that both openings (where cold and warm air goes out) aren’t blocked by anything like leaves or branches from trees etc. Check if there’s no damage done to flue tiles because they’re very important for protecting the walls of your house against heat coming from the fire inside the stove while also preventing unwanted smoke emissions outside through chimneys.