Heat only with quality dry wood

The most important parameter of firewood is moisture content. Freshly cut wood contains 50-60 % of water. The wood should then be left to dry for about 2 years, ideally in a dry place, under a shelter or covered with a tarp. Wood with a water content below 20 % is needed for heating.

Hardwood vs. softwood

The calorific value of different types of hardwood and softwood is approximately the same, the difference lies in the density. Softwoods are less dense and therefore require more volume than hardwoods. Softwood also burns faster and is more suitable for thawing.

When heating, you should always follow the fuel rate (kg) specified by the manufacturer, regardless of whether you are heating with hardwood or softwood.

How to flood

When starting a fire, the wood will burn best if there is air flowing to it from all sides. Therefore, open the chimney damper and the air supply to the firebox fully before lighting the fire.

Stack the firewood in a pyramid with larger logs at the bottom, approximately 10-12 cm thick. Place about 0,5 kg of thin logs or chips, ideally of softwood, on top of these. Place a sturdy kindling on top between the chips and light it. You can help yourself by leaving the door open for a while.

The wood starts to burn gradually from the top, from small chips and logs down to larger logs. In this way, the wood burns longer and cleaner, producing much less smoke and emissions. The chimney heats up gradually, there is no risk of damage and the necessary draft for proper combustion and flue gas extraction is created more quickly.

Let the wood burn properly and well.

How to regulate combustion

Once the wood is hot, gradually open the air supply to the firebox. The flames should be a light yellow colour at this stage. If the flame is dark red to purple, the combustion process lacks oxygen and you must open the air intake more. In general, the air supply should be gradually opened and regulated to approximately 50 % during the burn, not less or completely.

When the last of the flames have gone out and glowing embers remain in the firebox, completely close the air supply to the firebox and the chimney damper.

Recommendation: the electronic control can be used to regulate the combustion, which automatically takes care of the correct combustion regulation and damper setting in a given phase of combustion.

How much wood to add and when

It is always necessary to follow the specified fuel rate (kg) for the heater and to observe it. The fuel dose is set by the manufacturer or stove builder in the handover report.

Always add the next batch of wood to the firebox after the previous batch has burned out.

Open the chimney damper and the air inlet fully before reattaching. Then open the door for a few seconds and let the heater catch a good draft. Reattach and close the door as quickly as possible.

The whole process is then repeated. Open the air inlet to the firebox and the chimney damper as far as possible, let the wood burn well and slowly close the air inlet. Once the flames have died out and glowing embers remain in the firebox, close the combustion air supply and the chimney damper and allow the batch to burn out.

What you should know

1 kg of wood at 80 % heater efficiency = 3.2 kW = log approximately 34 cm long and 10-12 cm thick

Prepare your wood batch in advance, saving time and making sure you add the right amount of wood.

When the wood burns properly and is moist, the firebox remains clean, unsmoked and the smoke from the chimney is hardly visible at all.

With proper heating, you don't overheat the living space, saving wood and heating costs.

The fine ash from the firebox is ideal for cleaning the glass of the firebox door.

The ash from the fireplace can be used as fertiliser in the garden.

What to look out for and what to avoid

Do not use paper to light the fire as it burns very briefly and leaves a lot of ash.

Do not burn wet or stale wood, as this produces the most poisonous fumes, the wood does not burn properly, and the heater and chimney may be damaged and smothered.

Failure to comply with the fuel doses set by the manufacturer or stove builder leads to overheating of the heater with high doses of wood, there is a risk of damage to the heater, flue and chimney.

Maintenance and care

If you take good care of your heater, you will prolong its functionality and lifespan, and it will look good for years to come.

Before the heating season, it is always a good idea to check the condition of the firebox lining and door seals. Always consult a stove fitter if any defects or faults are found.

It is also necessary to check and clean the flue and chimney, here contact a chimney sweep who will provide the necessary maintenance. They will also issue a certificate of inspection.

During the heating season, follow proper heating principles, make sure to clean the firebox regularly and remove ashes. This is especially important for heaters where a full ash pan blocks sufficient bottom air from entering the firebox.

Most of today's heaters are made without a grate and the bottom of the firebox is set deeper, allowing for a thicker layer of ash. In this case, a layer of ash is desirable because it raises the temperature in the firebox and allows additional combustion of even unburned carbon residues.