Kindling is the essential first step in getting your wood burning stove roaring with warmth and comfort. This article provides a straightforward technical guide for selecting, preparing, and using kindling effectively.
What Is Kindling?
Kindling consists of small, dry pieces of wood that ignite quickly and create the initial flames needed to start a fire in your wood burning stove. It serves as the ignition source for larger logs and helps establish a robust fire.
Selecting Kindling Wood
Dryness is Key: The most critical aspect of kindling is its dryness. Choose wood with low moisture content to ensure it ignites easily. Wood with a moisture content of around 20% or less is ideal.
Size Matters: Kindling should be small and thin, typically no thicker than your thumb. Look for twigs, branches, or split wood pieces that fit this description.
Hardwood Preferred: Hardwoods like oak, maple, and hickory are excellent choices for kindling because they burn hot and long, which helps ignite the larger logs effectively.
Store Separately: Keep your kindling wood separate from your larger firewood and in a dry location. This prevents it from absorbing moisture and ensures it’s always ready for use.
Preparing Kindling
Splitting: If your kindling pieces are larger than your thumb, split them into thinner sticks or strips. A hatchet or splitting maul works well for this purpose.
Crisp Texture: Kindling should snap easily when bent, indicating its dryness. If it bends without snapping, it’s too moist.
No Paint or Coatings: Avoid using painted, stained, or chemically-treated wood for kindling, as these substances can release harmful fumes when burned.
Arranging and Lighting Kindling
Simple Arrangement: Place a small pile of kindling in the center of your wood stove. You can use a crisscross or teepee pattern for easy ignition.
Firestarter: Consider using a firestarter cube, newspaper, or firestarter sticks underneath the kindling to ensure a reliable ignition source. Light the firestarter.
Draft Control: Ensure your wood stove’s draft controls are fully open to allow air flow that encourages ignition.
Patience: Allow the kindling to ignite and create a small bed of coals before adding larger logs. This process can take a few minutes, so be patient.
Adding Logs: Once the kindling is burning well, gradually add larger logs to build up the fire. Be careful not to smother the flames by overloading the stove with logs.
Safety Considerations
Proper Ventilation: Always ensure that the room housing the wood stove is well-ventilated to prevent the buildup of harmful gases like carbon monoxide.
Keep a Safe Distance: Maintain a safe distance between the stove and any flammable materials, including walls, curtains, and furniture.
Regular Maintenance: Clean your wood stove, chimney, and flue regularly to prevent creosote buildup and ensure safe and efficient operation.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home, especially near the area of the wood stove, for added safety.
Conclusion
Effective use of kindling is fundamental to starting a fire in your wood burning stove. By selecting the right type of wood, ensuring it’s dry, and following the proper lighting process, you can create a safe, efficient, and warm fire. Whether you’re new to wood stoves or experienced with them, mastering kindling is an essential skill for enjoying the comfort and warmth of a wood burning stove.