Stove Federation Febhel would like to give a few tips to use your wood stove as efficiently as possible. This way you can further limit emissions of, among other things, particulate matter.
Use a wood moisture meter
Using dry wood is essential for good combustion. To burn properly, wood must contain a maximum of 20 percent moisture. You can check wood that you cut and dry yourself with a wood moisture meter. You can find that device for about 20 euros in a stove store or a DIY store.
Use a fire starter instead of newspaper
A natural fire starter burns much longer and cleaner than newspaper. In addition, it generates more heat. It is best to use enough kindling wood. The finer the wood, the better it burns.
Light the fire from above
When you light a fire at the bottom, the larger logs will smoke for a while before actually igniting. That causes extra pollution. So it’s better to approach it completely the other way around. Place the larger blocks at the bottom. It is best to cross them a little so that the air can reach them properly. Place the kindling on top of that and the firelighter at the very top. It takes a little longer for all the wood to burn, but the combustion will produce less fine dust.
Keep a close eye on your stained glass window
If a fire does not burn properly, the highest particulate matter emissions are produced. So it is best to keep an eye on whether the fire is getting enough oxygen. As soon as a stained glass window starts to look black, you need to add more air. You must provide maximum air to your fire, especially when lighting it, because then your chimney draft is still weak. Once the fire is burning well, it is advisable to reduce the air supply somewhat.
Replace old stoves and fireplaces
If all the previous tips fail to keep your glass window clean, it is probably time to replace your old stove with a new one. Old stoves simply cannot be regulated properly and use a lot of wood for little heat. At a minimum, choose an appliance that is airtight and has a good afterburning chamber. For the cleanest wood burning, it is best to choose appliances with the latest technologies such as automatic air control with wood or pellets.
Ask the stove store if they can guarantee that the glass window will remain clean if you use good wood. Then you quickly know where you stand.
