Brilliant, thank you from your friend from across the pond. I just bought a home in the mountains with a wood stove. Had no idea how to use it. Thanks again. 🇺🇸
Cold air is more dense than hot air, and while hot air rises, more dense air sinks, and the very cold air acts like a plug in the chimney. The sooner you can warm up the cold air in the chimney, the sooner it will start to rise and the chimney draw. As the hot air rises, it starts the convection process, chimney draws, air is pulled into the stove, which burns fuel and heats the space above, which rises up the chimney. This will continue until the fuel runs out. The other thing to say is that to get a fire you need three things, the old Fire Pyramid: Air, fuel and heat. Assuming you have good dry fuel in the fire, the quickest way to get your fire going is to create heat, which is this case creates a draw in the chimney and this in turn draws air into the stove. Bottom up lighting, rather than focussing on maximising heat and subsequently airflow, is trying to light the logs sitting above them, focus on getting as much heat as quickly as possible, and you’re away. Fires burn in any direction, not just up! A complicated answer to a somewhat simple to observe phenomenon, but there’s the physics behind it. Cheers!
They simply dont know other methods, dont brother to look up other methods. You know they are other things in life, so they dont want to brother with it.
having good draft is accomplished by a properly designed and installed chimney. i have a two ton soapstone oven fron finland that lights in less than thirty seconds regardless of where the kindling is placed . the user manual shows bottom down lighting as well as the companies installer saying the same.
Can i just ask once a stoves up to temp should you be closing the secondary the wholeway or leave it open a little bit. I was a bit confused when you said you shouldn't have to touch the air controls again because you had it half open and i want sure if you meant leave it half open or close it? Many thanks and your channels really helped a new enthusiast to wood burners
Well perhaps if you lit the fire properly the old way with newspaper or similar under the kindling, not daft expensive firelighters, it would just work right normally. Never ever used any firelighters. Layer combustibility, paper, cardboard these days everywhere from packaging, kindling, wood.
Sometimes what people fail to do is think for themselves. If your chimney is cold, physics tells us cold air sinksz so simply opening the door of your stove (assumig any dampers are also open) will allow cold air in the chimney to disperse quite naturally. A few pages of a telephone directory, or some Amazon packaging lit in the stove prior to building a fire will also aid in "warming" your chimney. All that cold dense air in your house or boat or caravan will now get sicked back up the chimney once you have a decent dire lit, however you choose to do it. Top down just seems kinda lazy and gimmicky unless you're outdoors burning upright logs or tree stumps. And firelighters... Yes..... Another great invention we simply don't need. Like my prescription windscreen. What a con that was.
Thars why in places like Siberia , the chimney breast had a small door halfway up where a small fire was started first to warm the flue because the smoke at the bottom would all come into the room.
At last no more smoke, quality kiln dried wood and a superb lighting technique, happy days !
We have had an Esse for 10 years just tried top down, works a treat! Bless the internet
Brilliant, thank you from your friend from across the pond. I just bought a home in the mountains with a wood stove. Had no idea how to use it. Thanks again. 🇺🇸
Brilliant example for getting fire going thank you so much. Tried it & it works.
Spot on ! I have to explain this method to all my clients! 👌🏻
Cold air is more dense than hot air, and while hot air rises, more dense air sinks, and the very cold air acts like a plug in the chimney.
The sooner you can warm up the cold air in the chimney, the sooner it will start to rise and the chimney draw. As the hot air rises, it starts the convection process, chimney draws, air is pulled into the stove, which burns fuel and heats the space above, which rises up the chimney. This will continue until the fuel runs out.
The other thing to say is that to get a fire you need three things, the old Fire Pyramid: Air, fuel and heat. Assuming you have good dry fuel in the fire, the quickest way to get your fire going is to create heat, which is this case creates a draw in the chimney and this in turn draws air into the stove.
Bottom up lighting, rather than focussing on maximising heat and subsequently airflow, is trying to light the logs sitting above them, focus on getting as much heat as quickly as possible, and you’re away. Fires burn in any direction, not just up!
A complicated answer to a somewhat simple to observe phenomenon, but there’s the physics behind it.
Cheers!
Cool
Tried this method a while ago and never looked back..brilliant method..
Works perfectly every time
Great explanation and makes sense. But why does everyone seem to still do it in the traditional way. Does traditional belong in open pit and bonfires?
They simply dont know other methods, dont brother to look up other methods. You know they are other things in life, so they dont want to brother with it.
having good draft is accomplished by a properly designed and installed chimney.
i have a two ton soapstone oven fron finland that lights in less than thirty seconds regardless of where the kindling is placed . the user manual shows bottom down lighting as well as the companies installer saying the same.
I start bottom and close the door immediately, no smoke, no nothing. How would you explain that away??
Great advice 🏴
Lernded something new today thanks
Can i just ask once a stoves up to temp should you be closing the secondary the wholeway or leave it open a little bit. I was a bit confused when you said you shouldn't have to touch the air controls again because you had it half open and i want sure if you meant leave it half open or close it? Many thanks and your channels really helped a new enthusiast to wood burners
Super helpful - thank you!
Thank you 🙏 bloody legend
Very helpful thanks.
Just bought a new stove...its a parkway aspect 6...when is the best time to add a log to an already burning fire?
Do you fully shut the stove door as soon as the fire is going? Also at what point do you recommend adjusting air flow? My stove has two air controls
Well perhaps if you lit the fire properly the old way with newspaper or similar under the kindling, not daft expensive firelighters, it would just work right normally. Never ever used any firelighters. Layer combustibility, paper, cardboard these days everywhere from packaging, kindling, wood.
Sometimes what people fail to do is think for themselves. If your chimney is cold, physics tells us cold air sinksz so simply opening the door of your stove (assumig any dampers are also open) will allow cold air in the chimney to disperse quite naturally. A few pages of a telephone directory, or some Amazon packaging lit in the stove prior to building a fire will also aid in "warming" your chimney. All that cold dense air in your house or boat or caravan will now get sicked back up the chimney once you have a decent dire lit, however you choose to do it. Top down just seems kinda lazy and gimmicky unless you're outdoors burning upright logs or tree stumps. And firelighters... Yes..... Another great invention we simply don't need. Like my prescription windscreen. What a con that was.
Thars why in places like Siberia , the chimney breast had a small door halfway up where a small fire was started first to warm the flue because the smoke at the bottom would all come into the room.