Light from the top

As a rule, the best way to light a heat-storing fireplace is setting fire to the wood from the top. When lighting a wood-burning stove, it is important to kindle the wood quickly. However, check the instruction manual of your fireplace for how to use your own fireplace correctly. 

Instructions for lighting from the top 

Before starting the fire, place large pieces of firewood underneath and smaller ones on top of them. The most important thing is to not stack too much wood at one time. Place kindling on the very top and light from the top. Good kindling include dry splinters, wood shavings and bark. 

1. No more than half of the volume of the firebox is filled with wood. Large pieces of wood are underneath and smaller ones have been placed on top of them, with kindling (splinters and a small amount of bark) on the very top. The recommended diameter of firewood is 8–10 cm for the first load. 

2. The kindling is burning on top and the wood is catching fire.  

3. The solid wood gasifies due to the heat and the gases burn with the help of combustion air. 

4. If necessary, a second load is added on top of the embers so that it kindles quickly and well. Gasification is controlled by firewood size and stacking: the wood is stacked tightly and away from the walls. The recommended diameter of firewood is 10–16 cm for the second load. Burning two loads of firewood takes about 1.5–2 hours. 

Why light from the top? 

Wood gasifies during combustion and the gases burn with the help of combustion air. 

If you light the firewood from below, all the wood will burn at the same time. In this case, there will not be enough air for the combustion, which is why a lot of smoke is generated. In addition, the gases released from the wood will escape into the chimney flue without being burned and the heat will be left unrecovered. 

If you light the wood from the top, the burning will proceed from the top down. There is plenty of combustion air, and the emissions are lower.