Lighting a fire can sometimes be difficult. It is a topic that generates a lot of opinions, and there are many tips and traditional knowledge passed down from older generations. In this article, we share foolproof tips for lighting a fireplace quickly and efficiently.
Experienced campers are used to the idea that the best way to light a fire is from the bottom up. However, this is not the best solution, especially when trying to light a fireplace. Lighting wood from the bottom up produces more emissions, fine particles, and soot in the flue than the top-down method we recommend. It is also common to put too much wood in the firebox, leaving no room for the combustion gases to burn, so they escape as waste heat into the environment.
To light a fireplace, you need the following fire-lighting essentials:
- Small logs that burn longer
- A handful of smaller kindling on top
- Firelighters, tinder, or newspaper (firelighters designed for fire-lighting are the most effective and environmentally friendly)
- Matches
This is how you light a fireplace easily and save wood:
- Make sure all smoke flaps and fireplace air vents are open. Place the firewood on the bottom of the firebox with the bark side down. A good thickness for logs is slightly larger than a fist, although this depends on the size of the firebox. Stack the wood on its side
- Add a layer of smaller sticks, or kindling, on top of the logs, about 8–10 cm thick. It is best to place the kindling diagonally on top of the logs. The most important thing is not to use too much wood.
- Add a couple of firelighters on top of the kindling. Remember that using newspaper or cardboard waste will cause dirtier combustion and produce more soot.
- Light the firelighters, and close the fireplace door. You can leave the door ajar if the flue does not start drawing properly. Older fireplaces, in particular, may have draft problems, which can usually be solved by opening the door or window, although this is generally caused by insufficient secondary air supply and incomplete combustion. However, avoid opening the door unnecessarily, as every time you do, the firebox cools down.
- When the wood is burning properly, you can reduce the combustion air using the fireplace's own controls. The combustion should be calm and clean; if the door or firebox becomes sooty, something is wrong.
Remember that the draft can also be affected by mechanical ventilation or a range hood that is switched on.
Is the wood not burning properly? Here are a few reasons:
Poor combustion can be caused by several different factors. However, the reason is often simple if the wood will not light:
The wood is not getting enough air.
Make sure the wood is stacked so that air can circulate between the logs. Wood stacked too tightly stifles air circulation, and the fire cannot light properly.
Always stack the wood at a 90-degree angle to the layer below so that gaps are created between the logs, allowing air to circulate freely. This also makes combustion cleaner, produces the maximum amount of heat, and saves wood.
The wood is damp
Lighting damp wood is a real headache. It lights slowly, produces more smoke and soot, and burns inefficiently. Always use dry wood whenever possible. A good tip is to always bring wood from outside into the room next to the fireplace before you burn wood in the fireplace. When heating the fireplace, it is always worth bringing a little more wood inside than you need and drying damp logs brought from outside for future use.
There is too much ash in the grate
It is always best to start a new load of wood with a clean firebox. If your ash drawer is full, or the grate in the firebox or ash pan is full of ash, burning wood will be less efficient, put more strain on the firebox, and reduce its lifespan.
A clean and tidy fireplace allows sufficient air circulation, making combustion cleaner and more energy-efficient.
Whenever you heat your fireplace and burn wood, let the wood burn all the way through. Occasionally rake the embers evenly and make sure that even the last glowing embers are allowed to burn out. This saves on heating costs, keeps your fireplace in good condition for longer, and makes it easier to light the next load of wood.
An old bottom-draft fireplace
In old fireplaces, the combustion air comes directly from beneath the wood. In such fireplaces, the combustion gases cool down, and much of the heat escapes through the flue as waste heat, pollution into the environment, and a nuisance to the neighbors. The flue's draft may also be weakened.
In modern fireplaces approved by Ecode, efficient combustion air ducts direct the combustion gases from the top and sides. This type of clean combustion is called secondary combustion.
This means that during combustion, the combustion air is directed preheated to the combustion process from the sides and top. Properly directed preheated combustion air helps burn the combustion gases produced as a byproduct cleanly and efficiently in the firebox.
If you want to improve the energy efficiency and cleanliness of combustion in your old fireplace, we recommend exploring the LumoX® EkoAir product range. With the LumoX® combustion air controller, you can reduce your fireplace's wood consumption by up to 40% and significantly improve combustion efficiency.
LumoX® products make it possible to upgrade an old firebox to be energy-efficient and low-emission.
Old fireplaces and stoves produce a lot of smoke and consume large amounts of firewood, are difficult to light, and the door often does not stay clear. If the old firebox does not draw, the wood lights poorly and a lot of soot forms, so the right solution is to get a LumoX® EkoAir combustion air controller for your home.
What happens when you upgrade your fireplace or firebox with LumoX® EkoAir?
The Finnish-made LumoX EkoAir air controller was developed to save firewood and reduce emissions. Its operation is purely mechanical, and nothing else is needed besides the device. As its name suggests, the air controller directs preheated air to the right place, namely to the combustion gases. The preheated air does not cool the combustion gases, and when properly directed, the combustion gases can burn in the firebox rather than escaping unburned as waste heat and pollution into the environment. The combustion gases burn in the firebox and do not escape into the flue, reducing the risk of fire. Using EkoAir is easy. The device is placed on top of the firebox grate, and the firewood is stacked on the EkoAir base. You can see in the accompanying video how the device works in more detail.
The product was developed by fire-fighter Pasi Sillanpää, who is an expert in the field, and is entirely Finnish-made. Pasi came up with the idea while working as a firefighter. This patented product solves common problems with traditional fireboxes, such as high wood consumption, sooty doors, smoke issues, draft and lighting problems. At the same time, it reduces harmful fine particle emissions from burning wood.