- 1). If you are unable to get your fire lit, check that the damper is open; if not, adjust it. Examine the set up for your fire: Is there a proper amount of kindling? Enough space between the logs? Is the wood dry? If so, check that the flue is not clogged with a bird's nest or other debris. Have the chimney cleaned by a professional if needed.
- 2). If the house fills up with smoke when you reload wood into your stove, try opening the door more slowly; quickly opening it will draw smoke into the room. Open flue controls and the damper a bit wider before opening the door to minimize smoke as well.
- 3). If the wood is burning too quickly and not lasting throughout the night, be sure you are fully loading the box; in cold weather conditions additional fuel may be needed during the evening to compensate for drafts. Adjust your damper and air controls once the fire gets going to slow down the burn time. Be sure the wood is fully lit and burning well before setting controls for a long slow burn.
- 4). If your wood stove is not putting out enough heat, you may have had a poor start-up or not enough wood loaded; add more wood to see if this helps the problem. Excessive use of the blower on the unit may also cause a loss of heat if it was used too early and cooled the fire before it got going well or is set on too high of a setting. Wait until the fire is burning well; then turn the blower control to low.
- 5). Check the gaskets around the stove door, pan and sides to make sure they are in good condition. If warped or worn, replace as this will cause heat to escape from the stove. Use a chisel to remove old gaskets and leftover cement before replacing.
- 6). If there is an odor coming from your wood stove, especially in the summertime, you may have an infestation. Have the chimney cleaned professionally, and install a cap on the crown of the chimney to keep animals and debris from clogging the chimney stack in the future.
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